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Baby Acne

August 14, 2007


Baby acne can often come as a surprise to many parents, especially since most of us assume that acne is an affliction that usually only comes about during our teen years. However, baby acne is actually quite common, with nearly 30% of babies either developing a rash soon after birth or even being born with such a rash present. When it develops after birth, it typically starts around the three week point and can last until the child is 4 to 6 months old.

This skin condition is actually fairly common, caused in part by hormones that are passed to the baby via the placenta prior to birth. As with other forms of acne, overproduction of oil is the culprit here as well. Some studies indicate that the hormones passed to the child prior to birth cause the oil glands to be overstimulated, which leads to acne.

Common Symptoms

Baby acne can take the form of the traditional pimples that we've all grown to hate or, more commonly, can show up as a red rash. Whiteheads are also typical. And just like other forms of acne, it baby acne occurs mostly on the face but can show up elsewhere too, such as on the chest, neck or arms.

More Severe Cases

There are instances when a baby's acne might become more severe. This is especially true if the child is sick or if their skin is irritate due to some other cause. This is just another reason to be extra cautious with the detergents and cleaners you use when cleaning your baby's clothing or other items. Otherwise, they might irritate the skin and just make matters worse.

Preventing the Spread of Baby Acne

To keep the acne from spreading, it's a good practice to gently clean your baby's face with water, perhaps with a mild baby-friendly soap. Other than that, it usually goes away in due time (around 3 months or so). Keep that in mind before trying to use medications or other cures for your baby's acne and instead, simply allow nature to take it's course. If the symptoms don't get better within a reasonable timeframe, then a trip to the pediatrician or dermatologist would certainly be in order.

Written by AcneCure · Filed Under Baby Acne 

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Teens

Teen Acne

Acne is one of the great misfortunes of teenagers. It is a common, chronic skin disorder that is caused by the inflammation of oil-producing sebaceous glands. Acne usually occurs on the face, neck, back and chest and usually begins between the ages of ten and thirteen and then continues for five to ten years.

Teenagers, both men and women, obtain acne in equal numbers and there are numerous causes. It is worth noting that younger males are generally more prone to acute and long-term acne, while many younger women suffer from hormonal acne, due to the hormonal changes that are associated to their menstrual cycle. To some degree, acne causes personal anguish for most teenagers. It can definitely lower the person’s self esteem. So, if you (or a loved one) are currently feeling depressed and embarrassed because of unsightly acne, don’t despair. Several acne treatments for teenagers are out there.

Acne treatments for teens generally vary according to the method of application and their purpose. Most of these acne treatments have promised to help prevent acne formation, but some of them failed to fulfill such promise. Below are a few of the acne treatments typically used for teenage acne.

Over-the-Counter Products

A number of non-prescription acne treatments are now available in most local drug stores. The typical treatments of this form include various acne cleansers, astringents, moisturizers, as well as pimple creams. Some of them help to unplug the whiteheads and blackheads, while the others help skin shedding. It terms of the application of these acne treatments for teenagers, some experts typically suggest giving such over-the-counter products around six to eight weeks to work before expecting huge results. However, if there is no improvement in the condition during that time, there are some other options for treating teenage acne that should be considered.

Oral and Topical Antibiotics

Most of the oral and topical antibiotics are samples of “prescription only” treatments for acne. The topical antibiotics, in particular, are deemed effective acne treatments for teenagers since they can help fight acne by killing off the bacteria that infect the pores. On the other hand, oral antibiotics are acne treatments that affect the entire body, therefore they can cause serious and unfavorable side effects. Both of these forms of acne treatments for teens are now commonly recommended, even taking into account some of the side effects.

Vitamin A Derivatives

Vitamin A derivatives are great teen acne treatments since they prevent skin cells from clumping together and encourage the skin to shed. These acne treatments for teenagers are usually applied once a day, but just like some of the other acne treatments for teens mentioned earlier, they too have certain side effects such as dryness, redness, and irritation, even birth defects.

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