Lots of people think that only teenagers and young adult suffer from acne. But people of any age at all can get it, even tiny babies. In fact, it’s very common for infants to suffer from acne. At first, a lot of parents worry that their baby’s rash is something more serious, and it’s certainly important to check with your doctor to make sure it isn’t. But in a lot of cases, it turns out to be baby acne.

Cause of Baby Acne

Just like teenagers, babies are going through a lot of hormonal changes and rapid growth. It can be very hard on the young infant body to move from living inside the mother’s womb to the outside world. The baby’s body must learn to regulate its own functions for the first time, and this doesn’t happen instantly.

Normally baby acne makes its appearance around the third week after the baby is born. It can last half a year or even longer, and for some reason appears more commonly among baby boys than girls. Baby acne often looks a little different than the adolescent or even adult acne you may already be familiar with. It usually looks like tiny white spots, not erupting classic zits, although in some more severe cases it will appear as a red rash.

What Do We Do About Baby Acne?

While it may be very worrisome, in most cases baby acne is perfectly normal, as well as harmless. Make sure to bathe the baby twice daily using gentle soaps and washes designed for sensitive baby skin, keep skin clean, and try not to touch the baby’s acne if possible. Using infant moisturizing lotions or creams may also help, as babies do not tend to have oily skin but rather dry. Most baby acne goes away on its own in a matter of days or weeks.

If you are concerned that your baby’s acne is lasting a long time, if it appears very red and inflamed, or if the baby appears to be in some discomfort from the baby acne, you may want to ask your doctor to look at it more closely. Baby acne, like that in people of any age, can also be brought on by allergies, food sensitivities, or an underlying illness. Young infants are especially vulnerable, and need extra attention paid to any possible health concerns.

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