Introduction to baby acne: To many parents’ dismay, their
beautiful newborn’s face breaks out with red bumps at around 3
to 4 weeks of age. This is called baby acne. It tends to occur
at about the same age as the baby’s peak gas production and
fussiness. How attractive! (This all coincides with parents’
maximum sleep deprivation.) Parents are often quite concerned
both about how these bumps look and about their significance.
What is baby acne? The bumps of baby acne are quickly fleeting
evidence of the connection between a mother’s body and her
baby’s. During the final moments of pregnancy, her hormones
cross the placenta into her child. Among other things (such as
maturing the lungs), this stimulates the oil glands on the skin,
eventually giving rise to the baby acne. Who gets baby acne?
Baby acne is a common newborn condition. It can be present at
birth, but typically appears at 3 to 4 weeks of age. What are
the symptoms of baby acne? Fleshy or red pimples occur
predominately on the cheeks, but are also qui