Baby Acne - The Whole Truth   by John Wellington

It is natural for parents to be alarmed if their baby doesn't have typical soft, smooth skin. It is nothing to cause alarm because it is common in most babies to get various rashes. Baby acne is characterized by a rash of small red bumps or whiteheads developing on the face, but could also appear on the neck and back. If it appears scaly on the face, have your pediatrician take a look to be sure it is not eczema before treating it as baby acne.

Baby acne is commonly the mother's hormones passed to the baby in the placenta during pregnancy, but won't appear until 3 to 4 weeks afterwards. The hormones trigger the baby's oil producing glands, leading to the development of acne. It could also be the result of taking certain medications. The condition of his/her skin can worsen for several days if it comes in contact with milk or saliva. Increased blood flow to the skin, usually caused by crying, will irritate your babies' skin.