What a New Parent Should Know About Baby Acne

First of all, don't stress out about it! It is very common and affects almost 1 out of every 5 newborns, a solid 20%. Naturally, parents are concerned both about how these bumps look and about their significance. But know that this will be of short duration. First, let's understand what causes it in the first place.
What Causes Baby Acne
During the last stage of pregnancy, the mother's hormones crossed the placenta into the baby. These hormones are necessary and beneficial to matters such as maturing the baby's lungs, among others things. After delivery, a lingering effect of these hormones can cause the overstimulation of the baby's sebaceous glands, setting the stage for baby acne.
What Does Baby Acne Looks Like
Depending on when the acne occurs, health professionals may call it by different names. "Miliaria acne" won't be present at birth, but may result during the 1st week of a baby's life. Miliaria acne appears as little white bumps on a baby's face and scalp, possibly the result of incubator use, dressings or fever. Typical baby acne or "acne neonatorum" may commonly appear when the baby is about 3 weeks old, but could be present at delivery. The skin condition may be called "infantile acne" if it develops at 3 months or later.
Baby acne will appear as red pimples on the baby's chin, forehead, cheek or nose. Whiteheads may also be visible. The face is the typical location, but it could appear on the baby's back, as well. It also tends to occur at about the same age as the baby's peak gas production and fussiness. When the baby is fussing or crying, there is increased blood flow to the face, and the acne will look worse. How lovely! Of course, all of this coincides with Mommy and Daddy's chronic sleep deprivation, too!
What Kind of Treatment Is Necessary
No treatment is necessary. Gently cleansing the baby's face at least once a day with water and mild baby soap will likely help. The use of oils or lotions may aggravate baby acne, so avoid using them. Keep in mind that baby acne will disappear spontaneously in a few weeks.
This rash will soon be a memory. The oil glands will disappear, and you won't see the acne again until you turn around once, and (in a flash) your baby is suddenly a teenager! This time, it will be their own hormones kicking into play, turning them into young ladies and gentlemen.
If you or someone you love has acne, go to http://www.NaturalAcneTreatmentReviews.com to learn more about several natural acne and rosacea treatments available. Studies show that natural holistic treatments have the highest success rate and provide a foundation to control acne triggers over longer periods of time.
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