Baby acne is an acne-resembling break out on the cheeks, and which often takes place among baby boys during the first couple weeks of life. It's a response of an infant's skin to a minor imbalance of both male and female hormones in the child's system when withdrawing from the support of maternal estrogens at the time of delivery. This acne type generally produces no scars and needs no particular treatment, except requiring help to diminish a case of annoying itching. Baby acne can continue off and on until the infant reaches the age between four to six months old.
Creams and oils cannot help this skin condition; they can only worsen baby acne. Parents may want to apply a tiny amount of over-the-counter medication like ionic colloidal silver treatment for treating baby acne, and which is a safe and usually very effective. It destroys the bacteria and put an end to persistent itching.
Below are commonly asked questions about baby acne:
My baby currently has bumps on her chin. Can she have acne already?
Yes, she can. Baby acne is quite common. Baby acne may even appear at birth; it frequently appears after a few weeks, generally on the chin, cheeks, forehead, and the back. The reddish skin may surround these little whiteheads; the whiteheads could grow bigger during the times when a baby is fussy, hot, or even when the skin is bothered by spit-up milk, fabric, or saliva.
What may be provoking my baby's acne in the first place?
Similar to teenage acne, there exists no definite answer. For a while, many experts have thought that the hormones one's baby got from the mother by the termination of pregnancy was the sole cause of suffering baby acne. As more studies took place and additional factors are considered, today's researchers are still unable to agree on any one factor. It is safe to conclude that if the mother is taking particular medicines during the period she's nursing her baby, or if the baby is taking particular medicines, those medicines in fact may cause baby acne.
Approximately how long can a case of baby acne last?
Baby acne generally goes away after two to four weeks.
Is there anything I can do about my baby's complexion while I am waiting for baby acne to disappear?
First, do not scrub. Keep in mind that baby acne can't be provoked by dirt. Actually, over washing may additionally irritate the baby's acne. Once daily, use water and baby soap to cleanse your baby's face. Other don'ts include: Avoid applying oils and creams on your baby's skin; these can actually aggravate baby acne.
If your baby's acne is severe and likely to scar, his doctor may suggest an over-the-counter treatment like benzyl peroxide or even a prescription medication. But usually patience is the best course of action.
