A lot of mothers panic when some type of illness affects their little one. Skin problems are one such cause of worry and mothers find it really frightening. Baby acne, skin rashes, prickly heat, etc. can make your kid uncomfortable to some extent. So, this article will show you how you can easily identify the problem and get the treatment done with natural remedies for baby acne.

Baby Acne:

Do you see those white and red pimples on your baby’s face, forehead, chin, upper back, etc.?  Well, these are some common symptoms to identify baby acne.

Baby Acne, also known as newborn acne or milk rash is extremely common among babies these days. When your infant has more pimples than a teenager, it may put you in worry. Fortunately, it is temporary.

Let’s check a few causes to understand baby acne:

You may think why do babies get baby acne at such a tender age?

Well, acne can be present at birth, but usually, it shows up after a couple of months. In the final weeks of pregnancy, a mother transfers her hormones to the baby. Thus, the oil glands in the body of the baby are stimulated and it results in baby acne. This type of acne affects at least 40% of babies overall.

The other causes are inflammation of the skin due to overgrowth of Fungus and medication taken by the mother during pregnancy. Babies do have sensitive skin, which can be another reason for it.

Time frame and treatment for baby acne:

The other questions, which worries most of the parents are, how long does baby acne last and what they can do about it?

This type of acne does not really bother the baby. Hence the specialists generally do not prescribe medication for the same. There is nothing much you can do about it. You just need to wait patiently for the level of the mother’s hormone in the baby’s body to subside. The acne will go on its own in some time. Don’t pick or squeeze the acne of your baby. Also, don’t use soap or any baby lotion of affected areas.

Paediatrics suggests a time frame of 6 weeks for the same. If you would still like to do something about it, then opt for natural remedies only. Clean the affected area 2-3 times a day with lukewarm water and pat it try.

Never try any adult acne treatment on a baby and avoid rubbing the skin of the affected area. Don’t ever stop breastfeeding thinking that it might cure the acne.

Following are some baby acne remedies that you can implement for best results:

1. Breast milk

Breast milk helps to build the immune system of the baby and it has lauric acid present in it. Lauric acid has properties which help to fight acne.

Mother’s milk offers enormous benefits to the baby apart from nourishing the skin. It is able to treat baby acne easily. The omega-3 fatty acids and glyconutrients which are present in mother’s milk exfoliate the skin gently which is necessary for treating the acne.

Thus, feeding breast milk is beneficial, but applying breast milk on baby acne is equally miraculous.

Things to do:  Just soak a cotton pad in some of your breast milk and wipe it on the acne of your baby. Try it a few times a day and you can see the difference. Sometimes, you can see instant results.

2. Cleaning

Cleaning is the foremost thing when it comes to the treatment of baby acne. Cleaning is often taken for granted. So, whatever comes in contact with the baby’s skin should be cleaned properly and thoroughly. You should clean the things frequently and must be selective about the detergents. It should be gentle to the skin condition is not aggravated.

Things to do: Make use of mild detergents to clean the bedding, toys, clothes, etc. of the baby. Cleaning well means you can prevent building up of oil, saliva and dead skin cells.  They are responsible to clog the baby’s skin pores. It makes baby acne more severe. You need to adopt more hygienic conditions for your baby.

3. Honey and Lemon juice

Honey and lemon juice has natural anti-inflammatory properties that are safe and effective in treating baby acne.

Things to do:  Take 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and honey. Mix it well. Now take a cotton ball and dip it in the solution. Apply it very gently on the affected area. You must leave the solution on for 30 minutes. Do not touch the skin of the baby until it dries completely and uses cotton to apply the mixture because applying directly with the hand can cause infection. Wash after 30 minutes using warm water.

4. Coconut oil

In the Asian sub-continent mothers call coconut oil as the bread and butter remedy for most baby skin treatments. Coconut oil for baby acne is extremely nourishing and it is easily absorbed in the skin. The wonderful effects of coconut oil on the baby’s skin cannot be ignored. It has natural antimicrobial properties that treat baby acne faster.

Common rash and diaper rash are also treated with coconut oil.

Coconut oil for baby acne

Things to do: Simply, clean the affected area with mild baby soap and then pat dry. Now, apply a thin layer of coconut oil to the affected area. Try this remedy twice a day and you will see good results.

5. Sandalwood Paste

Sandalwood has the component to fight against acne and pimples. It does work best also for babies. It is known for its cooling and anti-inflammatory properties while treating acne.

Things to do: Make a paste of sandalwood or mix some proportion of sandalwood powder and mix with mustard oil and make a paste of it. Apply it to acne affected areas.

6. Change your diet

For nursing mother, the best way to treat baby acne is to change their diet. Cut on sugar and dairy. Drink dandelion tea and do not consume citrus fruits in large amounts as they are acidic and a major cause for baby acne.

Now you know how to get rid of baby acne, and these are natural ways that have no side effects but consult your doctor before you think of doing anything. Moreover, keep the following in mind for avoiding any complications to your baby’s skin.

1. Wash your baby’s skin with water and mild baby soap.
2. Avoid scrubbing the skin.
3. Gently pat the skin dry.
4. Do not use oily lotions.
5. Do not squeeze the bumps or the acne affected area.

What about rashes?

It’s normal for babies to develop rashes however; most of the rashes are harmless and go on their own.

Ensure that you see a General Practitioner instead of giving medicines on your own to your baby. A few do’s and don’ts which you can consider are:

• A very common type of rash which you will see is a diaper rash. Diaper rash is caused because of wetness and even the most absorbent diaper leaves moisture. Moreover, when the diaper rubs against the skin, it results in a rash. So, choosing the right diaper is the key. Find one that is made using fewer chemicals.

• Secondly, you should keep the skin of your baby dry. You must change the wet diapers of the baby as soon as possible. You must allow the skin of your baby to breathe. So, let him or her lie down in open and let the skin feel the air for a few minutes before you tie the new diaper.

• While you clean the cloth diapers using mild soap, you must make sure to rinse them well. Avoid using irritating wipes while cleaning the infant which can be harsh on the skin of the infant. Do not use those wipes which contain alcohol.

• Heat Rash: Heat rash, or prickly heat, is caused by the blockage of the pores. It is quite common in very young children, but it can occur at any age and usually in hot and humid weather. Very effective treatment for this is a cool and less humid atmosphere. Avoid using powders as these are ineffective.

So, you have all the basic information on baby acne and rashes. The most important thing which you must consider is cleanliness. Using products that are mild on the skin of your baby is important to avoid skin irritation.  Doing this will not aggravate the condition. Taking care of little things can keep your baby comfortable and general advice from the doctor will help you deal smartly with rashes or baby acne.