Contrary to appearances, acne is not just an ailment of teenagers. Neonatal and infant acne is more common in boys than in girls. It looks like the most well-known form – that is, occurring in adolescents during puberty. The causes of this type of skin lesions are not fully known.
We divide it into two varieties:
- Neonatal acne – which (as the name says) affects newborns, i.e. children in the first weeks of life.
- Baby acne – that is, lasting much longer, up to several months.
Some doctors believe that it appears as a result of overheating of the child, because it appears on the baby’s face in particularly heated places: e.g. on the cheeks where the child sleeps, or on the forehead under a hat. However, the actual, 20% confirmed cause has not yet been determined. It is quite a common condition, as it occurs in up to XNUMX% of infants and newborns. Nevertheless, the above theory is very likely, because acne disappears after cooling the skin, for example as a result of staying in the cold air during a walk.
The second theory is about too high concentration of androgens, i.e. male hormones that are passed on to the baby with milk during breastfeeding. Androgen levels increase in women during pregnancy and do not disappear immediately after delivery. This is also likely because, after a few months, when a woman’s male hormone levels decline, her baby’s baby acne disappears.
This condition is often confused with a protein diathesis, which, however, in most cases is manifested by vomiting or diarrhea. Therefore, the best solution is to visit a pediatrician who will best determine the origin of skin changes in an infant.
How to recognize baby acne:
- It looks very similar to the pimples that appear during puberty.
- Both in newborns and infants, they have the form of red spots (which are easy to confuse with prickly heat), sometimes they take the form of lumpy bumps.
- In the acute course of this condition, some children develop cysts or purulent eczema.
- In some infants, you can also notice white, closed comedones, the exception is the appearance of blackheads.
How to prevent it?
In connection with the theories mentioned above, you certainly have to be careful not to overheat your baby. Pay attention to the materials your baby’s clothes and bedding are made of. Use gentle, hypoallergenic cosmetics, specially designed for the care of demanding skin. Moisturize your baby’s face and body, preferably with good creams and ointments, and use emollients after bathing.
How to heal?
Unfortunately, there is no one effective solution for baby acne. However, specialists recommend washing the child’s skin with a delicate detergent and waiting for such changes. In a situation where acne persists for a long time, you should visit a dermatologist, as there is a possibility of hormonal disorders.