Baby Acne: Causes, Care & When to See a Doctor | Parenting Hub
Baby acne is harmless red pimples on the cheeks, nose and forehead. How to care for sensitive skin without making spots worse.
Small red pimples across your baby's cheeks are almost always harmless baby acne. The best treatment is usually no treatment.
What it looks like
Baby acne shows up as small red or pink pimples, sometimes with tiny pustules, on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. It usually starts in the first 6 weeks and clears by 3–4 months without treatment.
Symptoms
Pimples come and go, get worse with heat, dribble or laundry detergent residue. Baby isn't itchy or unwell.
Causes
It's linked to maternal hormones and a normal skin yeast (Malassezia). Not caused by what you ate, dirty skin, or anything you've put on baby.
What helps
Keep it simple — over-treating prolongs it.
- Wash the face with plain warm water once a day; pat dry.
- Use a fragrance-free, sensitive-skin laundry liquid for baby's clothes and bedding.
- Skip lotions, oils, baby wipes on the face and breast milk on the spots.
- Never use adult acne products — they're too strong for baby skin.
When to see a doctor
If pimples are big, pus-filled, spreading widely or appearing after 6 weeks of age (infantile acne can occasionally need treatment), or if baby has a fever, see your GP. Dry, scaly red patches that itch are more likely eczema.
When to seek help
- Pus-filled blisters or honey-coloured crusting
- Spreading red rash with fever in a baby under 3 months
- Acne starting after 6 weeks and worsening rapidly
Common questions
Should I avoid kissing my baby's face?
Newborn acne isn't infectious. The bigger reason for caution is avoiding cold sores (HSV) — never let anyone with an active cold sore kiss a young baby.
Will baby acne scar?
Almost never. Don't squeeze or scrub the spots — picking is the main cause of marks that last.