Baby Acne - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Acne is not uncommon in babies. It can be present at birth, but typically appears at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Baby acne is usually seen on the cheeks, chin, and forehead. Most lesions that develop will spontaneously resolve themselves within a four-month time frame. Most cases of baby acne occurring in the initial months of life are of the infantile clinical type and are not serious, but some cases of baby acne are associated with other clinical acne types, particularly adolescent acne. These hormones cross the placenta into the baby and after delivery they cause the oil glands on the skin to form bumps that look like pimples.There are many types of acne associated in newborns and infants. The different form of baby acne is Neonatal acne, infantile acne and Neonata milia. Neonatal acne appears with typical pimples after the birth or at birth. Infantile acne can appear in baby whose age is less than 4 years. This type of acne similar to blackheads, pimples and pustules. Neonatal milia are look likes whiteheads and it is found in infants and newborns. Baby acne is not transmitted from one person to another person. Milia occur when tiny skin flakes become trapped in small pockets near the surface of your baby’s skin. Milia affect boys and girls equally, but baby acne is more common in boys.
Babies develop the acne from the maturing effect of mothers’ hormones. Baby acne is related to hormonal changes that stimulate oil glands in the skin. Infantile acne is commonest in babies under five weeks of age and the incidence drops off markedly after the second month of life. Fleshy or red pimples occur predominately on the cheeks, but are also quite common on the forehead and chin. Whiteheads are sometimes present. Baby acne is perfectly normal, and is caused by hormones passed to the baby, through the placenta, before birth. Baby acne can be of the adolescent clinical type. Adolescent type acne occurs in babies who have an underlying endocrine disorder or hormone producing tumour and is usually accompanied by signs of development of the genitalia. Acne can occur as a result of drug treatment during the first year of life, although parents are usually forewarned if their baby is being prescribed a medicine capable of causing acne. Sometimes, baby acne is associated by contact with dirty clothes. In some cases, it may develop due to the over dress the baby to fight off cold.
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