“Babies get a surge of Androgen hormones when they’re around a month old, and those hormones can cause enlarged oil glands and, ultimately, acne,” says Dr. Kahn. Oxytocin and Prolactin, which are the hormones that your baby gets from breastfeeding, don’t tend to cause pimples, she adds. Curious to see what that looks like? Click here for baby acne is nothing at all, since the condition is natural and will clear up quickly enough as long as the baby's face is gently washed.
Under severe conditions, though, your baby's doctor may recommend a stronger treatment. Here's what you need to know about getting rid of baby acne. If baby is older than 3 months, he may be experiencing what’s called infantile acne, especially if you notice larger red, raised blemishes or pustules, says Meagan O’Neill, MD, a pediatrician with Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis.
Like newborn acne, infant acne occurs in about one-fifth of babies. “While neonatal acne tends to go away on its own with age, infantile acne may stick around longer and, since it can be more severe than neonatal acne, may require treatment to avoid scarring.” In some babies, what you assume is acne may actually be an allergic reaction or eczema.
If an allergic reaction is suspected, your doctor will review ways to determine the allergen. The rash should resolve once the allergen is found and removed from your baby’s environment. Eczema can be treated with over-the-counter products like Aquaphor and Vanicream, or a mild prescription medication if the doctor thinks one is necessary, or by removing food allergens and giving probiotics daily.
Doctors aren’t certain what causes it, but the leading theory is that, just like with teen acne, hormones are to blame. “Babies get a surge of Androgen hormones when they’re around a month old, and those hormones can cause enlarged oil glands and, ultimately, acne,” says Dr. Kahn. Oxytocin and Prolactin, which are the hormones that your baby gets from breastfeeding, don’t tend to cause pimples, she adds.
Curious to see what that looks like? Click here for baby acne pictures. Sometimes, what you assume baby acne might be allergic reaction or eczema. If it is allergic reaction, doctor will review ways to remove the allergen. And eczema can be treated with over-the-counter products. by removing food allergens and giving probiotics daily.
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