Relax, Baby Acne is nothing to fuss over, instead...enjoy your new baby
I understand Baby Acne affects more than 25% of newborns. Personally, I feel that number is much higher...both my babies experienced it. BUT... ahh...you've just given birth to the most beautiful baby in the world...yours! You're excited, you're in love, this IS the greatest feeling in the whole wide world. You're comparing whose eyes he or she has---ah, she has daddy's beautiful blue eyes...aahh more new baby bliss. Then, approximately 2 weeks to 6 months later you notice...what's that? Is that...could it be...? Baby Acne!!?? You think to yourself, "you gotta be kidding me." If you are a parent who has struggled with acne, you're thinking, "oh my gosh, I hope I did not pass this on to my baby". Or if you are one of the lucky ones with little or no acne history, you're probably wondering who in the family does, where did this come from. Am I right?
Just because your baby is experiencing acne now, does NOT mean he or she will have future problems with acne. Causes of Baby Acne: I looked at it as an over-load of my hormones being delivered to my new born son. I remember my poor son's acne was shocking, he had it all over. Other Reasons Could Be: If you are nursing your baby and taking medications. Also, if your baby is taking any medications this too may be a possible cause for acne.
Does Your Baby Really Have Acne Or Could That Be Something Else:
With Baby Acne the skin is usually red and looks like pimply bumps all over. You'll probably notice tiny whiteheads as well. Your baby's acne usually appears on the face, neck and sometimes on the back and chest. You may confuse your baby's acne with another condition called MILIA. Milia looks similar in appearance, but looks more like white/clear bumps resembling pearls. It's common to see Milia on your baby's face, but more specifically on the chin, cheeks and nose. In some cases Milia will appear inside the mouth on the roof and gums. Another difference between Baby Acne and Milia? Baby Acne usually appears 2weeks to 6 months after birth, BUT with Milia, the baby is most likely born with it and Milia is Non- Hormonal. Milia is caused by flaking of the baby's skin and then those flakes become trapped in the tiny pockets on the surface of your baby's skin. Sometimes, babies are affected with both conditions.
The Good News: Both Baby Acne and Milia are nothing to worry about. Really. Usually, both conditions clear on their own in a few short weeks. During this time, you can provide some comfort to your baby by gently rinsing your baby's skin 2-3 times a day with lukewarm water and blot or air dry. But... if you feel your baby's skin is not clearing on its own or getting much worse, then you should consult your Pediatrician. For my son his Pediatrician prescribed Hydrocortisone Cream. When it was my daughter's turn, I simply picked up a tube of hydrocortisone cream at my local drug store. I applied it throughout the day, as directed on the product. I can't tell for sure if it sped up their recovery time, but I do feel the cream offered relief. With-in a few weeks both my babies were clear of baby acne. Trust me, when it comes to the many different types of acne, baby acne is the least to worry about. So try not to fuss too much over your baby's acne. This too shall pass in the blink of an eye. In the meantime try not to worry about this very temporary condition. Focus your attention on the most important thing of all.....loving your new baby.
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For me I was shocked with my first baby and thought it was my entire fault. Our Pediatrician later explained it wasn't my fault, it was due to a combination of my extra hormones and a change in my son's living environment (from living in my womb to being born). He also said during birth, my maternal hormones crossed over the placenta, to my son and triggered oil production in his sebaceous glands,
