(Provided photo)

Parents of newborns that are a few weeks old have been asking me about pimples that appear to be forming on their baby’s faces. They are wondering if they could be experiencing acne.

Believe it or not, babies can get acne.

So, let me tell you what’s zit all about.

When your baby is around three weeks old, about 20% of the time they will develop red pimples.

Baby acne tends to occur almost exclusively on the face, especially the cheeks and forehead. It can also involve the nose and scalp.

Although researchers are not sure why this happens, they think it may be partially due to some lingering hormones from Mom.

These hormones can stimulate oil-producing glands. When these oils clog skin pores, the pimples of infantile acne can occur.

Although it may not make for your baby’s best photo opportunities at about three to four weeks of age, baby acne usually goes away with tincture of time. How long? It usually disappears in a few weeks and rarely lasts beyond a few months of age.

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What to avoid

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¯ If a baby is too hot from being overdressed or is exposed to a rough fabric or blanket that can inflame the skin, it can make the acne look worse, as can vigorously scrubbing their skin.

¯ The use of creams or oils on the face will also make the rash worse. Make sure to especially avoid the over-the-counter acne medicines used for teenage acne because these are not dosed for babies. These products can cause even more inflammation and will not speed up the healing process.

¯ Lastly, popping the pimples will also make matters worse.

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Best practices

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¯ Simply wash your baby’s face once or twice a day with water and pat it dry.

¯ Don’t overdo the cleansing or wash the face repeatedly either. Once a day is fine.

¯ Remember that your baby’s acne does not bother them, so don’t let it bother you. It will go away.

¯ If you find the rash still present after several months, it is not likely to be baby acne but perhaps a different inflammatory rash called eczema. That is treatable but the subject of another First with Kids article.

Hopefully, tips like these will be rational ones when it comes to staying calm about your baby getting acne.

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Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. You can also catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and NBC5.