Severe Baby Acne

If you are breastfeeding, try dabbing a cotton bud soaked in breastmilk all over her acne area. Be generous. If not, what has always worked for us (my older daughter has sensitive skin) is calendula cream. You can find this at Whole Foods or a store like it. Good luck!

someone asked this question a while back.. 20+ people replied and everyone had a diferent solution to the problem.. which makes me think that time is the best healer.

baby acne is normal.. most likely caused by moms hormones leaving the babies body.. it lasts a couple of weeks and goes away without any scarring.

Both of my kids had it .. I did nothing and it went a way..

J.,
My son had the same problem. It didn't start immediately after birth, but at about 3 weeks or so, it started on his cheeks, then spread, just as you described. I tried not to be bothered by it, and just chalked it up to being normal baby acne, but after a few days, I couldn't take it anymore, and took him to the pediatrician. They immediately felt it was an allergic rash, rather than 'baby acne', and recommended I stop eating dairy - I was nursing, and dairy is a big allergy culprit for infants. I stopped eating any dairy, and within a day or two after I stopped, the rash was COMPLETELY GONE. I'd definitely recommend getting a doctor's opinion on your baby's rash...

Both of my children got this, but my son a little worse than my daughter.
The pediatrician explained that it's completely normal. They live for 40 weeks in a water environment and then are introduced to the outside world and their skin and pores begin working from the inside out. It's really just their bodies cleansing. And, around a month old sounds about right for it to start happening.
I would take her to the pediatrician just to make sure. You don't want to over-wash because that can strip their skin of oils. This usually clears up on it's own and causes no harm.

Check to be sure it isn't being caused by an irritation as opposed to her little pores getting cleared out.

Best wishes!

My baby did the same thing, had what I though was baby acne on her face for a few days. Then it started spreading all the way down her body~ turned out to be cradle cap. (all it was were little R. bumps... didnt look like cradle cap at all, no flaking or anything...) so her pedi gave us a cream to put on it, cleared most of it up, and the rest resolved itself after a week or two. she said it didn't happen very often, but it was more common in post-due babies.

~also, she recommended 2 days of plain water baths to 1 day of a baby-soap bath... too much soap (even baby soap) can dry out their skin.

I would have the pediatrician check it out and if it is baby acne the best thing to do it gently clean with her bath and leave it at that. It will go away on it's own. Don't pick at it or apply any type of cleanser or astringent. If i remember right it's just caused by the hormones that baby gets from us.

Hello, It could be what we used to call the one month baby rash. Doctors used to tell us to not put anything on it. It would just go away. Now I might try cortizone. I wouldn't put it near her eyes, though.
Good luck with your precious baby.
K. K.

My daughter had the same thing when she was about that age and the dr. and dermatologist said it was severe cradle cap. It went away, but it took a few months. They told me to put Cortaid on it to make it go away faster. Ask your dr. first though before you put any topical on it.

Hi J.. Please do not worry. It goes away in time. I agree with all of the great advice below, so won't repeat. Would add one thing to consider: please do not look at your little one's face with any show of concern. They are very sensitive to our cues and body language. Someone once shared with me that when I have to check out a cut or boo boo or other blemish on the face, to sing a song and smile while doing so...so as to mask any concern on my face.

Hope this helps.

Assuming it is just the typical baby acne (can't hurt to get a doc opinion on that), then you just have to wait it out and try not to go crazy wanting to get rid of it! Like another mom mentioned, breast milk is a good natural way to tame it. Lots of healing properties.

Hi J., it may be a heat rash, I would make an appointment with her ped to see what he says. And I'm sure whether it's a regular rash or heaqt rash he /her will give you something that will help. J.

you just have to wait for the hormones to clear their way out of her system. My oldest had SEVERE baby acne until he was about 3 months old & then it just disappeared. The doctor said that it's always more upsetting for the parents than the baby (who doesn't feel a thing!). Just make sure that you keep her moisturized so that she doesn't have dry skin and wait it out & she will be fine :)

My baby had this too. Warm water, maybe even cortizone. Call her doctor's office and ask the nurse advise line. I have gap I didn't take pictures, I am sad I didn't now.

Sister's baby, born last summer experienced this too for the 1st 6 mo.. Sis got some special cream to use on my niece's face from the Pediatrician. Dr said this is a normal occurance in some babies so I'd ck with yours on your next planned ck up. You may even call sooner & leave a msg on Dr's voice mail so you get and answer quicker. He may also recommend water only to wash your babies face, or special sensitive face soap for a while. It will clear up but may take a few months. My niece is almost 1 now her skind is good, but her skin is pretty sensitive skin and fair, even certain baby sunscreen's cause a rash so be aware of this. Good luck

Go to the ped and have them check her out. Mine had acne and I just let it go away on its own. Good Luck.

My baby was born June 3rd! wow.. they are the same age. We had the same problem and the doc said it was hormonal there was nothing we could do. im not sure if this helped but I juiced sweet lemons (like 20 a day) and drank it.. .and nursed and within 2 days it cleared up!

Don't stress too much, J.. It does go away. Time is the best thing for it. My daughter had the very same condition you are describing...to a T. Bathing too much will dry your little honey's skin out. I wasn't too thrilled about the prescription creams either. I stumbled acrosd a store in Santa Monica on a family outing called LUSH. Their Dream Cream is amazing. It worked wonders for my daughter's skin. Check it out. Kinda pricey, but it was worth it. Good luck.