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Neonatal acne is a condition that occurs in newborns, usually between 2 weeks and 3 months of age. The cause of the ailments may be the increased level of androgens produced in the adrenal cortex and the high reactivity of the sebaceous glands to androgens. Acne lesions are usually located on the cheeks, nose and forehead.
What is newborn acne?
Newborn acne is a blackhead-like skin lesion that occurs in about 20% of children. babies. The ailment is much more common in boys than in girls, because the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone increases during the 6-12 months, which increases the risk of acne lesions. Changes in the course of newborn acne are similar to acne that occurs in adolescents during adolescence. You can divide the symptoms into neonatal acne, which occurs in the first weeks of life, and baby acne, which may last longer. The cause of the disease is not fully understood, but some doctors say that overheating the baby plays a big role. Neonatal acne usually does not require a medical visit, but when purulent lesions develop, a visit to a pediatric dermatologist is necessary. It happens that the symptoms of the ailments are a bit delayed and do not become apparent until after about 6 months of the child’s life (then we are talking about baby acne).
The causes of acne in newborns
The causes of acne lesions in newborns are still unclear. They can be found in androgens, which increase during pregnancy, and which are responsible for skin problems and excessive body hair. After birth, the high levels of these hormones disappear, and moms pass them on to their baby while they are breastfeeding. This thesis is supported by the fact that a few months after giving birth, the mother’s androgen levels decrease and the baby’s acne disappears. Genetic factors and the use of mineral oils for the care of the newborn’s skin also play an important role (they cause disturbed functioning of the baby’s sebaceous glands, and thus the appearance of maculopapular eruptions).
Acne of newborns – symptoms
Skin changes in the course of the disease appear immediately after birth or after a few days. They have the nature of closed, white comedones, and sometimes open blackheads. In addition, papular eruptions and pustules appear, which are few and usually appear on the cheeks and forehead. In some children, acne affects the groin and chest area. Importantly, acne lesions are not itchy and are oozing discharge. However, in some newborns, acne may be acute, then cysts or pus-containing pimples appear on the baby’s face (purulent lesions are the basis for a visit to a dermatologist). The appearance of symptoms is an indication for a visit to a doctor who will make an appropriate diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment.
IMPORTANT: It is contraindicated to squeeze pimples formed on the child’s face!
Neonatal acne – diagnosis and treatment
The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the skin changes present. Sometimes acne lesions can be mistaken for a yeast infection of the skin and allergies and rashes. In addition, physicians should consider the possibility of a deficiency of the 21-hydroxylase enzyme, which is indicative of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Newborn acne usually does not require specialized treatment. It is enough to rinse the child’s skin with a cotton swab dipped in warm boiled water, with the addition of some emollient, which prevents drying of the skin and strengthens it. In addition, a zinc ointment is recommended for lumps, such as Sudocrem, which perfectly dries the formed pimples. As a rule, no antibiotics are prescribed for neonatal acne – doctors say that the disease should be waived out. It usually goes away on its own after a few weeks or months. In the treatment of this ailment, it is very important not to squeeze out the resulting skin changes.
Appropriately matched cosmetics should be used to care for the newborn’s skin. Reach for example for Teddy Bear – natural soap with lanolin for children from the first day of life. This soap can also be purchased vegan.
Keeping the baby’s skin in good condition requires, first of all, not to overheat it – neonatal acne worsens when it is too warm. Dress your baby in a way that does not cause him to sweat or overheat (the skin on the baby’s neck should be dry and warm).
If neonatal acne persists for a long time and the changes worsen – be sure to visit a dermatologist with your baby. Sometimes it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist when there are suspicions of hormonal disorders in a child.
Newborn acne and prevention
In preventing the disease, it is important to:
- not overheating the baby’s skin,
- using emollients during bathing to prevent drying of the skin,
- investing in good ointments and creams to moisturize the newborn’s skin,
- paying attention to the composition of the materials of the child’s clothes and bedding and avoiding artificial fabrics,
- use of mild washing liquids,
- using hypoallergenic and delicate cosmetics for the care of the newborn’s skin, for example Robatko cream with a natural composition with a soothing effect.
Lit .: [1] Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Rapini RP: Dermatology. Mosby 2003, 533. [2] Braun-Falco O., Plewig G., Wolff HH, Burgdorf WHC: Dermatology, eds. half. Gliński W., Wolska H., Wydawnictwo Czelej, Lublin 2002, 994-1006.
Source: A. Kaszuba, Z. Adamski: “Lexicon of dermatology”; XNUMXst edition, Czelej Publishing House