Why does my baby have pimples? Aren’t they way too young? You’d think that considering acne is a problem that confronts most people after the onset of puberty. Where an infant is concerned though, they can experience many of the same problems that a pubescent teenager is undergoing and the cause is usually the same – hormones.
Mom’s Hormones
Remember, that up until birth, you and your baby are connected by the umbilical cord and share a great deal via this cord – one of those things is the mother’s hormones and these hormones may remain in the baby’s body after birth for a few days or weeks. However, it is not just the hormones that cause infant acne, but your baby’s skin itself.
Baby Skin
Remember, your baby’s skin is very young and still developing. Their pours are very small and tight and may trap dirt far more easily than you may care for. If your baby does develop pimples or infant acne, don’t rush out to pick up some acne cream or pop the pimples themselves. You want to leave them alone and wash them gently with water only and then leave them be.
The pimples will clear up on their own over time and they won’t leave any lasting marks. If you try to scrub them off or pop them, you run the risk of hurting their skin or scarring it. Most acne creams are far too strong and are more likely to hurt them than to help them.
I’ve seen plenty of babies with infant acne and I’ve seen it clear up relatively quickly on their own. So take your time and enjoy looking after your little one. A few pimples here and there are not going to hurt them. In the event that you notice the acne is not improving or appears to be getting worse, then you may want to consult with your pediatrician for some alternatives – but in my experience – it’s just a matter of a few days and the little blemishes vanish on their own.
Has your baby ever experienced infant acne?
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