Baby acne: what are the symptoms? How to treat it?

Parents want their baby to have smooth skin when they are born and to keep it, hence the expression “baby skin”. But this is not always the case.

A little less than a third of infants suffers from acne. It is therefore a common and benign pathology.

“Baby acne is caused by a strong hormonal surgeat the mother-to-be, at the end of pregnancythe midwife explains. This surge of hormones affects the newborn by causing excess sebum which results in small spots.

“Baby acne appears in the weeks following birth “, says the midwife. She touches babies up to the age of 4 months approximately.

Acne in infants is characterized, much like in adolescents, by ” small white pimples or blackheads the size of a pinhead and by small red buttonspapules. There is then inflammation. The spots are more or less raised,” explains Domitille Quentin.

Here again, as in adolescence, the pimples are located on the baby's face, and more precisely at the level of:

• Of the cheeks;
• Of forehead ;
• Of chin ;
• Of nose ;
• Of scalp;
• Behind the ears.

“There can also be some, sometimes, at the level of shoulders and of upper torso “, informs the midwife.

” She disappears, in general, between one and three weeks after the appearance of the first spots on the baby,” explains Domitille Quentin.

There is no treatment as such regarding baby acne. “Certain hygiene measures must be taken,” agrees the midwife.

Here are his recommendations:

• Cleanse twice a day acne pimples with cotton or gauze soaked in mineral water or physiological serum. Then, dry them well by patting and not by rubbing, with a soft cloth;
• Also, do not hesitate, during the day if the baby regurgitates or drools, to THE clean with a little mineral water and dry it well. You should avoid having damp skin.

When it comes to baby acne, here's what not to do:

• Pierce the buttons due to the risk of superinfection that this inappropriate action can generate;
• Apply to pimples anti-acne products intended for the'teenager. They are not suitable for the fragile skin of infants;
• Apply to the face of cosmetic products too oily : cream, leave-in milk, lotion, oleocalcareous liniment…

“The latter is a good anti-infective. Just put a little on a cotton pad or compress, or simply let it run over your face and spread it with a clean finger, of course!”

Good to know : Breast milk can also be used to treatdiaper rash of the baby, the conjunctivitis of the infant… He has many qualities!

On the other hand, ” If at six months the baby still has acneit is advisable to consult the pediatrician or dermatologist, to ensure that it is not a more serious infection, requiring treatment. But this is very rare.

The persistence of pimples after this age can be the cause, in particular, ofchildhood acne which can last until around the age of 5.