Babies are prone to skin irritations as their skin is not yet used to the environment they have been born. Acne is one skin irritation that affects babies. Children between the age of 6 weeks to 6 months suffer from acne.
Newborns still have many maternal hormones moving in their system in the first few weeks after birth. These hormones can cause acne on the baby’s face, chest, neck, and back.
Apart from hormones, environmental irritants can trigger baby acne, but hormones are the leading cause of acne.
Note that not all children suffer from acne, but if your child falls under this category, then this article is for you. We will look at home remedies you can apply to get rid of the acne on your baby. Home remedies for baby acne will help you solve acne problems.
What Does Baby Acne Look Like?
Baby acne could be mistaken for rashes which is why this article is essential. Before you conclude that your baby has acne or start the treatment, you should know what it looks like.
Not knowing what baby acne looks like can make the mother apply the wrong treatment/solution to the child, which will cause even more harm than good which is why we have come up with home remedies for baby acne.
Baby acne looks like tiny red spots or white pimples on your infant’s cheeks, nose, eyelids, chin, or forehead. Sometimes it could also appear on your baby’s chest, back, or neck.
Neonatal And Infantile Acne
- Neonatal
Neonatal acne (baby acne) looks like red, inflamed bumps and pimples that may be found on the cheeks, forehead, chest, and back; it appears at about two or three weeks of age and lasts for a few weeks to a few months, and affects 20% of children.
- Infantile Acne
Infantile acne is commonly found in young children. It appears at about three months and lasts for a few months or up until ages 2 or 3. It affects less than 2% of children and looks like teenage acne, with pimples, blocked pores, and blackheads
When Does Baby Acne Go away?
Many mothers have caused more problems for their children by increasing their skin irritation and causing skin infections because of their ignorance in handling baby acne.
Baby acne usually clears up within four weeks after birth; in this situation, they will need no medical treatment. If your baby’s acne lingers longer, do the following;
- Clean your baby’s face each day, wash with warm water
- Dry your baby’s face gently. Pat your baby’s dry skin
- Don’t pinch or scrub the acne; you may cause further irritation or infection.
- Avoid using lotions or ointments.
5 Baby Acne Self Care
These are the homemade remedies you should try out to eliminate acne in your baby. They include breast milk, corn starch, diet, extra virgin coconut oil, and honey with lemon.
- Breast Milk
Breast milk is one of the most accessible remedies for baby acne. Put some breast milk in a bowl, dip a cotton ball, and apply it on the affected parts. Keep at this until the acne disappears.
- Corn Starch
Corn Starch is another easy remedy for baby acne. Mix the cornstarch with water and apply it to the affected areas. It dries the skin and clears the acne.
- Diet
As a breastfeeding mother, if you notice acne in your baby, try changing your diet. Avoid sweet or sour food and even oily foods, avoid citrus foods, and cut down on dairy products.
- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is completely natural and is suitable for acne. Concentrated coconut oil moisturizes the baby’s skin. Apply a few drops to the affected area 4 times daily until the acne disappears.
- Honey and Lemon
This combination naturally clears the skin and makes it smooth, and they also work on delicate skin. Mix honey and lemon and apply it on the affected areas; leave for 25 minutes then, rinse with warm water.
Conclusion
Now that you know what baby acne looks like and the difference between neonatal and infantile acne, you can tell when it goes away and what to do when it doesn’t.
Based on this article, you’re also aware of the home remedies to ensure it disappears; you can now accurately diagnose the skin irritation on your baby and what to apply to get rid of them.
You should take note of the difference between neonatal and infantile acne to be sure of which one your baby has and the remedy you should apply. It is crucial, so you don’t worsen your child’s situation by treating them wrongly.
Everything you need to know about baby acne and the home remedy is contained in this article.
