Infantile acne is a term used for the acne that affects toddlers between the age of three and 12 months. On rare occasions, infantile acne may persist in toddlers until the age of three. This type of acne is slightly more severe than baby acne that affects toddlers immediately after birth. Infantile acne usually results from hormonal changes during the birth of the toddler.
Toddlers affected with infantile acne generally have yellow papules on their face. They may also have blackheads, whiteheads and pustules.
Normally infantile acne is self-corrective and is remedied within a few months of its eruption. However, some times the acne can be severe enough to require treatment. It is worthwhile to note that in some cases toddlers with infantile acne may develop acne again in their teens.
Following are some cases when it is advisable to provide treatment for infantile acne:
- When infantile acne continues for more than a few weeks in your toddler
- When infantile acne develops after the ages of two or three
- When there is a family history of infantile acne
General Treatment:
- Mild acne can be cured by gentle cleansing of the affected area followed by application of topical agents such as benzoyl peroxide
- Severe acne can be treated by using antibiotics and isotretinoin or any other therapy as prescribed by your doctor
Disclaimer: The above information is commonsense reflection drawn from general experience. If you are looking for expert medical advice, please consult your doctor.
my baby has infantile acne since birth.he’s already 4 mos now and im worried what should i do to treat it.
my daughter is 4 years old and has develop what i believe is some form of toddler acne on her forehead only. what kind or brand of mild cleansers do you suggest? or should i go straight to the doctor?
my baby is 6 weeks old and developed this rash on her skin nearly 2 weeks ago, when will it go away? and most importantly will she be left scarred?
My son has infantile acne too, so we went to see a dermatologist, prescribed him with a moisturizer (cos he has a bit of dry skin) and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. His face is clearer but once in a while an acne or two will appear again. I hope it will clear before he reaches 1yr.. He’s 8mths now..
my 1yr old son has had severe infantile acne since he was 5 days old. we’ve seen 6 specialists but are told that his cheeks are scarred now so will have to wait to naturally fade with time. There looks to be a slight improvement since I’ve been using Vitamin E Oil, but maybe I’m being hopeful.
Anyway, as I couldn’t find much info about this condition – I’ve started a private Facebook support group for parents like myself just wanting to get advice from other mums/dads.
I’d love for you all to join the group! Come and share your concerns, success stories or just a good vent at the frustration that infantile acne can cause a worried parent.
the group is called “infantile acne parents group”
otherwise, please email me and I can send you an invite