Baby Eczema vs. Acne: How to Recognize and Treat Them

Published on March 14, 2023 .

mother putting cream on baby's face — Image by Ground Picture via Shutterstock

Soon after your newborn is born, you may notice bumps, rashes, and spots on that fresh, baby-smooth skin. Often, these changes resolve independently in a few weeks, but they can feel alarming for parents. Baby acne is incredibly common, but can often be confused with baby eczema, a skin condition that can cause more discomfort for your newborn. What is the difference between baby eczema and baby acne?

Baby eczema and acne each have individual identifying features.
The cause of each skin condition is largely unknown.
Treatment of baby acne is generally not required.
Many treatment options may aid in eczema flare-ups.
Neither condition can be prevented, but measures can be taken to avoid worsening of the condition.

Baby eczema vs acne – the difference:

Newborn rashes and bumps, such as baby acne, are common and easily identified by the trained eye. Sometimes skin changes may be a significant condition, such as atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema. Let’s look at the distinguishing features of these two conditions.

	Baby eczema	Baby acne
Appearance	Skin forms red scales and bumps which are dry and itchy	Visible development of whiteheads
Affected body parts	Head, cheeks, elbows, and knees	Location is generally limited to the face, including the forehead, nose, and cheeks
Leaks fluid	Yes, and can form crusts	No
Affected age group	Develops around 6 months to 5 years of age	Appears within the first 2 to 4 weeks of life
Recovery period	May improve or disappear over time with treatment and flare-up management	Resolves by 4 months of age

Causes of baby eczema and acne

Several types of eczema can affect infants. Atopic dermatitis is a recognizable and common type of eczema. Approximately 13% of all children under 18 are affected by atopic dermatitis. Cradle cap, or seborrheic dermatitis, is another eczema common in infants. The exact cause of eczema in babies is not known. Environmental allergens and genetics play an essential role in the development of eczema. Examples of environmental allergens include:

Soaps, cleansers, and shampoos
Lotions and ointments
Dry air
Infants with atopic dermatitis are at higher risk for food allergies, even if they are not contributing to the eczema

Eczema can have exacerbations or flare-ups in response to specific triggers. It may take some time to identify your infant’s eczema triggers.

How to treat baby eczema and acne

Baby eczema may require treatment. A consultation with a pediatric dermatologist is an important step. A dermatologist can identify eczema, investigate the triggers, and provide care recommendations. Steroid creams or antihistamines may be prescribed in moderate to severe cases of baby eczema. A dermatologist can also recommend alternative eczema treatments, which may include:

Avoidance of triggers
Humidification of air
Baby formula considerations
Dietary changes for the breastfeeding person
Mineral baths

Vitamin supplementation
Prebiotics and probiotics
Diet alternations and food allergy testing
Natural emollients or moisturizers
Natural oils

Baby acne does not often require treatment. Proper bathing techniques and limiting the use of lotions and washes with fragrance will limit skin irritation. Do not attempt to squeeze whiteheads that may form or rub the acne vigorously. Infantile acne may be problematic if it appears after six weeks of age. Evaluation by a pediatric dermatologist may be helpful. A dermatologist will discuss skin care product usage, determine if the skin condition is truly acne, assess whether the acne indicates a more significant health problem, and help prevent scarring.

Can baby eczema or acne be prevented?

It is challenging to prevent baby eczema, especially when genetics and allergies can be causative factors. However, there are many measures you can take to limit worsening and flare-ups in your baby. Identifying and avoiding your baby’s eczema triggers will be the most helpful prevention measure.

Baby acne is a normal newborn skin finding and cannot be prevented. While its appearance may be worrisome, the acne does not bother your baby.

Newborn skin changes can be distressing. While baby acne causes no discomfort for your newborn, eczema can cause significant irritation. Eczema’s appearance may change as your baby ages. Stay vigilant in identifying and avoiding triggers and reevaluating treatments. Speak with your pediatrician about any concerns you have about your baby’s skin.

FAQ

Can I put breastmilk on my baby’s acne or eczema?

Breast milk application is a common recommendation by parents and physicians. There is reason to believe that breast milk's anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties may help decrease the severity of baby eczema or baby acne. Though there is limited evidence to suggest that breast milk helps with such skin conditions, there is no harm or risk in trying it on your baby.

How may the appearance of eczema change as my baby gets older?

If eczema appears before six months of age, dry, scaly, and reddened patches may only appear on the area of the head. Beyond six months, eczema may appear on elbows and knees. The eczema patches may also become more crusty. In the toddler years, eczema can appear on wrists, ankles, hands, mouth, and eyelids.

Should food or formula introduction be delayed in children with eczema?

More studies are needed on this subject, but there is limited evidence to suggest that delaying the introduction of solid foods or formula (as opposed to breastmilk) did not protect infants with eczema from food allergies.