Baby Acne: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Why baby acne appears

While the exact cause of baby acne is not fully understood, researchers have some theories. Many believe it’s an inflammatory response to yeast on the skin and thought to be linked to maternal hormones that pass from the placenta to the baby during pregnancy. Newborns tend to have enlarged sebaceous glands that secrete a lot of sebum—an oily, waxy substance designed to protect the skin—possibly due to that hormonal activity. And sometimes, babies can get acne from products you may use on their skin.⁴

Common types of baby acne

If your newborn develops neonatal acne, the more common form of baby acne, it will generally appear within the first two weeks of life. If, however, the appearance of your baby’s skin shows the signs of acne at six months or later, then it could be infantile acne. Infantile acne looks similar to neonatal acne but may persist for one-to-two years and, in severe cases, may result in scarring as well as an increased incidence of adolescent acne.⁵

Tips to care for baby’s skin

Clearing up baby acne is generally a matter of time and patience. It typically disappears within the first four months of life without the need for treatment. If it doesn’t, your dermatologist may prescribe topical lotion to help it go away. In the rare cases when additional intervention is necessary, particularly for infantile acne, your doctor may recommend topical antibiotics to help improve the appearance of baby’s skin over time.⁶

In the meantime, continue to keep baby’s skin clean with a mild cleanser such as our Baby Wash & Shampoo,. Its’ fragrance free and paraben free formula with three essential ceramides does not disrupt baby’s protective skin barrier as it develops. Try to incorporate it into baby’s routine even after the baby acne phase is behind you to gently cleanse baby’s skin.