Real Medical Questions from Parents

Tuesday 9th March 2010

Real Questions From Parents Answered By Dr. Liana Dao: Today’s Topic is Baby Acne

This is usually called neonatal acne or acne neonatorum and is often present when the baby is born. It usually presents as closed comedones or “blackheads”  or open comedones or “whiteheads.”  (commonly on the forehea, nose, and cheeks)

What is it? Neonatal acne is thought to result from the glands of the skin cells called “sebaceous cells” being triggered by the mom’s or infant’s androgens (hormones). Newborn’s who are breastfed usually have it more.

What should a parent do? Parents should be advised that the acne usually resolves spontaneously on its own after 4 months without scarring. Treatment is usually not indicated.

When to worry? Like any other conditions—-if it looks pusy, red, bleeding, swelling, baby not eating or if the baby has fever, etc etc ...you can always ask your doctor for antibx cream/ ointment. But this is really RARE RARE RARE!! I have never given any parent antibiotic treatment for neonatal acne….or you can always send them to a pediatric dermatologist if treatment is resilient..

Side Notes From Dr. Dao: Parents should understand that the more antibiotics used—the more resisitance builds in the community and that leads to treatments that no longer work for your baby. Parents should also be advised that to have baby skin less sensitive to rashes—use HYPOALLERGENIC products from Eucerin/Aveeno/Cetaphil etc.

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