Baby acne usually affects babies within several weeks to several months of age. But, have you ever wondered how long does baby acne last? Does this condition require some special treatment?
Well, baby acne is a common condition, so there’s no need to worry. This condition is natural and it will clear up quickly if the baby’s face is gently washed. But, in some more serious cases your baby will need a proper treatment.
In this article we will tell you something more about this condition and we will also tell you how to treat baby acne.
How To Get Rid Of Baby Acne Naturally?
Wash Your Baby’s Face With Water and Baby Soap. When you have a baby one of the most important things is to wash your baby’s face with warm water every day. If your baby has acne, it will be necessary to use a mild soap that is formulated for babies. Soaps that are meant for adults might be too harsh for the skin of your baby. Because of that, it is recommended to use a baby soap or a mild moisturizing facial soap. Also, you can use a soap with a high content of emollients. All these soaps are mild enough and they won’t do any harm to your baby. But, if you notice that your baby’s skin turns red or if the acne gets worse, you should stop using these products immediately. It is recommended not to wash your baby’s face more than once a day. If you wash your baby’s skin too often, it may cause irritation. Also, oil-producing glands can start working more and creating more acne.
Avoid Scrubbing the Baby’s Skin. When you are washing your baby’s face, you should never scrub it because it will irritate the skin and it will cause the glands to produce more oil. You should only pat your baby’s face and wipe it down gently. It is recommended to use a soft washcloth or sponge to wipe the skin of your baby. In order to pat your baby’s skin completely dry, you should use a soft terry bath towel. Don’t wipe and scrub your baby’s skin dry because it will irritate the skin and also more oil will be produced.
Don’t Use Oily Lotions. You should avoid applying lotions to your baby’s face because it can aggravate the problem of acne. Although the patch of acne seems dry, if you add more oil it will make the acne even worse. As we have already said, it is best to use a moisturizing baby soap because cleansing the skin will reduce the risk of further drying out of the skin. Also, it is necessary to pat the skin dry as soon as possible. If your baby’s skin is too dry, then you can use a non-oily cream. It is much better than an oily lotion. You just need to apply the cream to a small patch of the baby’s skin and to make sure that your baby’s skin does not get worse. If you notice that the cream helps your baby and if there are no side effects, you can apply it to the rest of the area that is affected with acne.
Don’t Squeeze the Acne. A very important thing is not to squeeze the acne because it won’t be helpful. It will certainly irritate your baby’s skin, which will cause glands to produce more oil. It means that your baby may have more and more acne. Because of that, it is best not to touch your baby’s acne.
Be Patient. As we have already said, acne is a natural condition that affects most babies sooner or later. Parents don’t have to worry because acne will disappear over time without any special treatment. Acne usually disappears within a few weeks, so it is important to be patient. Although the skin of your baby may look awful, your baby will not have any pain or discomfort, which is very important. It is proved that baby acne lasts longer with breast-fed babies. When your baby is weaned off breast milk, acne will start to disappear slowly.
Don’t Use Medications Designed For Adults. If your baby has acne, you should never use over-the-counter medications that are designed for adolescents and adults. These products are too harsh for baby’s skin and they may cause irritation. Of course, it will make the acne even worse. Also, your baby’s face may become very dry and in some serious cases the skin of your baby may also become painful.
Use Medications Only With Your Doctor’s Permission. It is also very important to use over-the-counter remedies only after consulting your doctor. These remedies will irritate the skin of your baby so you should avoid them. But, there are some special cases when your doctor will recommend a mild 1% hydrocortisone cream as well as ionic colloidal silver solution. Hydrocortisone cream is good for treating dry and painful skin of your baby in some severe cases of baby acne. This cream will soothe the skin of your baby and it will reduce the production of oil. But, you should be careful and prevent a hydrocortisone cream to get into your baby’s eyes or mouth. Ionic colloidal silver solution can also help with baby acne and it is considered safer than a hydrocortisone cream. Whichever product you decide to use, you should apply only a small amount on your baby’s face and watch the reaction of your baby. If there are no side effects, you can use these products twice a day for two days. After this period of time, you should notice that skin condition of your baby is much better.
Ask For a Prescription Cream. If acne on your baby’s face is painful and if it causes discomfort to your baby, it is recommended to ask your doctor for a prescription cream. A gentle prescription acne cream may help clear the baby’s skin from awful acne. Doctors usually prescribe a retinoid cream, such as adapalene, tretinoin or tazarotene. It is known that retinoids are chemical compounds that can regulate the growth of skin tissues. Acne cream should be applied topically on your baby’s face once a day. It is recommended to apply it 20-30 minutes after washing your baby’s face.
Use Coconut Oil. A good idea is also to use coconut oil for baby acne. Coconut oil is 100% natural and it is absolutely safe for babies. You just need to rub a small amount of extra virgin coconut oil on the affected area of your baby. You should repeat the process several times a day and the results will be amazing.
Change Your Baby’s Diet. Sometimes acne is the result of an allergic reaction to a new food that is introduced in your baby’s diet. In this case you should stop giving your baby this food and you should take your baby to a health provider.
These are some of the ways how you can treat baby acne. But, the most important is to find out potential causes of baby acne and then to start with a proper treatment. Not only baby acne appears on your baby’s face, but it is also possible that you notice baby acne on chest of your baby or on some other parts of the body.
Summary
Baby acne is a common condition that affects almost all babies in a certain period of their development. There is no need to worry if your baby also has acne. Acne usually appears on your baby’s face, but sometimes acne may appear also on other parts of your baby’s body. Experts recommend us to use a baby soap and to avoid any oily lotions.
Also, you should consult your doctor before using any over-the-counter medications to treat your baby’s acne.
