Exact Answer: 2 Weeks
Baby acne is also known as neonatal acne. It is an acneiform eruption that comes under the group of dermatoses. This baby acne occurs in the newborn or the infants in their first four to six weeks. The main site of this acne is the facial area of the cheeks, chin, and forehead. They can be open and closed comedones. The main reason for this acne in the newborn is not known or identified.
There are some studies that state that this situation can be caused due to the maternal androgens, that are transferred from the mother to the newborn in the womb through the placenta. The acne in the infant is caused due to the androgens produced by the adrenal gland of the fetal, which increases the production of the sebum from the sebaceous glands. This acne in infants gets cured on its own, but sometimes it may need treatment in some cases.
How Long Does Baby Acne Last?
This baby acne is not a serious problem, but in some cases, this acne needs treatment too like topical benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics, topical antifungals, and some other types of antibiotics. The main site is the facial area but sometimes it is present on the chest, and the back. The fetal adrenal glands produce the Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the fetal which stimulates the production of sebum from the sebaceous gland.
The cause of the baby can is not related to genetics, but the family with positive baby acne can affect the baby of the family. If there is a severe outbreak of baby acne like potential endocrine disease, tumor formation, and gonadal formation in the baby. In this type of case, the doctor needs to be informed immediately on time to start a suitable treatment for the baby. This acne is not painful for the baby but causes redness on the face.
There are many other cases that cause the breakout of baby acne by the use of topical creams, ointments, and shampoo on the skin which are used before the diagnosis. During the pregnancy, there are some maternal medications used like lithium, and some high doses of the corticosteroids also induce the production of certain chemicals for the baby’s acne in the newborn. In some cases induced due to the family history also.
There can be sometimes fungal, or bacterial infections which is similar to baby acne. This baby acne can be cured in a minimum of two months and a maximum of six months after the birth of the infant.
Condition | Duration |
Minimum | 2 months |
Maximum | 6 Months |
Why Does Baby Acne Last That Long?
The newborn babies are very delicate, they need both care and long to be healthy for the rest of their life. The studies have shown the first year of the infant is very delicate, if they are not taken care they get more affected by the diseases. They are prone to infections due to the weak immune system of infants, or newborn babies. The face of the infants should be washed with mild soap with low content of chemicals.
Cleaning the face with soap, oils, water, and lotions can be very effective on the baby to cure baby acne. The babies do not require intensive treatment for curing acne. There are some critical cases that need tropical therapy for the treatment. It is advised that during the duration of pregnancy the mother needs to be very conscious about their diet, and medication, like everything which is consumed by the mother, affects the baby in the womb.
Conclusion
Baby acne is not a serious problem, it is common in most babies after birth for a few weeks. There are some babies who shed their dead white skins on the surface of the skin of the baby. This dead skin gets shed with the passage of time through regular cleaning with soaps and lotions.