Do you notice rashes and pimples on the delicate skin of your newborn? It must be infantile acne, but don’t worry, it’s normal for babies to have acne too. This form of acne, also called infantile acne, is common among one-month-old babies. However, there are also some cases where pimples are already present right after birth. It is temporary; however, it may recur intermittently within a six-month period.

Just like in adults, infantile acne is manifested by inflamed skin with tiny, bumpy whiteheads in the middle. You can usually find them on the cheeks, forehead, and chin. The causes of infantile acne are still unknown to specialists, although they can be triggered by skin irritation from saliva, milk, and clothing or fabrics that have been washed with strong soap and are often placed against the baby face. It can also be triggered by certain types of medications that the mother took while breastfeeding or those that were given to the baby.

Some experts claim that infantile acne is caused by excess hormones that the baby has received from the mother in the final stages of pregnancy. The baby may be in the process of removing these active hormones from her body and infantile acne is one of the ways the baby does this. Other babies may respond to these hormones differently, and you may not even realize it.

Infantile acne is not life-threatening as it is a normal cleansing process that babies go through, so don’t worry too much. It will last only a couple of weeks and your baby’s skin will be as soft as before. In it manageable and in most cases, treatment is not necessary. But there are things you should avoid doing to prevent infections that could harm your baby. Many parents think it is caused by dirt, so they rub the baby’s skin. This should never be done as it will only irritate the skin and make it more inflamed. You can clean it with clean water and baby soap that is gentle on your baby’s skin.

Also, do not treat infantile acne yourself using ointments or oils, as these will only make the acne worse. If the condition of infantile acne is severe, it would be best to take your baby to the pediatrician or dermatologist, who can recommend the appropriate treatment. Doctors generally recommend creams with benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial drug that helps kill bacteria that aggravate childhood acne. These can be bought without a prescription.

The doctor may also prescribe a medication, which your baby will have to take for a certain period of time, but it is usually given only for severe infantile acne conditions. Generally, infantile acne does not last long, so they say that the best solution is to be patient with it. If it doesn’t make your baby too uncomfortable, you better not worry too much about it either.