Acne in Babies: Yes, Babies Can Get Acne Too

Acne usually starts in puberty - when an adolescent starts pumping out hormones, but acne can occur at other times during the life cycle too. Most people are familiar with adult acne, a condition that makes its unwelcome appearance in people in their thirties, forties - and beyond. What may surprise you is that babies can get acne too. Baby acne? It sounds unlikely, but infant acne starts as early as two weeks after birth.

What is Baby Acne?

Acne in babies looks similar to adult acne. Babies with this condition have red bumps and pustules on their face. It's important to distinguish the crimson bumps of baby acne from the very fine, white facial bumps of milia. Milia is a common condition in newborns caused by dead skin cells that get trapped on the skin's surface.

What Causes Baby Acne?

No one knows exactly what causes acne in babies, but experts believe that infant acne comes from the effects of mother's hormones on baby's skin. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce pore-clogging sebum. Much like adult acne, hormones have a direct influence on the development of acne. Fortunately, acne in babies is usually mild, and they don't usually develop deeper cystic acne lesions that can lead to scarring.

How Do You Treat Infant Acne?

Don't treat baby acne aggressively. Babies have very thin, sensitive skin, and vigorous scrubbing can lead to irritation. The best treatment is to gently cleanse the area once a day using a soft washcloth and warm water. There's no need to use soap, but, if you do, make sure it's a mild one made for babies. Don't over-wash baby's skin since this can lead to dryness.

The good news? Acne in babies usually clears up on its own by two months of age, so be patient and resist the urge to over-cleanse - or use acne medications on the bumps.

Acne in Babies: The Bottom Line?

Yes, babies can get acne, but the symptoms are usually mild and rarely cause scarring. Infant acne goes away after a few weeks even without treatment. The key is to be patient and not treat it too aggressively. If the bumps don't disappear by two months of age or if baby has other symptoms - see a doctor.

References:

American Academy of Dermatology. 2007. "Infantile Acne"

Mayo Clinic. "Baby Acne"