As a new parent, you may have noticed small red bumps on your baby's face. Don't worry; it is not a sign of poor hygiene or allergic reaction to something consumed by the baby. It might be what we like to call acne - that stubborn skin condition popular among teenagers but can also affect newborns and infants.
So, why does your little munchkin have an outbreak of pimples? Well, several factors could cause this. However, some common causes are the hormones passed from mother to child in utero or breastfeeding and an overproduction of oil (sebum) by the skin glands.
Luckily for you, baby acne is usually temporary and mild without scarring or long-term damage. In most cases, it clears up after a few weeks or months with no intervention needed whatsoever.
Determining Whether Your Baby Has Acne Or Not
Some parents mistake milia for baby acne because they look almost alike - small white bumps on their infant's face. The only difference is that milia doesn't have any redness around them compared to acne (lucky parents).
To differentiate between the two:
- Milia occurs when dead skin cells accumulate on top of pores resulting in tiny white cysts.
- Baby acne appears as red-looking pimples similar to teenage or adult outbreaks but typically located on cheeks and forehead while excluding eyes area.
Treatments To Avoid At All Cost
Before jumping into treatments available commercially juggling household budgets...We know, there are some things pediatricians WILL NEVER RECOMMEND as treatment for your little one's breakouts. Why? Because these "DIY solutions" can do more harm than good!
Here are five dangerous treatment options always recommended against:
1.Crude oils
Yes! Let us all forget those DIY Pinterest home remedies claiming 'coconut oil will clear up baby acne like magic.' Applying crude oils to your baby's skin could result in allergic reactions or worsen an existing breakout.
2. Harsh Chemicals
Please avoid going out of the way trying to treat infant acne with standard skincare products meant for adults, I mean...durr! Anti-acne cleansers and spot treatments often include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid—ingredients far too harsh for newborns or infants' fragile skin.
3. Scrubbing/Buffing Tools
Please do not be convinced by that girl on Instagram who claims using her brand buffing tool on her toddler cleared up their facial rash within days -- quite unlikely. Infant Acne causes inflammation; therefore, scrubbing creams & soaps will only irritate their sensitive little faces further
Safe Treatment Options:
Infant Acne is a nuisance but never severe enough to warrant taking them off medication—rule #1: Do No Harm(as recommended by most pediatric dermatologists as well) Instead try these approaches:
Continue Practicing Good Hygiene
It's perfectly fine (and necessary) you keep the affected areas clean..so unlike those annoying 'skincare gurus,' we aren't missing anything there.
Here are some good hygiene practices tips:
- Wash your hands before touching your child's face,
- Use mild soap /cleanser free from harsh chemicals
- Avoid using cloths which might exacerbate irritation
### Stick To Soft Cloth While Wiping Your Teacup Human
(No one can judge us for calling our babies teacup humans now)-We take offense when they say it first!
Use soft cloth instead of scrubs while wiping around face area during meal times – rub gently - this helps prevent flares ups while preserving delicate skin.
Breastfeeding Moms Could Benefit From Mild Vitamin E Lotions And Moisturisers
Breast Milk is one of the rarest forms of moisturizer available in town(hopefully you gonna get some) since it's free and readily available. Applying a few drops could help deal with mild eruptions on infant's faces.
Also worthy to note; nursing mothers suffering stress should be mindful as studies suggest that high cortisol levels, distinguished by lifestyle-induced stress can trigger or worsen flare-ups.
Visit Your Healthcare Provider
Whilst Infant Acne usually recedes after several weeks/months without intervention, In serious out break cases where sores come in painful waves - it wouldn't hurt visiting your healthcare provider for recommendation on medicated creams which are safe for infants- time isn't waiting!
Conclusion
Parenting poses many surprises(we know), some good while others..not so much but acne shouldn't give stress factor added to all things concerned!
Remember: Proper hygiene techniques and sticking to the soft cloth plan go a long way helping soothe(&keep at bay) unnecessary irritants which aggravate facial rashes.
You might want to resist breathing down over skincare routines during these times because less is always more. A gentle wipe-down during 'eating o'clock,' simple skin care practices coupled with routine health check-ups should keep baby acne under control till their delicate skin adjusts harmoniously..
Cheers To fewer hurdles Down The Line~