Baby acne is a condition that many babies experience from a few weeks to a few months. Most doctors agree that the best treatment for baby acne is to leave it alone, as this condition is natural and will go away quickly as long as the baby's face is gently washed. However, in severe cases, the pediatrician will suggest stronger treatments. Here's what you need to know about dealing with baby acne.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Home Treatment
Step 1. Wash baby's skin with water and mild baby soap
Wash baby's face with warm water every day. For severe baby acne, a mild soap can also be used.
- Use soap made especially for babies whenever possible. Soaps made for teens or adults may be a little too strong for baby's skin.
- If you can't use baby soap, use a face wash with a gentle moisturizer, or a soap with lots of emollients. These soaps are usually gentle enough for most babies, but you should stop using them immediately if your baby's skin turns red or the acne gets worse.
- Don't wash your baby's face more than once a day. Washing baby's skin too often can cause irritation, so that the oil glands produce excess oil and eventually aggravate baby acne.
Step 2. Do not scratch the skin
When you wash your baby's face, do so by patting or wiping gently.
- Since baby acne is caused by overactive fat glands, and not dirt, rubbing your baby's skin will only irritate it and produce more oil.
- Use a soft sponge or terry washcloth to wipe the baby's skin.
Step 3. Gently pat the skin dry
Use a terry hand towel to gently pat the baby's skin until it is completely dry.
Do not wipe or rub the baby's skin dry, as this can cause skin irritation and the production of more oil
Step 4. Don't use oily lotion
Avoid using lotion on the face, especially the areas with acne, because the lotion can make the problem worse.
- Although the pimple may appear dry, it is in fact caused by an overactive oil gland. Adding oil to your face will only make it worse.
- If you're worried that your baby's skin may dry out from acne, use a baby soap with a moisturizer while you clean his skin to prevent it from drying out and pat it dry as soon as possible.
- If your baby's skin seems dry, you can also apply a non-greasy cream instead of an oily lotion. Only apply the cream to a small part of the skin and watch carefully to make sure that the pimple on the baby's skin doesn't get worse. If this cream shows improvement, you can apply it to other areas of the pimple.
Step 5. Don't pop your baby's pimple
Under no circumstances should try to pop your baby's pimples, as this is not helpful and can even be dangerous.
Popping a pimple will irritate the skin. Irritated skin will make the oil glands produce more oil. The more oil, the more severe the baby's acne will be
Step 6. Be patient
The appearance of baby acne will usually disappear within a few weeks to several months without special treatment.
- Even though the baby's skin condition looks bad, this pimple rarely causes pain or discomfort to the baby. But if the baby shows signs of discomfort, you can visit your doctor for more specialized professional care.
- Baby acne usually first appears at 2 to 4 weeks of age, and can last up to 5 to 6 months of age. Baby acne is usually most severe between 6 and 12 weeks of age.
- Note that baby acne is usually most severe when the baby is hot and moving around a lot.
- Baby acne generally lasts longer in breastfed babies, because the hormones that trigger excess oil left in the baby's body from the mother's womb can also enter through breast milk. As a result, baby acne often disappears when breastfeeding is stopped. But baby acne can also go away faster if the baby's oil glands are mature enough to handle the hormones beforehand.
Method 2 of 2: Medical Treatment
Step 1. Don't use over-the-counter acne medications for teens
Creams and ointments made for teens or adults are too harsh for a baby's sensitive skin.
Using over-the-counter acne medications can irritate the skin, making acne worse. This medicine can also cause the baby's skin to be too dry. The worst thing is that the baby's skin becomes too dry that he feels pain
Step 2. Only use over-the-counter medications with your doctor's permission
In most cases, over-the-counter creams will only irritate the baby's skin and should be avoided. However, in special cases, your doctor may suggest using a mild 1% hydrocortisone cream or ionic colloidal silver solution.
- Hydrocortisone cream will treat dry, itchy and sore skin caused by severe baby acne. By soothing the skin, this cream reduces oil production, and ultimately treats baby acne. Note that this cream can also hurt the baby if it gets into his eyes or mouth.
- Ionic colloidal silver solutions are generally considered safer than hydrocortisone creams. This cream kills bacteria that live in oily facial skin and soothes itchy skin.
- Only apply a small amount of this product to the baby's skin, and use it at most twice a day for two days.
Step 3. Ask for prescription cream
If baby acne appears to be causing pain or discomfort to the baby, or it persists for more than a few months, your doctor may prescribe an acne cream to help clear the baby's skin.
- Prescription creams are almost always retinoid creams. Retinoids are a type of chemical compound that regulates the growth of skin tissue.
- The retinoid creams commonly used to treat baby acne are Adapalene, Tazarotene, and Tretinoin.
- Apply this recipe cream according to directions. Usually this cream is applied topically over the skin with acne once a day, about 20 to 30 minutes after you wash your baby's face.
Step 4. Ask about dietary changes and other possible causes
Some conditions may disguise as baby acne, when in fact there is something else entirely.
- If the baby is older than four to six months, the bump on the baby's skin is likely not a pimple.
- Eczema is another skin condition that babies may experience.
- These bumps may also be the result of a mild allergy to a new food that you introduce in your baby's diet. If you have just started introducing a new food or drink, stop and report the progress to your doctor.
