How to Get Rid of Baby Acne

Co-authored by Joel Warsh, MD and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: July 23, 2021 References

Believe it or not, acne isn’t just an annoying side effect of puberty and beyond. If you notice acne on your baby’s skin, there’s no need to panic—in fact, around 20% of babies develop acne at some point. This type of acne typically appears before the baby is 6 weeks old, and usually fades away within a few months.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Joel Warsh, MD
Board Certified Pediatrician
Expert Interview. 20 July 2021.} If you’d like to try speeding up the healing process a little bit, change up your baby’s skincare and bathing routine to see if you notice a difference! If the acne flares up past the 6-week mark, reach out to a doctor for more specific guidance.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing the Baby’s Face

1
Soak a clean cloth with warm water and gentle soap. Wring out any of the extra water and massage a tiny amount of baby soap into the material.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Ideally, check that the water is around 70 °F (21 °C), which is a perfect temperature for your baby’s sensitive skin.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Cotton balls are great substitutes for washcloths.
- Look for soaps with a “baby” label on them. This way, you can be sure that they’ll be gentle on your child’s delicate skin. You can likely find these in stores that sell baby supplies.
2
Wipe the baby’s face to keep it clean. With gentle care, wash off your baby’s face, which will help keep their skin really clean. If your child has bad acne, wash their face once a day in order to keep their skin in great condition.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Advertisement
3
Pat the child’s skin dry with a clean, soft cloth. Lightly blot away any leftover soapy water, so your baby’s face is totally dry. If you wash each day, you may see some improvement in the baby’s acne.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Avoiding Bad Habits and Products

1
Don’t touch or scrub the acne. Similar to teen or adult acne, picking and scrubbing the problem area isn’t going to accomplish anything productive. Even if the acne looks small, don’t try to rub it away—you may end up making it worse. Instead, focus on washing the skin each day and leaving the acne alone at any other time.^{[7]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
2
Avoid treating the acne with medication unless a doctor tells you to. Acne medication can do wonders for teens and adults, but this unfortunately isn’t the case for young children. Talk to a pediatrician or dermatologist and see if there are any creams or medications you can use to treat the acne. Unless you get direct permission from a medical professional, it’s best to leave the acne alone.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Acne medications are designed for fully developed skin, and may hurt a baby’s sensitive skin.
3
Toss out any oily products from your skincare routine. Check and see if there are any creams, ointments, lotions, or other skincare products that you’re using on yourself. Although the products may be good for your own skin, you don’t want the greasy and oily products transferring to your baby’s skin.^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
- For instance, avoid hand lotions or creams that make your skin really oily and greasy.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Identifying Baby Acne

1
Attribute small bumps on your child’s skin as baby acne. Usually, this type of acne will appear about 2 weeks or so after your child is born, and will disappear on its own in several months. Like teen or adult acne, you can usually find baby acne around the forehead, cheeks, and nose.^{[10]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Like regular acne, baby acne is red and white.
- You may also notice small, white bumps on your child’s face. These are known as milia, and are no cause for concern.^{[11]
  X
  Research source}
2
Recognize sections of red, itchy skin as eczema. Believe it or not, babies get eczema pretty quickly. If your child’s skin looks really dry and red, it may not be baby acne after all. If you suspect that your child has eczema, try to keep them away from irritants like soap powder, cigarette smoke, or spray-on products.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source}
- Nylon and wool may be soft, but they can be really scratchy on a baby’s skin. Instead, look for cotton-based clothing instead.
3
Identify patchy, bumpy, and red sections of skin as a rash. Babies can get a variety of different rashes, several of which appear with bumps or acne. Many rashes tend to go away on their own, but you may want to consult a doctor if a rash hangs around for several weeks or months.^{[13]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source}
- A doctor can help you identify the specific rash you’re dealing with, and may have advice on how to treat it.
4
Consult a doctor for a more specific diagnosis. Baby acne can be its own issue, but it can also be a sign of a more serious condition, like a skin infection. Talk to a medical professional so you can know for sure.^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
- Be sure to mention when you first noticed the rash, and how long it’s been present.
- Start feeding your child breast milk if you can.^{[15]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Joel Warsh, MD
  Board Certified Pediatrician
  Expert Interview. 20 July 2021.}

Expert Q&A

Question

Does baby acne go away on its own?

Joel Warsh, MD
Board Certified Pediatrician
Dr. Joel Warsh is a board certified Pediatrician and the Owner & Founder of Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Warsh specializes in holistic and integrative medicine. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences, a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Community Health, and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Thomas Jefferson Medical College, where he was elected president of the Jefferson Pediatric Society. Dr. Warsh then completed his Pediatric Residency at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA), where he received the George Donnell Society Research Fellow.

Joel Warsh, MD

Board Certified Pediatrician

Expert Answer

Yes, it does! Feeding your baby breast milk may be a good first step, but you don't really have to do much overall—the acne usually goes away on its own.
Question

My grandchild has bumps all over her body, hands, and feet; what can I use to get rid of them?

Erika White Williams

Community Answer

Take the child to the doctor so she can be properly diagnosed. Avoid using detergents with fragrance or harsh ingredients. Children have sensitive skin, and often cannot tolerate regular detergents.
Question

My child is 3 weeks old, and her face is continuing to break out badly. What do I do?

Faithtych

Community Answer

The milk may have too much protein in it.