Infant “bloom” or newborn acne: unpleasant, but harmless!

You may notice tiny red or white bumps on your baby’s sensitive skin as a new parent. Although this may seem concerning, it’s actually a common condition called "infant bloom" or newborn acne.

Newborn acne, despite its appearance, is transient and safe. These tiny pimples typically appear a few weeks after birth and frequently go away without the need for special care.

This post will discuss how to take care of your baby’s skin, what causes newborn acne, and when you should see a doctor. You may be confident that this is only a small hiccup in the parenting journey!

What is infant "bloom"

Neonatal cephalic pustulosis, hormonal rash, newborn acne, and infant acne are some of the names given to the so-called "bloom" of babies. Many sources report that between 25 and 75 percent of newborns do not avoid it to some extent.

Surprisingly, though, parents frequently do not even recognize this phenomenon and start actively treating their infant when bothersome pimples appear on their skin—usually due to a fictitious "allergy." In the meantime, a baby’s body, including his skin, adjusts to the outside world during the blooming stage of newborn acne.

The fact that a needless treatment is useless for the body needs no further explanation! We’ll discuss how to diagnose the problem a little later on. Let’s now examine the phenomenon of baby acne in more detail.

Therefore, the "bloom" of newborns appears as a mild white acne rash with a yellowish tinge. The skin surrounding the pimples becomes reddish or covered in pink, yellowish spots; the reddened or whitened areas develop a crust. Tiny zits can cluster together.

The rash usually starts on the face and, thankfully, stays there most of the time. It appears on the cheeks, forehead, and, less frequently, the chin and eyelids; in cases of severe acne, it can also appear behind the ears, on the neck, under the hair, on the shoulders, and, in males, on the penis.

One significant aspect of infant "bloom" is that the baby does not experience pain, eats well, gains weight, or worries despite having a severe rash. He only gets pain when he presses and rubs at his zits.

Should the child feel discomfort from the rash, it could potentially be an allergy. Alternatively, the rash might have appeared concurrently with other, more uncomfortable issues, like colic – see a doctor right away!

When a baby "blooms"?

This occurs most frequently at 3 weeks of age, but less frequently at 2 or 4. The average duration of a hormonal rash is one to one and a half months, after which the child "blooms" at two to three months. His gastrointestinal tract has developed, his skin and entire body are now acclimated to the outside world, food, and clothing, and there are no longer any excess hormones.

"You should see your doctor to find another cause if skin phenomena do not go away after three months!

How to distinguish newborn acne from other skin phenomena

Neonatal pustulosis, sometimes known as "blooming," should not be mistaken for other skin conditions. As a result, as we’ve already mentioned, the child’s lack of anxiety, normal development, and normal body temperature are its main symptoms.

Furthermore, there is no swelling or moisture during "blooming." It appears to be a little rash with surrounding redness. There are instances when the skin appears noticeably oilier.

Newborn acne is frequently mistaken for allergies (atopic dermatitis, diathesis).

Allergy or "blooming"

"Oh, mom ate something wrong!" – a common reaction when discovering pimples of baby acne on the baby"s face that was smooth yesterday. And the nursing mother begins to exclude one product after another from her diet (and this, in fact, is not good for her or the baby), literally reaching only buckwheat – and there is no result. They take out carpets and plants from the room, give away their favorite cat. with the same effect.
But self-medication is especially dangerous when, for example, parents begin to give the child antihistamines. And sometimes they even refuse breastfeeding, transferring the baby to expensive hypoallergenic mixtures. Therefore, we must understand in time what we are dealing with.

1. The main difference: with allergic rashes, unlike infant "blooming", pimples spread throughout the body and cause itching, redness, swelling, peeling.
   This causes unpleasant sensations for the child, he worries, cries, sleeps poorly and eats poorly.
   When flowering, itching, swelling, getting wet and peeling is not .
2. Allergic reactions arise quickly, in an hour or two, and in the treatment and absence of an allergen, it takes a few days, and the chronic form, unfortunately, can stretch for years.
   “blooms” the newborn gradually, and pimples pass no earlier than three weeks later, but no later than in a couple of months.
3. Allergies arise At any age. If skin manifestations appeared closer to two months and later – this is not "flowering"!

Or maybe it"s a sweat?

Picking is a common behavior in newborns, particularly during the summer or when the infant is wrapped too tightly. The primary distinction between picking and newborn acne is that picking usually affects the body’s folds, handles, and legs rather than the face. With 1-2 mm pearlescent (rarely white) bubbles, it resembles little pimples. They burst, leaving peeling and redness in their wake.

Milia

Milia are subcutaneous formations that are dense, even, and hard. They are smaller than half a millimeter and have a white or slightly yellowish color. One notable distinction from newborn acne is the absence of surrounding inflammation, redness, or suppuration. All these are are small, dense lumps. Milia are found in newborns on the forehead above the nose bridge, where the skin is densest, and on the wings of the nose. They can occasionally show up on the chin or cheeks.

Causes of infant acne

Hormonal imbalance

This is the primary cause of neonatal pustulosis, sometimes known as "blooming." The amount of female sex hormones, or estrogens, in a child’s blood rises in the first few weeks after birth. These hormones first entered the child’s body in the third trimester of pregnancy when they sharply increased in the mother’s blood. Subsequently, when the child is breastfed, the estrogen keeps getting into his body through his mother’s milk.

"After three to four months, the skin clears up as the baby’s gastrointestinal tract develops and eliminates all excess hormones from the body naturally.

Another hormone that may contribute to skin phenomena is cortisol, a stress hormone that is secreted in breast milk when a mother experiences extreme worry. The hormone cortisol causes the sebaceous glands to become more active, which increases sebum production. Though naturally, it is best to avoid stressing out mothers, the baby’s body will eventually adjust to the extra hormonal load.

Imperfect work of sweat glands

This explanation for a newborn’s "blooming" is related to the preceding one. The baby’s endocrine system steadily stabilizes over time. Since excess hormones cause sebaceous glands to become active and produce large amounts of subcutaneous fat, the baby’s glands are not yet able to handle the excessive load. A rash and pimples appear when the baby’s skin ducts become clogged and a fatty film forms.

Hygiene issues

It is not possible for poor hygiene to cause "blooming" on its own; rather, it is one of the factors that can cause dermatitis, staphylococcal rash, or prickly heat to appear. The sweat glands have an even harder time producing sweat if the baby is not bathed frequently, if the parents overuse creams with different additives, and if the baby is dressed in synthetic materials (which prevents the body from breathing). Additionally, bacteria can settle on the skin and cause purulent inflammation.

Mom"s nutrition

Perhaps the least important factor in the development of baby acne is this one. Remember, "blooming" has nothing to do with allergies, and there’s no product involved in this.

Simultaneously, if a nursing mother’s diet consists mostly of heavier foods—a lot of fried, sugary, fatty, and sweet foods—the baby’s developing digestive system will be burdened. As a result, it is challenging to eliminate too many hormones from the baby’s body.

Is it necessary to treat a "blooming" baby?

No, is the succinct response to this query. Infants with neonatal pustulosis do not require special treatment because it is a functional manifestation. A newborn’s body will naturally eliminate excess estrogen that was transferred from the mother through the placenta in a matter of months. Additionally, treating "blooming" may even be detrimental. For instance, using a lot of creams and ointments can cause the sebaceous glands to become even more blocked; we will discuss this in more detail below.

Generally speaking, keeping a newborn’s skin dry and clean during the "blooming" phase is important.

• Observe the rules of hygiene, maintain cleanliness and humidity in the room. Bathe the baby daily during this period, using only baby soap without additives.
• Wipe thoroughly after bathing, but do not rub!
• It is good to arrange sun and air baths for him whenever possible – this will also prevent prickly heat and generally help strengthen the immune system.
• It is highly advisable to breastfeed the baby, while eating properly and varied: this will help to establish the full functioning of the baby"s intestines.- and soon his intestines and hormonal levels will return to normal.
• Try to dress the newborn only in clothes made of natural fabrics, so as not to provoke an allergic reaction.
• In exceptional cases, after consulting with a doctor, you can wipe the affected areas of the skin with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, add chamomile, calendula or string decoctions to the bath – if there is no allergy to them! Also, the pediatrician may advise using Bepanten ointment for several days.

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What should not be done during infant "blooming"

• Lubricate pimples with iodine, alcohol and solutions.
• Apply ointments and creams (even children"s!) on the affected areas. If you still really want to, be sure to consult a doctor! Remember, the skin should be dry, and the sweat ducts open.
• Squeezing out pimples! This can lead to more severe skin irritation and infection.
• Giving antihistamines, hormonal, antibacterial drugs without a doctor"s prescription.

Despite its frightening appearance, newborn acne is a common and benign condition. It usually appears in the first few weeks of life for most babies, and it usually goes away on its own without any medical intervention.

The fact that this skin condition doesn’t hurt their child or portend any long-term skin problems should reassure parents. Usually, a mild skincare regimen will take care of it until it goes away on its own.

In the end, newborn acne is just a passing stage of the first few months of life. It will go with time and care, leaving your baby’s skin clear and soft.

Known by another name, "infant bloom," newborn acne is a common and benign skin condition that typically manifests itself in a baby’s face as tiny red or white bumps during the first few weeks of life. Though this condition can be concerning for caregivers, it typically resolves without medical intervention. It is attributed to hormones transferred from the mother prior to childbirth. Parents can maintain their composure and concentrate on providing for their baby’s general wellbeing by realizing that it’s a typical aspect of infancy.

Video on the topic

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