baby acne

Source:http://healthcaretips-fact-guide.blogspot.com/2009/04/health-care-tips-benefits-health-facts.html

Baby acne is also known as neonatal acne or acne neonatorum, is a common condition seen in newborn babies.  Baby acne is not the same as infantile acne, which affects older infants over three months old. Baby acne is characterized by the appearance of pimples or red bumps on the baby’s scalp, forehead, and especially the cheeks.

Baby acne is a normal stage that is difficult to prevent.  Baby acne is a fairly common affliction, occurring in about 20 percent of newborn infants. Baby acne maybe present from the birth, but typically appears at 3 to 4 weeks of age and last until your child is between 4 and 6 months old. Baby acne is more common among male infants than female infants.

Baby acne is perfectly normal, and is caused by hormones passed to the baby, through the placenta, before birth. Baby acne is thought to be caused by hormones left from mom in the final weeks of pregnancy. Baby acne could also be caused from a hormonal imbalance in the infant, but this is a rare occurrence.

Baby acne can be very disturbing to a new parent. The Parents are often shocked when their brand new baby’s soft skin is suddenly covered in bumps. Baby acne is not something that many expect though and it can come as a great surprise, which is why some parents make the mistake of scrubbing their baby’s face and making the condition worse.

Baby acne is harmless and does not really require treatment. Baby acne could also be caused from a hormonal imbalance in the infant, but this is a rare occurrence.  Baby acne is not helped by giving a baby a daily bath or by rubbing a baby down with lotions or baby oil.  Baby acne will go away by 8 weeks of age and any adult acne treatment will burn a baby’s skin, causing harmful, permanent injury to a baby’s sensitive skin.