Neonatal acne: what it is and how to treat pimples in babies

Neonatal acne is a change in the baby’s skin in which the appearance of small dots on the baby’s face is noticed, and this condition is considered normal and temporary, not a sign of illness and not requiring specific treatment, in most cases.

This type of acne can disappear after 2 to 3 weeks after it appears, and it is important to keep the baby’s skin clean and wash it with neutral soap.

However, if neonatal acne does not disappear after a few weeks, it is important that the pediatrician is consulted so that the skin can be assessed and the need for specific treatment is checked.

Main symptoms

The main symptom of neonatal acne is the appearance of small dots on the skin, similar to pimples, which are red or white in color. These small pimples can appear on the baby’s face, neck, back, head and chest.

Possible causes of neonatal acne

It is still not known for sure what specific causes are behind the appearance of pimples in the baby, but it is thought that it may be related to the exchange of hormones between mother and baby during pregnancy and after birth, causing changes on the skin and the appearance of acne.

This type of acne is more common in babies under 6 weeks of age, normally appearing between the 2nd and 4th week after birth.

However, baby pimples can also be present up to 6 months of age and, in these cases, it may be indicative of some hormonal change, and it is essential that the pediatrician is consulted so that an evaluation can be carried out and tests carried out, if necessary. necessary to identify the cause and initiate the best treatment.

How the treatment is carried out

It is normally not necessary to carry out any type of treatment for baby pimples, as they disappear after a few weeks, and it is only recommended that parents keep the baby’s skin clean with water and soap with a suitable neutral pH.

Some care that reduces the redness of the skin that appears due to pimples are:

• Dress the baby in cotton clothes appropriate to the season, preventing it from becoming too hot;
• Wipe off saliva or milk whenever the baby swallows, preventing it from drying on the skin;
• Bathe the baby with warm water;
• Do not use acne products sold in pharmacies, as they are not adapted for baby’s skin;
• Avoid squeezing pimples or rubbing them while bathing, as this can worsen inflammation;
• Do not apply oily creams to your skin, especially in the affected area, as this causes an increase in pimples.

In the most serious cases, where the baby’s acne takes more than 3 months to disappear, it is recommended to return to the pediatrician so that he can assess the need to start treatment with some medication.

See other causes of redness on baby’s skin.