Overview

It may surprise parents when their new baby develops pimples, but baby acne is common and usually harmless. Baby acne typically develops within the first three to four weeks of life, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and your baby may experience periodic breakouts until he is 4 to 6 months old.

Symptoms

Baby acne usually appears as red or white bumps on a baby’s forehead, cheeks or chin. Some babies are born with small, white bumps, or milia, on their faces, which clear up within a few weeks. Baby acne can usually be distinguished from milia, because acne bumps are more pronounced, and milia are not red, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Cause

Exposure to maternal hormones during pregnancy leads to the development of baby acne, according to Dr. Alan Greene, clinical professor of pediatrics at the Stanford University School of Medicine. While these hormones help your baby mature, they can also stimulate oil glands and cause acne. Baby boys are more likely to develop acne than baby girls, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

Baby acne typically clears up within the first few months of life without treatment. In the meantime, you can gently wash your baby’s face with warm water two to three times a day, according to the Mayo Clinic, and you can use a mild facial soap a few times a week. Use gentle laundry detergents on your baby’s clothes and bedding, and promptly clean up saliva or milk on his skin to avoid aggravating the condition. If your baby has severe acne that does not go away on its own, his doctor may recommend treatment with a medicated skin product.

Considerations

Although baby acne is common in healthy newborns, it is occasionally a sign of an underlying hormonal problem. If your baby’s skin does not clear up within three months, talk to his pediatrician, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Warning

Do not use acne products on your baby unless his doctor recommends or prescribes them. Avoid the use of lotions and oils, which may make acne worse. Do not squeeze or scrub pimples; this may cause an infection or irritate your baby’s delicate skin.