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.

Treating baby acne is simple. Using water or a mild baby soap to
gently wash their face once a day will help considerably. It is not
caused by dirt so don't scrub your babies face because it could
cause the irritation to worsen. Cleaning your babies' face with
towels that have been washed in harsh detergents may also be a
factor in the worsening of acne. Using warm water when washing the
face could help to open the pores, which can help to clear the oils
and sweat that contribute to acne baby. Greasy lotions and oils
could aggravate the skin's sensitive condition. They can also
contribute to pore clogging and persisting irritation.

Baby acne can become troublesome in the winter, just as with adult
acne. Cold weather is a common factor in the drying out of facial
skin, and the increased use of moisturizers. Some moisturizers are
greasy and can cause break-outs. Light baby specific lotions will
do better moisturizers intended for adult use. Parents tend to
over-bundle their baby to prevent discomfort caused by exposure to
cold weather. However, over-bundling could cause a heat rash that
will worsen baby acne. Be sure to keep your baby comfortable
because if he/she is in warm clothes and is in warm indoor
environment, it could cause your baby to break out from heat.

Severe acne that lasts beyond the first 6 months or appears severe
enough to result in facial scarring, may need to be treated by your
pediatrician. Usually a mild medicine will be prescribed. An
over-the-counter ionic colloidal silver solution could help to kill
the bacteria present in excess oils and put a stop to uncomfortable
itching. Other benefits of treating acne with ionic colloidal
silver are that it reduces swelling, promotes healthy skin growth,
and is hands down the safest treatment available to use on a baby.
Rest assured that once your babies' acne clears up, it wont be
making an appearance again until your child reaches its teenage
years.

AcneHelpZone.com provides people who are suffering from acne with quick, relevant and free acne resources that they can download and take away with them for easy reference.