Acne typically begins during puberty, but it can also manifest in infants. Approximately 20% of newborns encounter baby acne, which often appears two to four weeks after birth, though some infants may have it from birth. While baby acne may persist for a few days to several months, the majority of cases resolve without intervention. Baby acne reflects the intestinal microbiome crisis that many people are suffering from. The intestinal microbiome and our skin’s microbiome are essentially one and the same and newborn babies inherit the cumulation of their mother’s microbiome.
However, recognizing the natural desire for your baby to be healthy in every way from day one, let’s explore what can be done because doing so will echo what is needed for a lifetime.
What Does Baby Acne Look Like?
Similar to acne in teens and adults, baby acne appears as small pimples or red/white bumps on the baby’s face or body, with a higher prevalence on the cheeks, nose, scalp, neck, and upper back. It may also include whiteheads, and the affected areas may exhibit reddish skin around the bumps.
It is advisable to consult a pediatrician when you observe pimples or bumps on your baby’s skin to confirm whether it is baby acne or a more serious skin condition.
What Causes Baby Acne?
The exact cause of baby acne is a disruption of the healthy microbiome that is passed from the mother to the baby in utero. Many medications are problematic to our microbiome. Many speculate that hormones are a significant factor as well. Disruptions of microbiome are mainly attributed to The All American Diet which is high in processed foods, hydrogenated oils, sugar, alcohol, and high carbohydrate intake. Mothers with a sensitive constitution often eat mostly healthy but still have microbiome upsets due to genetic tendencies, emotional states, and environmental toxins.
How To Prevent Baby Acne Or Keep It From Getting Worse:
Some of the things you can do to prevent baby acne or at least keep it from getting worse:
- Breastmilk is the ideal baby food from mother’s with a clean whole food diet.
- Install an effective water purifier for bath water to remove chlorine and heavy metals.
- Use lukewarm water during bath time, avoiding the upper edge of a warm bath.
- Avoid using any soap, even baby soap, as warm water alone is sufficient.
- Occasionally use a clean and simple barrier restoration cream devoid of synthetics. Bison Tallow or plain jojoba oil are excellent choices.
- Avoid conventional lotions and creams no matter how tempting the advertising is.
- Never use acne products to treat baby acne or any acne for that matter.
- Most of all, please do not pop a pimple as this may only irritate your baby’s skin, cause scarring, and/or just make it worse.
Final Thoughts On How To Treat Baby Acne
The impulse to fix baby acne by employing harsh and commercial products will only aggravate it. Adhere to the smart fundamentals listed above to clear baby acne. Focus on high-quality food, clean water, and an occasional plain barrier restoration cream or jojoba oil. Less is more.

About the author
I took many wrong turns when I started learning about skin at 19. The more I spent on skincare, equipment, and training, the further I felt from actually helping skin. I was frustrated with only being able to offer temporary and superficial solutions at best. What emerged from the disappointment and turmoil, I now call, The Regenerative Skin Process. Skin Harmonics is a dedicated medical fusion holistic skincare clinic that provides a root cause approach delivering lifetime skin health through medical grade skin care products, new learning, and Deep Pore Cleansing Facials.