Acne is not for babies alone – people of any age group may face it. Usually for teenagers, they are the first red bumps before puberty hits them. But what if this ‘ageless’ enemy affects your little bundle of joy? However, its not unheard for babies to have acne even at birth. In most cases, it also takes several weeks to develop.
Despite scientists speculating on this matter, it is commonly believed by many that these red bumps may have got something to do with your baby’s hormones. Thus, it can be a hereditary transmission as well despite the chances for the baby to get affected through other means. These means include medications you or your child takes or it can be developed as a reaction to certain skincare products.
It’s better to be safe than to be sorry and it’s never late to take your baby to a doctor when he/she catches acne. Nevertheless, there are also some home remedies for you to try and treat your baby’s acne as soon as they arise. Read on about the 5 Best Home Remedies to get rid of your baby’s acne in the following sections.
Home Remedies to Treat Baby Acne
What is Baby Acne?
Also referred to as neonatal acne, baby acne is a dermatological condition that affects the tender and sensitive skin of infants of about 2-3 months old. The breakout of baby acne occurs with the appearance of tiny reddish pimples and bumps on the surface of the skin.
What causes Baby Acne?
Imbalance of infant hormones in the baby results in the hypersecretion of sebum from the sebaceous glands on the skin. This accumulation of sebum manifests in the form of pimples and rashes which we refer to as baby acne. The following causes can also trigger baby acne:
- Tight and unclean clothing
- Wearing wet diapers for a prolonged period
- Irregular bathing habits, etc.
- Breast milk acne which occurs due to ingestion of contaminated or stagnant breast milk by the baby
What Are Its Symptoms?
- The appearance of red and white pimples and skin bumps on the skin
- The development of the blisters into white pustules
- Redness of the affected areas of the skin
5 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Baby Acne
1. Foods
Lemon juice and honey
The combination of lemon juice and honey is one of the most effective home remedies of baby acne on face, ears, cheeks, and acne on chest.
How to use?
- Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to 2-3 tablespoons of organic honey
- Smear the paste all over the face and chest of the baby
- Rinse the skin with lukewarm water after about 30 minutes
- Do this thrice daily for how to get rid of baby acne
Benefits of using lemon juice and honey
The blend of honey and lemon juice is exceedingly beneficial for the natural treatment of baby acne. It is gentle on the delicate skin of the infant, and its humectant nature helps in the natural hydration of the baby skin.
The lemon juice aids in breaking down the buildup of sebum on the skin surface that causes the baby acne. The topical application of the combination of honey and lemon juice soothes the skin, cures the redness, and makes the pimples and bumps disappear in a few days.
Precaution
Make sure that the lemon juice does not irritate the skin of the baby. If it seems too harsh, then skip the lemon juice and use plain honey for how to get rid of baby acne.
Bananas
The topical application of banana pulp on the skin(1) is highly useful for how to get rid of baby acne naturally.
How to use?
- Peel a fresh and ripe average-sized banana
- Squeeze the banana into a paste
- Add a teaspoon of rose water to the banana mash
- Apply the paste all over the face and scalp
- Rinse it off with warm water after about 15 minutes
- Do this on a daily basis for the baby acne on body and face to fade
Benefits of using banana
Ripe and fresh bananas have potassium, amino acids, vitamins B-Complex, C, and E, lectin and phytochemical antioxidants. The topical application of the paste helps in the nourishment and moisturization of the skin. It helps to eliminate the oil and sebum from the surface of the skin and exfoliate the skin gently. It cleanses the skin and prevents microbial action and infection.
Precaution
Make sure that the banana is fresh and ripe before applying it to the baby acne on the body.
Food to eat
Mother’s milk is the best for the health of the infant.
Food to avoid
Avoid feeding your baby with anything apart from breast milk up to the age of 4-5 months.
2. Herbal Treatments
Aloe Vera
The topical application of Aloe Vera gel is remarkably effective for how to clear new born baby acne on the body.
How to use?
- Slice a fresh leaf of Aloe Vera and scoop out its gel
- Add a few drops of rose water to the gel and stir well to make a paste
- Apply the paste with slight rubbing all over the acne on the body
- Rinse the skin with lukewarm water after about half an hour
- Do this twice daily for how to cure baby acne
Benefits of using Aloe Vera
The Aloe Vera gel is incredibly effective for the natural treatment of newborn baby acne. It is tender on the gentle skin of the infant and is soothing too. The gel that gets extracted from the Aloe Vera leaf is rich in antioxidants and other phytochemical compounds that fight against free radicals and protect the skin against oxidative stress.
The topical application of the gel prevents the accumulation of excess sebum on the skin surface and helps in the cure of skin irritation, inflammation, acne, and redness.
Precaution
Make sure that the baby skin is not allergic to Aloe Vera gel before applying it on the affected parts of the skin surface.
3. Essential Oils
Tea tree essential oil
The application of diluted tea tree essential oil is highly effective for how to prevent and cure the appearance of baby acne on the head and scalp.
How to use?
- Add a teaspoon of tea tree essential oil to 5-6 tablespoons of olive oil
- Massage the baby acne on the head and baby acne on the scalp with the oil mixture
- Let the oils percolate into the epidermis
- Rinse the head gently with lukewarm water after a few hours
- Do this on a daily basis for the baby acne on head and scalp to get cured
Benefits of tea tree essential oil
Tea tree essential oil has antioxidants and antibacterial properties that aid in the cure of baby acne by fighting against the bacterial action and inhibiting the secretion of excess sebum. The topical application of tea tree essential oil helps in the quick and effective treatment for how to get rid of baby acne.
Precaution
Proceed with caution for this natural remedy. Conduct a patch test on an unaffected part of the baby skin before applying the oil mixture to the pimples and baby acne.
4. Home Remedy
Coconut oil
The topical application of coconut oil is remarkably effective for the cure of baby acne on neck and baby acne on ears.
How to use?
- Warm at least 4-5 tablespoons of coconut oil
- Rub the baby acne on neck and baby acne on ears with the warm coconut oil
- Rinse the head gently with water after a 2-3 hours
- Do this on a daily basis for the baby acne to get disappeared
Benefits of coconut oil
Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer that prevents the dryness of baby skin and eliminates excess oil and sebum from the surface of the skin. Topical application of coconut oil cures the redness of the skin and soothes the inflammation and irritation of baby acne. It is gentle on the skin and leaves on side effects on the baby.
5. Natural Treatment
Oatmeal baths
Bathing the baby in a tub of lukewarm oatmeal water is highly effective for the cure of baby acne.
How to use?
- Fill the baby bathtub with warm water
- Pour a cup of freshly ground oatmeal in the water
- Bathe the baby in the bathtub and gently scrub the baby acne on the body with the oatmeal
- Do this on a daily basis for the baby acne to heal
Benefits of oatmeal bath
Bathing the baby in warm oatmeal water helps in the gentle exfoliation of the skin. The freshly ground and slightly coarse oatmeal aids in sloughing off the dry skin cells, dead peels, and sebum from the skin. It helps in soothing the skin, doing away with the infection, and curing the white pustules and red bumps on the skin.
Precaution
Do not scrub the skin with too much force else the baby skin might get bruised. Scrub the delicate skin gently and with caution for how to get rid of baby acne.
Tips To Prevent Acne Breakout On The Body
- Change the diaper at regular intervals
- Bathe the baby on a daily basis
- Make sure that the baby wears clean and sanitized clothes throughout the day
- If it vomits then clean the waste immediately to keep the baby clean
Conclusion
Baby acne might be harmless, but almost everything is an irritant for the gentle and delicate baby skin. If your angelic newborn is suffering from baby acne, then follow through with a combination of multiple home remedies for how to get rid of baby acne. Keep the tips of prevention in mind to protect the baby from the breakout of acne and rashes and maintain utmost cleanliness to keep such skin diseases at bay.
