Infantile Acne

There are a lot of rashes that babies get that are common and perfectly normal. Some are thought to be due to changes in the skin as the baby transitions to living outside the womb, as well as the effects of maternal hormones on their skin. One common rash appears as bumps on the forehead and face and is usually called baby acne. For many years, it was thought to be a form of acne due to the high level of hormones that babies have through the placenta. However, it is now believed that this is a separate rash, and while a very few babies may get true acne, the common newborn rash is not acne and has been renamed neonatal cephalic pustulosis. Some also call it neonatal acne, to distinguish it from true acne which appears at several months of age and is called infant acne. Infant acne is a more serious condition than baby or newborn acne.

About 20-30 percent of infants get baby acne (neonatal cephalic pustulosis). Some, however, use this term to refer to a fungal infection of the skin in some infants, though some studies have shown no association between this yeast and baby acne. Experts differ on their opinion as to the cause and what names to call this common condition. It may be that there are multiple conditions/causes which appear very similar on the newborn’s skin.

Some think it is caused by maternal hormones, and the normal skin changes that infants go through as they transition from living in liquid to living in air. Others believe that it is due to a yeast on the skin (

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), although studies are not consistent on the presence of this yeast in babies with newborn acne. (It may be that there is more than one cause/condition at work here).Rashes, pimples and spots are very common in little babies, and sometimes very different conditions can look pretty similar. So how can you tell what’s what?

The first thing to say is that if you’re worried about a baby, especially under one year old, you should always talk to a doctor. No one is going to think you’re wasting their time, becse little babies need careful attention when they’re so young. Any rash accompanied by fever should be checked out as soon as possible, but you can consult your doctor about any skin issue, even when unexplained spots appear without a fever.

About 20% of newborns develop neonatal acne, which appears on the face, chest, back and neck, often when the baby is about two weeks old, and looks like little pimples and spots. If it persists, or starts after the baby is six weeks old, it’s called infantile acne. It can last for a few weeks, months or even years.

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Childhood eczema is also very common in babies and young children, and can also manifest as spots and pimples, but is much more likely to be accompanied by itchiness, sore patches and inflammation. It’s an inflammatory condition associated with a fragile skin barrier, resulting in dry or cracked skin.

If your baby develops eczema, they will need to have emollients applied regularly to keep the skin hydrated and nourished, and you’ll have to identify the triggers that cse a flare-up, whether that’s pet hair, dust mites, detergent, food, soap or other toiletries.

Infantile acne should eventually clear up on its own. We don’t recommend any particular products to ‘treat’ it, except not to use grown-up acne products, don't pick the spots, and to stick to very gentle, soap-free, scent-free skincare.

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To help manage flare ups of childhood eczema, first identify triggers (whether in diet, environment, toiletries, or detergents) and then find an unfragranced emollient for frequent application. For more information about managing eczema, see Top Tips for Managing Childhood Eczema in our Info Hub.

To help manage flare ups of childhood eczema, first identify triggers (whether in diet, environment, toiletries, or detergents) and then find an unfragranced emollient for frequent application. For more information about managing eczema, see Top Tips for Managing Childhood Eczema in our Info Hub.