Baby Acne

The occurrence of baby acne is a quite common condition. It happens to be a natural skin disease which generally clears up in a matter of a few to several weeks. Acne-like bumps on the baby's face are caused by trapped oil on the skin follicle.  Baby acne generally appears on the baby’s cheeks first, but may often cover the forehead and the chin. The slight blemishes on the skin are caused by exposure to hormonal alteration in the womb preceding child birth. This doesn't usually need acne treatments, but may come back after six months or so.

Persistence of this skin condition may suggest early sexual hormonal reproduction. In this case, the infant must be examined by a physician to determine if there exists a genetic predisposition to acne.  Some studies have shown that infants who have experienced more serious episodes with baby acne may be predisposed to contracting teenage acne as an adolescent.

As the baby develops into early childhood, between the ages of 2-6, they are in an acne free time period. This means that acne development should cease between these ages. If it doesn't, a doctor should be consulted. This condition may also indicate that a problematic hormonal imbalance may exist in the child.

So, in summary, the occurrence of baby acne is a natural acne skin disease that will generally take care of itself.  Though baby acne can sometimes look menacing, an examination by your pediatrician can rule out a more serious skin condition.