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Baby acne: how to recognize and treat it?
Yesterday he still had a magnificent complexion, a real “baby’s skin” that we just wanted to munch on. And now little white pimples (scientifically called closed comedones or microcysts) burst onto her pretty face. It is probably acne, a common skin problem in babies, which can appear in the first few weeks after birth and up to the fourth month. These are small, red, white-headed pimples.
But do not panic, about 20% of babies will have small pimples on the face or on the cheeks, forehead or chin. These white spots, present exclusively on your little one’s face, are in fact due to excess sebum. Produced in too large a quantity, it can no longer escape through the hair follicle and a plug forms: this is called a comedo. Rashes in newborns are often pustular, that is, they contain pus. Not to be confused with papules: these little red pimples are a sign of an inflammatory lesion such as eczema or diaper rash. Sweat or fever are also likely to cause these kinds of little pimples. Note that baby acne should not be confused with milia seeds (or milia), white and hard spots linked to the obstruction of a hair follicle (hence their possible presence on the scalp. baby) or poor healing.
Newborn acne: the causes of these pimples on the face
The causes of infant acne are not well known. At birth and for a few weeks, the newborn has oily skin because it is still impregnated with maternal hormones. Acne breakouts are the result of this maternal impregnation, especially as babies born at term seem more prone to it.. Other theories explain that baby acne occurs due to an inflammatory reaction due to the presence of a saprophytic yeast in the skin that colonizes the pilosebaceous follicles: yeast Malassezia furfur. It is only after a few weeks that these are eliminated naturally. The child’s skin then very often becomes dry because his sebaceous glands are not yet active.
What to do and what treatment for infant acne?
In any case, it is better not to touch the acne and not to pierce the pimples, which usually go away on their own after a few days to a few weeks. The face wash is done with a gentle cleansing lotion without soap, or simply with physiological serum. Local hygiene can promote the occurrence of acne, we must first ask ourselves if the care is correctly carried out, if we do not tend to apply products that are too greasy on the skin of his baby. Also be careful with “homemade” cosmetics, because they frequently contain comedogenic ingredients, choose drugstore cosmetics tested non-comedogenic, if you really want to put something. Be careful not to rub the pimples, so as not to aggravate the baby’s acne. Above all, it is strongly recommended not to pierce pimples to avoid the risk of skin infection and scars! Also avoid exposure to the sun, which is in any case to be avoided in the toddler.
Infant acne and breastfeeding: breast milk as a cream
If you are breast-feeding your baby when acne appears on their face, feel free to spread some of your breastmilk on your child’s cheeks. Moms who have breastfed for a long time know it well: breast milk is indeed a good anti-infective that overcomes many skin concerns, diaper rash and milk crusts in mind.
Infant acne: how long?
Most often, acne pimples fade quickly, over a few days to a few weeks, and do not require any treatment. If the problem persists beyond six months, you can make an appointment with a pediatrician or dermatologist to verify that it is not a larger infection. Persistence of acne pimples beyond six months after birth can be the cause of childhood acne, which can last until about five years of age.