What is Newborn Baby Acne and How Can I Treat It?

Newborn baby acne isn't as rare as you might think. I've seen numbers on the Internet that suggest around 1 in every 5 babies gets it to some degree. It is also called neonatal acne.

I've struggled to find some good reliable information about this condition but I've compiled what I was able to find.

Neonatal acne is typically seen on the nose and cheeks, but may also occur on the scalp. The skin is rougher and can develop papules, pustules, whiteheads, and blackheads. It is usually not severe and will go away on its own.

Why Does My Baby Have Acne?

Newborn baby acne is not present on this baby.

Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. The current theory is that the baby's sebaceous glands have been over-stimulated by the lingering maternal hormones that went through the placenta and into your baby.

The acne may be present at the time of delivery but generally the breakouts occur around 3 weeks after. Genetics don't seem to be a predictor of whether or not this kind of acne occurs.

How Do I Treat It?

The most you can do for your baby is to wash his or her face once or twice a day with a mild baby soap and water. Do not:

rub
scrub
use oils or lotions

or do anything to irritate the baby's skin. Pat dry with a soft cloth.

The acne will clear up on its own within a few weeks. If you don't see it clear up after a couple months, speak with your doctor.

Milia

Milia, or Miliaria is a sweat rash that may occur during the first week of life, which is different from the acne mentioned above. The symptoms are just white bumps, no inflammation occurs.

This type of "baby acne" can go away pretty quickly. For treatment, try to reduce the baby's sweating. Looser clothing and a cool bath are a couple suggestions.

Infantile Acne

Over time, there is another kind of acne that can occur. For identification purposes, it is more accurate to call it infantile acne.

This type of acne occurs later in baby's life, typically after 3 months or so. The symptoms and treatment are the same as neonatal acne. It should go away on its own after a year, and if not, please see a doctor.

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