7 Tested Home Remedies For Baby Acne That Will Save The Day
Acne is an enemy we all have fought, and we know how hard that battle was. However, do you know that even babies get acne? Yes, you read that right. Your precious little bundle could get his first red bumps years before puberty hits.
In fact, it’s not unheard for babies to have acne at birth. But in most cases, it takes several weeks to develop. Are you curious why? Read on to find out.
Why do babies get acne?
Scientists still speculate on the matter, but most agree that these red bumps have something to do with the hormones your baby received from you. Other possible reasons include:
- A medication you take when breastfeeding
- A medication that your child takes
- a reaction to skincare products
How does baby acne look like?
Baby acne is absolutely no different than the one you got as a teenager. Look for red or white bumps, which are surrounded by red skin. These pimples usually appear on the face – forehead, chin, cheeks, and they get more pronounced when your baby is fussing.
Credit: Webmd.com
Of course, not all bumps on your baby’s face are acne. There are white pimples called milia, which are present at birth. In fact, up to 50% of newborns get them. They are not dangerous, and they will disappear in a couple of weeks.
In most cases, baby acne will clear on its own in a couple of weeks with no intervention on your behalf. Specialists don’t recommend acne lotions and creams and also advise that you don’t scrub your baby’s face.
Nevertheless, you might be wondering what natural remedies you have at your disposal. That’s why I’m here. I’m going to make you a list of the best possible home remedies for baby acne that you can find.
But, be careful. If the spots you notice on you baby’s cheeks look rashy or scaly or if they are not located on the face, we might not be talking about acne. It might be something more serious like eczema or cradle cap.
Don’t try to diagnose your baby on your own. Talk with your doctor first before you use any of these home remedies for baby acne. Better safe than sorry.
Home Remedies For Baby Acne
1. Take good care of your child’s face
No matter the age, the best thing you can do when you have acne is to cleanse your face regularly. Even though baby acne has nothing to do with dirty face or clogged pores, the same principle applies here.
So, if you wash your child’s face every day, you are bound to notice an improvement in days. Here’s how to do it:
Necessary ingredients: |
Process: |
|---|---|
water mild, scent free soap (optional) towel |
Gently splash water on your baby’s face. You can also use the soap to wash his face. Don’t scrub. Dry his face with the towel. |
Notes:
Experts recommend that you do this once a day, no more. Otherwise, you can irritate the skin further and make matters worse. The same goes for scrubbing. So no matter how much you want to scrub these awful pimples or pop and punch them, don’t do it.
Also, you have to limit the contact with the affected area. If your baby is constantly touching the pimples, it could lead to further irritation. To prevent this, you can cover your child’s hands with mittens.
2. Coconut oil for pimple-free face
Coconut oil is a traditional home remedy that has been used to treat various conditions, and it also has many amazing benefits for your skin and hair. And if that’s not enough, you can hardly find a better home remedy for acne. Why is that? It:
- gets absorbed easily through the skin
- contains lauric acid which has antimicrobial properties and fights infections
- nourishes and moisturizes the skin
- soothes the skin
But is it safe for babies? There are no undesired side effects of coconut oil, and it’s a completely natural, toxic-free product, which is suitable for babies. In fact, many mothers use it to deal with diaper rashes and ringworm.
Here’s how to use coconut to treat baby acne:
Necessary ingredients: |
Process: |
|---|---|
coconut oil water soap a cotton ball |
Wash your baby’s face with the mild, scent free soap. There are different brands of baby soap that you can choose from. Pat it dry. Take a cotton ball and dab some coconut oil on it. Cover the affected area with a thin layer of coconut oil. Repeat twice a day until the acne disappears. |
Notes: When you go shopping for coconut oil, you should look for unrefined, organic brands. And make sure that it’s packed in a glass jar. Here’s a video you can watch.
3. Cornstarch has natural drying properties
Another popular home remedy for baby acne is cornstarch. Yes, you read it correctly. This kitchen ingredient that you sometimes use to make pies can be a loyal ally in your battle against acne.
What makes cornstarch unique, you ask? Well, it’s a natural drying agent so that it will absorb any excess oil from the skin. That will keep irritation and acne at bay.
However, since cornstarch has such drying ability, it should be used only once a day and only on the affected part of the face.
Necessary ingredients: |
Process: |
|---|---|
cornstarch water a bowl towel |
Mix cornstarch and warm water to make a paste. Don’t use too much. A small amount is enough. Wash your baby’s face. Use your finger to apply a thin layer of the cornstarch paste onto the affected area. Don’t rub or scrub the acne. Apply the paste to the affected area. Wait 45 minutes and then wash off with warm water. Pat the face dry gently with a towel. Repeat once a day. |
Notes: Some mothers use cornstarch to treat diaper rashes because it reduces irritation and leaves the skin smooth.
4. Breast milk is the most natural remedy for baby acne
The benefits of breast milk are far more than you have ever imagined and one of them is that you can use it to treat acne. Sounds strange, right?
For the most delicate of you, rubbing your baby’s face with breast milk might be something unimaginable, but the truth is that this simple remedy actually works. Why?
Breast milk contains lauric acid. We mentioned it when we talked about coconut oil, remember? So, just like coconut oil, breast milk moisturizes the skin and the antibacterial properties of the lauric acid help fight infections and bacteria.
Moreover, breast milk is rich in omega-3-fatty acids, glyconutrients, and antibodies. They are useful for exfoliating the skin and getting rid of acne.
So how should you use breast milk to cure acne?
Necessary ingredients: |
Process: |
|---|---|
water soap breast milk cotton pad a container |
Start by rinsing your child’s face with water and milk soap. Express some breast milk into a container. Use a cotton pad to apply several drops of breast milk to the affected area. Allow the milk to dry. Repeat several times a day until you see an improvement. |
Notes:
However, use breast milk sparingly and very carefully. If you are taking certain medications, your milk might be what’s causing the acne in the first place.
Moreover, what you’re eating has an influence on your breast milk. This means that your diet also might be responsible for your child’s acne.
So, proceed with caution and keep an eye on those red pimples. If you see that they are getting worse, stop the treatment immediately and consult with your pediatrician to determine the cause.
5. Baby powder is effective for diaper rash and acne
Credit: Johnson.com
If you think that the only use of baby powder is to keep your child’s bottom for getting sore and red, guess again. In turns out that baby powder is also useful for acne. Let’s think for a moment why that is.
When you apply baby powder, you aim to reduce inflammation, absorb extra moisture and keep the skin dry. Isn’t that what you want from an acne treatment?
So, if you have some baby powder, take a look at the ingredients. If it has cornstarch or talc listed, these are drying agents, and you can use the powder to get rid of those ugly pimples.
Necessary ingredients: |
Process: |
|---|---|
baby powder water cloth |
Wash the affected area gently and carefully. Pat it dry with the towel. Pour some baby powder on your palm. Rub a small amount of the baby powder on the face using your fingertips. Be careful when you’re applying it near the nose and the eyes. Repeat until the acne disappears. |
Notes: Be very careful when with the baby powder, no matter if you apply it on the face or the body. Make sure that your child doesn’t inhale it, especially if the main ingredient is talc. Talc is poisonous when swallowed or inhaled.
6. Vinegar has antibacterial properties
If you are a fan of home remedies, you know that vinegar has many possible applications that have nothing to do with food preparation. You might have even used it to treat your acne problem due to its antibacterial and drying capabilities.
But is vinegar a suitable choice for a delicate little thing like your baby? The answer is a complicated one. Undiluted vinegar is too strong for your infant’s skin and should never be used on babies.
So if you want to use vinegar as a remedy for baby acne, you have to dilute it first. Here’s what you have to do:
Necessary ingredients: |
Process: |
|---|---|
vinegar water cotton ball a bowl |
Diluted one teaspoon of vinegar in ten spoons of water. Do a patch test by applying a small amount of the mixture on the baby’s wrist. If there is no reaction, continue. If the skin reddens, don’t continue. Dab a cotton ball in the diluted vinegar. Apply to the acne affected area. Wait one minute and wash it off. |
Notes: Never, ever use undulated vinegar on your baby’s skin because it will burn him.
7. Honey and lemon have anti-inflammatory properties
When you hear about honey and lemon, I’m sure the first thing that comes to your mind is tea. However, since honey and lemon have potent anti-inflammatory properties (there is a reason we add them to our tea when we are sick, after all), you can use them to treat acne.
They are completely safe for your baby, and a honey and lemon paste is considered one of the best home remedies for any kind of acne.
Necessary ingredients: |
Process: |
|---|---|
honey lemon a bowl a cotton swab warm water clean towel |
Pour one teaspoon of honey in the bowl. Add one teaspoon of lemon juice. Stir and mix well. Take a cotton swab and soak it in the concoction. Use the cotton swab to dab the mixture on the affected area. Wait 30 minutes. Rinse it off with water. Pat the skin dry with a clean, soft towel. |
Or you can learn from eHome Remedies how to prepare this amazing remedy at home.
Notes: Don’t give honey to a child until she is at least one year old.
Baby acne is nothing to worry about. In fact, you’re probably more bothered by it than your child. So don’t take any drastic measures against it and don’t use oily creams under no circumstances. They can make the acne worse.
If you don’t see any improvement after starting treatment, don’t continue. Sometimes the best course of action is to do nothing and let the pimples clear by themselves. Keep in mind that acne in babies can last up to six months, so there is no need to fret too much.
However, if you notice that the pimples are getting worse, consult with your pediatrician to rule out eczema and ringworm.
So what do you think about these amazing home remedies for baby acne? Have you ever used one of them to cure your baby’s acne? Share your story in the comment section and don’t forget to tell your fellow moms all about this article.
Good luck!
