How Do You Get Rid of Baby Acne? 3 Moms Share Their Experiences
Key takeaways:
Baby acne is a common condition for many newborns.
The condition is usually temporary and often clears up on its own.
Baby acne looks like tiny red or white bumps, and it is painless.
Newborn babies in ads and commercials often show flawless skin. But it is actually quite common for newborns to have what is called baby acne — small red or white bumps or pustules that form on the skin. The condition is temporary, painless, and doesn’t leave scars.
Baby acne usually occurs 2 to 4 weeks after birth. While most baby acne resolves on its own, persistent cases may call for medicated creams.
Baby acne can be alarming for many parents, especially if they don’t know what to expect. Here’s how three moms describe dealing with it.
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Different things work for different people
Michelle Hoffman Leckson, a 41-year-old mother of three in Annapolis, Maryland, first learned about baby acne from parenting books. Then she experienced it with her children.
“All three of my children had varying levels of it when they were little,” she says. “It didn't seem to bother any of my kids, but I was slightly worried about whether or not it could cause skin damage in the long term.”
With her first child, Michelle recalls feeling self-conscious, worried that people would think she was not properly bathing her son. With her other two children, Michelle says she was far less concerned, because she knew the condition was temporary.
But she still wanted to know how to get rid of it. She read about baby acne online and spoke to friends who were also parents. Everyone had recommendations.
![This is a selfie of Michelle Hoffman Leckson, taken indoors. ‘[No-rinse waterless baby wash] seemed to help the most.” — Michelle Hoffman Leckson](http://www.grxstatic.com/4f3rgqwzdznj/7JNzRSvnn7dFYpOcreZcjC/96eec17a7b27a92da15e748f0a77b987/rid_quote_1.png?format=png&auto=webp&width=704)
“We tried a few different things,” Michelle says. “Someone recommended breast milk, but that didn't really seem to make a difference. I also used Mustela products, like their waterless wash, which seemed to help the most. Incidentally, it also worked wonders on cradle cap.”
Conflicting advice can get confusing
Jenn Fisher, who is 40 and lives in Odenton, Maryland, noticed baby acne on her son just a few hours after he was born.
“He had a good amount on his face and chest, along with a newborn rash called erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN), which is more of a red, flat, splotchy rash,” she says. “They were both apparent within hours after his birth, though I understand it’s more typical to see a few weeks after birth.”
Before she even had time to ask about the rashes, her obstetrician brought them up in conversation.
“He said it was totally normal as the baby’s body works through metabolizing the flood of hormones from mom both in the womb and during labor and delivery,” Jenn says.
Jenn also discussed the rashes with her son’s pediatrician. She says she was feeling overwhelmed with advice from other moms and information she’d found online, and she hoped the doctor could give her guidance.
“You’ll find all kinds of conflicting advice online,” Jenn says. “‘Use breastmilk! Don't use breastmilk! Keep it dry! Moisturize with coconut oil! Cut out dairy!’ We honestly settled on the ‘do nothing’ treatment for a while, because all the advice was really overwhelming. But it wasn't getting better or worse.”
Eventually, a friend recommended a plant-based ointment for sensitive skin that contained 1% colloidal oatmeal. It worked to soothe her son’s skin.
“I don't believe there are any magic cures,” Jenn says. “But using [the ointment] once or twice a day did wonders for his skin.”
Since then, Jenn has tried not to overthink things like baby acne.
“When it’s your baby, your perfect little brand-new wonder, it’s hard not to still feel a little bit of shame over skin conditions — even though there’s absolutely nothing you did to cause it,” she says. “I know many moms who struggle with the same feeling when their baby has cradle cap or drool rash or stork bites or anything else that makes the baby's skin ‘imperfect.’ Sometimes we’re our own harshest critics.”
Most of the time, it will clear up on its own
Bethany Thomas has spent the majority of her adult life around babies and has learned that sometimes the best treatment is no treatment at all. Bethany is a mom of four from Arnold, Maryland, and has been a doula for 15 years.
She says baby acne is often caused by hormone changes and is really nothing to worry about.
“Baby acne is usually the result of the mom’s estrogen suddenly being removed from the baby’s bloodstream after birth,” she says.
In her personal and professional experience, Bethany says, time is usually the best treatment option.
“Often, it just clears up on its own,” she says. “My usual advice to childbirth students is to schedule newborn pictures before the 4-week mark, just in case. It bugs us as adults more than the babies. Baby acne might look like it needs treatment, but it often is fleeting and resolves on its own.”
What does the doctor say?
Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH
Medical Editor
The term “baby skin” is often used in marketing for skin care products because it immediately conjures images of unblemished, smooth, soft skin. But the truth is, newborn skin isn’t all that perfect. There are dozens of common newborn rashes, including baby acne.
Hormones probably play a role in baby acne. Over-colonization with Malassezia, a type of yeast that’s a normal part of the skin’s microbiome, can also trigger baby acne and cradle cap. Science may never know why exactly babies develop acne. But that’s probably OK, since baby acne goes away without treatment and doesn’t leave behind scars. Babies who have acne aren’t any more or less prone to other skin conditions or acne during their teen years.
If your baby has a lot of acne, your healthcare provider might offer prescription strength creams or body washes that target Malassezia. But often the best option is to just wait it out. As one of the parents above astutely noted, just try to time newborn photos for that golden time between 2 and 3 weeks after birth — after jaundice wears off and before baby acne really sets in.
One important side note: Baby acne should only happen when babies are less than a month old. Acne that pops up after a baby is 4 weeks old is called infantile acne. Infantile acne can be a sign of a medical condition. And, unlike baby acne, it needs treatment and can leave scars. If your baby develops acne after they’re a month old, see your child’s healthcare provider.
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