Archive for the ‘Acne’ Category

A common condition in new born babies that some parents may find a little disturbing is a red rash over their face, forehead and scalp. This is called baby acne, although it is a name that is more regarded as a misnomer because it is not the same as true acne. It is a temporary condition that is something you shouldn’t be terribly concerned about.

This is a hormonal condition that is found in the first three months or so of the baby’s life. It comes about through the transference of hormones from the mother to the baby just before the baby is born and the oil glands in the baby’s skin are stimulated into overproduction which gives rise to the baby acne.

It’s a condition that may appear after a couple of weeks and it can continue to come and go for the first 6 months of the baby’s life. It can develop to form inflamed pimples and blackheads that look quite similar to the sort of pimples a teenager might get.

When the baby is calm and inactive the baby acne can actually look quite insignificant, but as the baby becomes distressed and begins crying the acne can looked more angry and inflamed.

There is no real medication treatment that will be effective (or is necessary) for the condition. Instead gently cleanse the skin with a mild baby soap and water each day. You don’t have to scrub the area or even wash it very often. Too much attention could very well be worse than no attention at all. It is very rare that the acne will last longer than 6 months, if it does then you should seek some advice from your pediatrician.