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While a surprise to most
parents, baby acne is a result of a natural and well-known
occurrence. When a woman is pregnant, the cells in her
body produce many different hormones. Many of those hormones
are found in the placenta. At birth, as the baby crosses
through the placenta, he or she is exposed to those hormones.
The effect that hormones have on an infant’s skin
is not different than the effect of hormones on the skin
of a teenager with teen acne. These hormones cause the
skin to make sebum (oil). Because a mother may not notice
the oiliness of the infant’s skin, the oil can eventually
clog skin pores. Bacteria then grow in the clogged pores,
and tiny red pimples form on the infant’s skin.
Baby acne does not show up immediately after the birth
of an infant. Parents who spot the tiny acne pimples on
their new son or daughter usually note these pimples when
the infant is 3 to 4 weeks old. Baby acne tends to pop-up
on specific areas of the infant’s face—the
cheeks, the forehead and the chin. Red pinples and white
heads are both common with infants.
Baby acne usually goes away by the time that the infant
is 4 to 6 months old. While the infant does have baby
acne, parents can help to limit the frequency in which
it recurs. In very rare cases, baby acne can show up as
blackheads or back acne.
Extremely hot temperatures will initiate an attack of
baby acne. Anything that makes an infant start to fuss
will lead to the development of baby acne. Both hot temperatures
and fussiness cause an increase in the rate of blood flow
to the skin. This then leads to an increase in the rate
of sebum production.
By the same token, anything that irritates the infant’s
skin will give rise to increased blood flow in the skin,
and increased sebum production. A mother should try to
limit the number of irritants touching her infant’s
skin. Parents must rinse all the baby clothes well, so
that the infant’s skin does not come in contact
with harsh detergents.
Parents must also make an effort to wash spit-up material
from the infant’s face as quickly as possible. Exposure
of an infant’s skin to saliva or milk can lead to
a recurrence of baby acne.
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