Do babies get acne? They do! It is very common and often disconcerting to the mother gazing down at her new cherub to be faced with the problems of a teen. However, acne in a baby is self-limiting – it doesn’t usually last more than six months. And, it also has no real treatment except time and patience.

So what causes it?

Baby acne can be present at birth but often it shows up after a couple of weeks. Often this is a time when the baby isn’t sleeping through night, he is cranky and mom is sleep deprived. The acne adds one more stressor to mom’s life.

There is no clear cause for baby acne but researchers believe that a major trigger is the release of hormones from the mother’s body that crosses the placenta in the last several weeks of pregnancy. Medications that mom is taking can also cross to breast milk and trigger an acne reaction in baby.

Baby acne can be present on the cheeks, forehead, chin and even on baby’s back. The area can be surrounded by reddened skin and more pronounced when baby is hot, fussy or the skin is irritated from saliva or fabric.

What looks like pimples but aren’t pimples? Milia. Milia are tiny bumps on the face that are there at birth. Milia will disappear within a few weeks after birth while baby acne usually takes several months. Milia are completely unrelated to baby acne. These are pearly white cysts on the surface of the skin that are actually common in people of all ages but more noticeable in babies. They form because the skin does not completely slough off normal but remains trapped in a pocket of skin.

There is a third option. If the condition appears more scaly than pimply and is on other locations than the face, back or neck it may be cradle cap or eczema.

Treatment for baby acne is simple and uncomplicated. Use only mild baby soap that isn’t highly fragranced. Do not use creams or oils because they’ll make the acne worse. Do not use over the counter medications designed for adolescent skin because, again, it will worsen the condition and harm the baby’s skin.

Do not scrub the skin because the baby acne isn’t caused by dirt. Too much washing will also irritate baby skin and make the condition worse. Keep the cleaning to once a day and pat the skin dry.

Avoid using harsh detergents or those that are highly fragrant on your baby’s clothing.

Baby acne will clear up in a couple of weeks but it can also linger for months. If the baby acne persists for more than 3 months you should consult your pediatrician.

Coping with this condition may be difficult but unfortunately it is the only thing that can be done. The baby isn’t affected by his acne – you needn’t be either.