Infantile Acne: Can It Really Threaten Your Child’s Life?

Infantile Acne. This form of acne occurs in newborns and is concentrated on the nose and cheeks. It is caused by the hormonal changes that have occurred will the fetus was developing in the womb.

Typicaly, the acne clears up in mater of weeks without treatment.  However, infantile acne has a serious aspect that must be considered. If simple cleansing with mild soap and water wil  not clear the acne up then a mild topical agent (such as a  prescription form of benzoyl peroxide for infants) helps both the curent situation and prevents scarring. If this does not help, then a dermatologist may need to be consulted.

Things to note:

Family History. Genetics might be a factor in the development of acne in the infant. Do the child’s parents or siblings have acne or did they have it in the past?

Early hormone production.  It may be that the infant has a condition that causes early production of sex hormones-especialy androgen which is linked to acne. If this is the case, then medical help should be sought to avoid problems with the child’s development.

Growth and developmental abnormalities.  Acne at such an early stage in the child’s life could indicate  developmental problems that might not show up until  later. A pediatrician should be consulted to find out if  this might be a possibility.

Drug-induced acne or acneiform eruption.
It could be that the child has been exposed to certain medications that can cause acne or acneiform lesions. Examples of such drugs include corticosteroids and those that contain iodine.