Does Your Newborn Have Pimples And Rashes

Does Your Newborn Have Pimples and Rashes?

Roughly 20% of babies will have newborn pimples and rashes. Newborn acne is a condition that is common in newborns. Newborn pimples and rashes can be present on the cheeks, chin, forehead and back. You should not look at newborn pimples and rashes as a sign of uncleanliness. Newborn pimples and rashes are caused by immature and clogged sebaceous glands or by hormones that have been passed from the mother to the child. Scrubbing a newborn baby’s face in an attempt to rid the baby of acne can aggravate the skin condition and it is strongly discouraged.

Newborn pimples and rashes can be present from birth or they may arise at any time. Newborn acne will usually go away by the time the baby is six months old. If it does not your baby’s pediatrician may prescribe an ointment or cream to rub onto the baby’s cheeks. If your baby is going to have newborn pimples and rashes it will usually set in around three weeks of age. Surprisingly, male babies are more prone to develop newborn acne than female babies. The most common types of newborn acne are papules and pustules. Papules are red bumps that look much like red pimples. They are small, solid and round. Pustules are also known as whiteheads. They are very small and white. The white part is where pus has gathered in your baby’s pores.

There are things that can make newborn pimples and rashes worse. As stated above, trying to scrub an infant’s skin to keep it clean can inflame the pimples and rashes. Babies who have newborn pimples and rashes have skin that is very fragile and sensitive. Continually rubbing on their delicate skin can make the condition worse.

Newborn pimples and rashes can also be aggravated by moisture. Try to keep your baby’s mouth and face dry. Drool and spit up can make newborn acne red because it irritates the existing bumps.

Harsh detergents can also inflame newborn pimples and rashes. Many people try to wash their baby’s clothes and blankets in a mild detergent, but they do not wash their own clothes with mild detergents. When you hold your baby up on your shoulder (or against your chest) the baby’s skin is coming in contact with material that has been cleaned using a harsh detergent. Likewise, many parents go out of their way to ensure their baby’s clothing and blankets are soft. However, they do not take the same care with their own clothes. If your baby is propped up on your shoulder and he or she is rubbing their face into your shoulder that is covered with an abrasive and scratchy material – it can aggravate their acne.

You should not apply any oils, lotions or creams to your baby’s acne unless you are directed to do so by your baby’s doctor. Many of these products contain substances that will only make your baby’s skin worse. If you feel that your baby needs a topical ointment, cream or lotion ask your doctor to prescribe or recommend one. You should never use adult acne products on your baby’s skin.

You can breathe a sigh of relief in knowing that your baby’s newborn pimples and rashes will eventually fade away. Once they have conquered this baby acne you won’t see a bump on their faces until they reach adolescence. Until then, keep your baby’s face clean and dry to reduce inflammation. If your baby has a photography date you can apply a small amount of makeup concealer to his face to even out any redness. However, you should not do this repeatedly -- only on special occasions. Applying concealer to your baby’s face repeatedly can make the acne worse.