As a first-time mum, you may have found the emergence of pimples and bumps a cause for alarm and may have lost some sleep in the night because of acne.
You do not need to worry again if you have, as you can easily treat acne using home remedies. These remedies are readily available in your house and part of your regular grocery list.
You search your search engine and type the first thing that comes to mind. Okay, here we are. Baby acne? You probably dealt with acne in your teens or had girls back in school who dealt with it. It never felt right, and your little one shouldn’t have them on their adorable face.
Baby acne, also known as neonatal acne, occurs in over 30 percent of newborns. The condition might seem scary, but it is indeed superficial and temporary.
It is a short-term condition expected to go away without treatment. It occurs within the first few months of a baby’s life.
In this article, we shall discuss some things you can do to control it.
Similar Posts
What Is Baby Acne?
Neonatal acne is a condition that exists in newborns that are within three months of age. It’s said to be temporary and regular as it leaves no scarring and disappears within a few weeks to months.
Baby acne may appear as red bumps, pimples, or whiteheads on the baby’s forehead, chin, neck, back, scalp, or chest.
In cases where the baby is over three months and experiencing acne, it could be due to a different type of acne known as infantile acne. Found to occur in about one-fifth of babies.
Compared to neonatal acne, infantile acne is a more severe type of acne. It appears on the baby’s skin as large raised blemishes or pimples and may require treatment to avoid scarring.
Is It Baby Acne Or Rash?
It is essential to ensure the exact skin condition your baby might be dealing with; identifying a rash might be difficult for parents. Those red, raised bumps could be anything other than acne. How can you tell if it’s acne or inflammation?
Like heat rash and eczema, baby acne commonly affects newborns and infants. The best way to know if it’s acne is by taking a closer look at it and seeing how angry it looks. It could be helpful to know that eczema, heat rash, and Milla will cause the baby much discomfort, unlike acne.
Here’s a simple guideline for distinguishing baby acne and other skin conditions that might look similar.
- Eczema: This may cause your baby’s skin to appear dry and flaky, causing the affected area to be red and irritated. It usually appears on the baby’s cheeks, scalp, the creases of the elbow, and behind the knees. Eczema appears in newborns later than baby acne, usually between 2 – 4 months of age.
- Baby Heat Rash: heat rashes in babies occur when they get overheated. They appear almost similar to acne but look different as the tiny red bumps here are way much. It clears off with time as the baby’s temperature becomes stable.
- Milla: it could be Milla, as it is similar to baby acne. They are tiny white bumps that may appear on a baby’s nose, chin, or cheeks. Millia is in no way related to baby acne; they often require no treatment and tend to go away on their own.
Home Remedies For Baby Acne
Coconut Oil
Coconut serves a great deal when dealing with baby acne. Take a few drops of it and massage it onto your baby’s face and other affected areas. Coconut oil is ultra-hydrating, moisturizing your baby’s skin while working its remedy effect on those red bumps.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is another effective solution for baby acne because it is readily available at homes or grocery stores. This unique ingredient can be mixed with water to a paste and applied to the acne.
Allow it to dry, then rinse it off with warm water. It helps your baby’s skin stay dry while improving the sebaceous glands.
Honey And Lemon
Honey and lemon have many healing properties. They are composed of anti-inflammatory properties and are great anti-oxidants.
Mix the two ingredients in a bowl and apply them to your baby’s face. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water.
Honey and lemon are effective remedies for protecting your baby’s sensitive skin.
Breast Milk
Breast milk is another ultimate remedy for baby acne. Breast milk is composed of high anti-microbial properties that help with keeping your baby healthy.
You can take breast milk in a bowl and dab it onto your baby’s skin. It has no scientific backup yet but is trusted by its mothers to work magic.
Vinegar
The benefit of vinegar on your baby’s skin is that it kills bacteria. Although some specific vinegar products work well for babies,
If that isn’t available to you, you should dilute the one you have with water. Then dab a cotton wool ball and apply it to the affected area.
Before applying vinegar to your baby’s skin, test it on your baby’s wrist first to see if there are adverse effects.
What Causes Baby Acne?
Doctors are still not 100% sure of the exact cause of baby acne. However, providers believe that the condition is due to exposure to maternal hormones during birth or possibly through breastfeeding.
Baby acne is a temporary condition that resolves on its own within weeks, and it’s expected, so even if it’s due to the hormones from your breast milk, this shouldn’t affect how you feed your baby.
How To Prevent Baby Acne
- Don’t squeeze pick or scrub on the affected area.
- Gently pat your baby dry after a bath.
- Use skincare products that are fragrance-free and gentle on your baby’s skin.
- Consult your pediatrician for a recommendation of an over-the-counter drug that will be safe for your baby.
- Don’t rub your baby’s skin with rough fabrics.
- Dress your baby carefully.
- Be careful of what goes into your body. You want to maintain a healthy breastfeeding diet for your baby.
- Keep irritants away from your baby’s skin.
When To See A Pediatrician About Baby Acne
If you are still concerned or unsure if the rash on your baby’s skin results from acne, you must see a pediatrician for a diagnosis.
In cases where the condition persists for more than a few weeks, and you notice other symptoms like blisters, feeding difficulties, fever, or peeling skin, it’s time you schedule that appointment with the doctor.
Conclusion
It’s typical to feel overwhelmed at first sight by those red bumps on your precious one’s skin. The best approach is to avoid the rush of wanting it to disappear already! and handle the condition with time and patience.
Ensure to use skin products that are gentle and mild on your baby’s skin. Don’t pick or pop. Inspect the surfaces where you lay your baby; they shouldn’t be rough or scratchy.
Follow the 5 home remedies for baby acne mentioned in this article and observe which one works best for your baby. The rash should settle down in no time.
Leave a Comment