What is baby acne?
- Baby acne is very common. It can be present at birth but usually shows up in the first few weeks of life.
- It usually appears on the cheeks but can affect the forehead, chin and even the back. You will see white or red bumps or pimples, which may be surrounded by slightly red skin.
- It may become aggravated when your baby is hot of fussy or if the skin is more irritated due to spit up or saliva.
- We think acne is caused by transfer of hormones from the Mother. Medications taken during breastfeeding can also trigger acne.
- It usually clears up in a few weeks but can last several months.
How to care for your baby’s skin
- There is no treatment for baby acne as usually it gets better on its own. Continue to gently wash your baby’s face and pat dry. Do not use over the counter acne medications. Oily lotions can make it worse and scrubbing the skin can exacerbate the acne. If you are worried about it then please discuss it with your paediatrician.
Dr Gina Dahel is a UK trained paediatric doctor who sees babies and children in her clinic every day. For more information please visit www.imc-healthcare.com or call 6887 4440 to make an appointment.
