Why Do Babies Get Baby Acne?

Discovering acne on your newborn baby can be alarming and look painful. But when do you need to worry as a parent? First, let’s take a look at what newborn acne actually is.

So… what does it look like? 

This baby skin condition is where tiny red or white bumps or pimples appear on a baby’s skin, typically when they’re between one and four weeks of age. However in some cases, babies are born with it. And an interesting fact is that newborn baby acne is more common in boys!

Here’s the thing.

Doctors are not sure why newborn baby acne develops but one of the theories for newborn acne is that hormones passed from mother to baby through the placenta. Also, breast milk is to blame.

These hormones aggravate the sebaceous glands causing pimples to break out on the newborn’s face, typically the cheeks, nose and forehead. It can sometimes appear on baby’s neck, back and chest too.

Now you may be wondering… how long does newborn baby acne last?

Spots can sometimes appear only to disappear a few hours later. Other times they will stick around for a couple of months.  But there really is no need to be concerned about newborn baby acne.

Let’s look at how you can help your baby with newborn baby acne. Since it usually clears up on its own after a few weeks, here are some things you can do to help it along.

1. Keep your baby’s face clean filtered water or baby-safe, water-free, chemical-free wet wipes. Then gently dab baby’s skin when drying.
2. If you’re breastfeeding, try putting breast milk on the spots. Most mamas swear by this.
3. Definitely do NOT pick or scratch the acne – it’ll clear up on its own.
4. Stay away from chemicals in baby lotions, creams, and moisturizers that could further irritate baby’s skin and use only baby-safe, water-free, chemical-free products.

So, there’s no need to be concerned about newborn baby acne. If red blotches on your baby’s previously perfect skin might seem like cause for alarm, newborn baby acne really is nothing to worry about. It affects up to half of babies, clears up on its own!