What to Do About Baby Acne

Updated on August 16, 2008
S.C. asks from Wylie, TX
35 answers

I have a 1 month old baby, and I was wondering what I should do about some acne she has on her face. They look like little red heatbumps, and they're just on her cheeks.

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So What Happened?

First off, I wanted to say thank you SO much to everyone who gave me their advice and suggestions, I greatly appreciate it! I am very happy to say that my baby girl's acne is already starting to go away. All I did was pretty much just leave it alone and wash her face every day with water. I can't believe how fast it already healed! I decided not to put any type of creams on it because she's only a month old and I didn't want to irritate her skin any more than it already was. Hopefully, the acne will stay gone! Again, thank you to all the moms for the wonderful advice!!!

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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

I used Cetaphil on both my babies when they had that. It's normal. Their skin doesn't really look clear until after 3 months or so. Congratulations!

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T.S.

answers from Dallas on

Sara it is from the milk, either breast or formula. All of my children had it is I just washed the face everytime they were finished eating. It will go away. With her being so young I would not put anything on it. Good look.

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A.J.

answers from Dallas on

Both of my daughters had baby acne. The best thing I found was to make chamomile tea and gently rub it on with a cotton ball. It helped with some of the redness.

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A.L.

answers from Dallas on

Both of my daughters had the same thing. I just didn't mess with it and it went away on it's own.

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J.L.

answers from Lubbock on

My baby had the same problem. Unfortunately the pedi told me there wasn't anything to do. Putting any lotions or creams might make it worse. It does eventually go away on its own--we waited to get baby pictures taken because of it. We finally got her pictures made @ 3 months!

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L.H.

answers from Dallas on

Both my daughter and my son had baby acne. I was beside myself when my son had it...white heads and all. When my daughter came along, my neighbor, who is a nurse rec/ Baby Phisoderm. You can get it at drugstore.com or I have heard Target will order it in for you. It's a face/body wash, you use a dime size amount. Cleared it up right away! I only wish I had it for my son when he was a newborn. The bottle is big enough, we have passed it around the neighborhood as different neighbors have had babies to clear up acne! Good luck!
L.

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T.W.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.,
I used 1% hydrocortisone cream. It works wonders.

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F.H.

answers from Dallas on

keep it real clean and consult your doc. who can give you a souped up neosporin/cortizone type cream to help speed it going away.

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J.E.

answers from Dallas on

S.,

I would recommend Arbonne Baby Care Products. If you would like a sample please let me know or visit my website www.healthynutrition.myarbonne.com

Have a great day,
J.

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S., congrats on your new baby. This is an old family remedy but it really works. After the bath or once or twice throughout the day, take a quarter tsp. of table salt or sea salt in a half cup of warm water then take a cotton ball, moisten it & rub it on the babies skin. It will clear up in a day or two. It also helps with peeling skin so we've always used it from birth until they are several months old.
My 2 yr. old grandson has eczema & the sea salt keeps him clear to we use it everyday.
Good luck & God Bless

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A.H.

answers from Dallas on

Like so many have already said... it's normal. It's due to the extra hormones from you still circulating in their bodies. Both my children had the baby acne. It does go away relatively quickly. Just wait it out. No need to put anything on it. Just make sure to gently clean her face with water (no soap) every day or every other day as necessary.

Enjoy this time!!!! It flies by.

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M.G.

answers from Dallas on

S.,

Most infants have acne, and it goes away on its own. You're not supposed to touch baby acne at all, no matter how tempting it is. It will definately go away.

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A.W.

answers from Tyler on

Get the lowest dose (.5 I think) of cortizone, the off brand works just as well and a lot cheaper. Rub in just a small amount on her face after bath. You should be fine with just doing it once a day, you may want to do it one time in the morning and one time before bed the first day but I guarantee you'll see a difference after just one use. I did this with both my kids. You can stop once it goes away and if/when she gets spots again just start the process again. BTW, my pedi. told me to do this, it's not something I just came up with on my own. You can leave it alone and it will eventually go away because it is normal but why when you can get rid of it and it doesn't hurt the baby at all to use this. Good Luck!

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C.S.

answers from Dallas on

My son's pediatrician recommended Cortizone-10. It worked very well. We applied it once a day to my son's cheeks.

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

Don't do ANYTHING! It will only make it worse. It is typically only there for a short time. The more you mess with it, the worse it gets.

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Don't do anything...it is perfectly normal and will go away on its own in a few weeks.

Congratulations on your new little blessing!

M.
"My son eats all his veggies now. Even the green ones!"
View my profile to find out how I did it

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W.J.

answers from Dallas on

they will go away. both of my babies had them. they do not look beautiful, but do not irritate them & they will go away on their own in a few weeks.

Take care & God Bless!
W.

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J.W.

answers from Dallas on

It will go away :) just keep her clean. Most babies get it, mine did and now she is 12 weeks old and baby acne free :) My first born had it when he was 6 months, it just gos away, not a big deal :) Congratulations on your sweet baby!

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

those are normal. They will most likely be gone in a couple months, on their own, if not sooner. Don't squeeze them. Congratulations on your baby girl!

Personally, I would not put cortisone or anything else on them. Your baby's system is so new. I would not put any kind of medication on the acne. It will go away.

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S.A.

answers from Dallas on

my son's doctor suggested cetaphil wash and lotion. Its not cheep but it worked for us, I even use it.

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G.H.

answers from Dallas on

its very normal, from what i remember its just the moms hormones coming out through the babies skin. it will go away soon dont worry!

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J.H.

answers from Dallas on

My pediatrician said that she tells all her parents to get plenty of pictures before the baby is a month old because after that she is most likely to get some form of baby acne. It shouldn't last long, but I know it's frustrating. My baby was so pretty without it... But, after about 3 months, he was gorgeous again!

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S.F.

answers from Dallas on

diaper rash creme use it lightly

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S.C.

answers from Dallas on

We had the same problem when my son was younger. Our pediatrician recommended that we use Cetaphyl lotion and body wash and stop using Johnson & Johnsons,etc. until it clears up. The Cetaphyl really worked for us and it is extra gentle,so it even says how safe it is for small children's delicate skin. You will find it in the face wash section at Walmart, Target, etc.

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

I've been told that most babies get acne when they're small. It will go away on its own. My baby had it - as did most of the babies I've known - & it went away after a while, with no help from me! :)

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G.H.

answers from Dallas on

I was told that the acne was a result of the mother's hormones still in the baby's system and that it would work itself out and the baby would clear up. He cleared up closer to 2 months though and hasn't been back. There's nothing to do but wait it out. Take care.

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B.M.

answers from Dallas on

This is perfectly normal. Use a clean washcloth to wash her face, but otherwise leave it alone.

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

My oldest daughter had horrible baby acne. There really isn't much you can do except let it run its course. The acne is caused by your leftover hormones in her body. Just cleanse her face daily when you bathe her and be sure to moisturize, but don't overcleanse because that will only dry her skin and then you'll have a baby with red bumps and peeling skin. The acne wil take several weeks to clear up, but it will! Don't use any medications like cortizone . . . at one month, your baby shouldn't be receiving any medications unless specifically told to do so by a doctor.

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E.C.

answers from Dallas on

It is just from the milk or formula that your baby is drinking. You just need to wash their face after every feeding or at least a few times a day. You should start seeing the acne fade. You may see it on their neck from spit up - just give the baby a good wipe down a few times a day.

M.A.

answers from Dallas on

Hello S.,

I have a skin care, health and wellness company.

We have an excellent excellent excellent baby care line. All of our products are botancially based and every ingredient in every product is pure, safe and beneficial.

I use the baby products on my 5 year old who has eczema. And I also use them on myself from time to time.

Please let me know if you'd like more information.

Thanks and God bless!

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M.S.

answers from Dallas on

My 9 month old had the worst baby acne I've ever seen when she was 4 weeks old. It started to spread all the way to her chest. Desperate and not wanting to use any steroid- type creams, I read a few tips online. Your post did not state if you are breast feeding or not, but if you are, you're in luck. I read a tip about putting breast milk on the acne twice a day. It seemed a little weird, and totally grossed out my husband, but within three days, the acne was totally gone. When she would start to get a few bumps after that, I would just put a couple drops on the bumps, and they would be gone the next day. Good luck.

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J.J.

answers from Dallas on

Totally normal. And don't be surprised if it spreads. My daughter had it pretty badly at that age and it cleared up totally after about 5 weeks. It was even on her chest and scalp. Her skin is perfect now. Just keep bathing her as usual. Go very lightly on soap and baby wash products. I usually just washed her face with water most days. I used Aveeno Baby Wash with Oatmeal about once every three or four days. Remember, it looks far worse than it is. It isn't at all painful to her.

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L.S.

answers from Dallas on

I see gotten several responses already, but wanted to stress again, don't do anything! My son had it really bad (much worse than I remember my daughter having) and his doctor (and books and websites) said to just leave it alone except to wipe clean with clear water and a soft washcloth as needed. My poor baby looked AWFUL for like 2-3 weeks, but after it cleared, there were no signs of it at all. Be patient your babies perfectly smooth skin will be back soon!

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter had that too - I went to her pediatrician and they said it is totally normal and usually goes away by 4 months. My daughter's lasted about that long too. Her doctor said it is from mom's hormones (estrogen) that she still has circulating in her body, that she received when she was still in the womb. Dr. recommended washing her face with cetaphil if it got oily, which it did daily.
Dr. also said if it didn't go away after 4 months, she'd refer us to a dermatologist. My daughter's hair was oily too during that time. But now she is totally normal, so your baby's skin will be fine I'm sure! :)

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B.L.

answers from Dallas on

You really shouldn't do anything other that keep it clean with water only (no soap)on a wash cloth. Do not scrub it or use any creams or lotions as this will just make it worse. It is normal and harmless. It is just their hormones adjusting after the doses they got from you during pregnancy and labor.
It will clear up shortly.
B.

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