How To Get Rid of Baby Acne: When Baby Doesn’t Have Baby-Smooth Skin

Acne is the bane of teenagers everywhere. Having itchy red bumps on one’s face is never a good thing. Unfortunately, this skin condition is not limited to teens, but may also affect babies. But what exactly is baby acne? More importantly, how do you get rid of it? Read on to find out how to get rid of baby acne.

(Photo from Flickr)

 

What is baby acne?

Baby acne is a common ailment known in the medical field as erythema toxicum neonatorum, often shortened to erythema toxicum or ETN, or toxic erythema of the newborn. As its name implies, baby acne or ETN appears during the neonatal period, which is between birth and 28 days of age. This condition looks very similar to teenager acne, as it manifests as red bumps or pimples on the face. It may also look like baby rash or eczema, however, baby acne does not come with the red patches that rash has. Despite its name, baby acne is not toxic and is generally harmless to healthy newborn babies.

What causes baby acne?

Like teenage acne, baby acne is also caused by hormones. Hormones inherited from the mother at birth seem to be culprit for this condition, though some doctors may disagree. The hormones cause the baby’s oil glands to act up, causing pimples to appear. Babies from mothers who take medication while pregnant seem to be more likely to acquire baby acne, as well as babies on certain medications. Some breastfeeding mothers found that eating certain foods (citruses like oranges, fatty foods) causes acne to appear on their babies. It doesn’t matter that much, however, since baby acne is generally harmless and does not have any long term effects on the baby’s skin.

How long will baby acne last?

Baby acne should not last very long. It will usually appear a few days after the baby is born, and may come and go until the baby is three months old. When the acne returns, however, it will be milder than when it first appeared. If baby acne doesn’t seem to be going away or is become worse, consult your doctor.

What should be done about baby acne?

Baby acne requires minimal action on the parents’ or caregiver’s part. As with teenage acne, the number one cure is to maintain cleanliness. However, a baby’s skin is very delicate and should not be exposed to harsh chemicals. Do not panic and wash the baby’s skin more than what is necessary, as it may cause the baby’s skin to dry up and lead to further skin complications.  Use only the mildest soap (such as those specifically made for babies) and water to clean the baby’s skin, and gently pat dry with a towel afterward. If, despite the use of mild baby soaps, baby acne still persists, avoid the use of soaps altogether and just use warm water. Dip a cotton ball or a clean cloth in warm water and gently wipe the affected areas of the baby’s skin in order to clean it.

A mild detergent should also be used to wash the baby’s clothes, as well as the baby’s blankets, sheets, and anything that will come in contact with his or her skin. Harsh detergents will only worsen baby acne, or cause its return. Mothers, fathers, siblings, other relatives and friends who want to hold the baby should also consider using mild detergents, since once their cloths come into contact with the baby’s skin, it may irritate it and cause a breakout. Baby saliva or spit up milk, if not attended to immediately, may also worsen the condition.

Never attempt to pop a baby’s pimples the way some people do with teenage pimples, as this will only lead to skin infections and will make the baby’s complexion worse. Also, do not use any over-the-counter acne medication (such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or astringents) meant for teenagers and adults; this will also only worsen the situation. Avoid lotions and other oily substances as these may irritate the baby’s skin and prevent baby acne from clearing up.

A baby can be very fond of picking at things, and these may include his or her pimples. This will make baby acne worse and may cause an infection. To avoid this, have the baby wear mittens so that he or she will not be able to pick open the pimples. Baby acne, however, does not bother babies, so parents should not be overly stressed when dealing with it.

Some easy home remedies

If baby acne seems to be persistent for your little one, the following are some home remedies for your little one that can help alleviate the symptoms. However, do keep in mind that that if the baby acne seems to be getting worse or is on the extreme side, it is always best to consult a pediatrician.

Breast milk

A few drops of breast milk on the afflicted spots may be helpful. Leave it on the baby’s face for 15 minutes, then gently rinse with warm water and pat dry. However, if the mother’s diet consists of fatty foods, this may best be avoided as it may further trigger breakouts.

Honey and lemon juice

If breast milk does not seem like a good solution, perhaps this honey and lemon juice mixture will. A teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice mixed in a small bowl should be dabbed on the baby’s affected areas and left on for 30 minutes. Afterwards, wipe the mixture off using a soft cloth or cotton swab dipped in lukewarm water. If using a cloth, make sure that it was washed with mild detergents.

Vinegar

Vinegar is said to kill bacteria and take in excess oil, so it may be the perfect solution to acne. Pre-made vinegar solutions are available, but it is easy enough to make your own at home. Simply take a capful of vinegar and mix it with ten capfuls of water. Dab gently on the baby’s face, leave it on for a few minutes then wipe off with a clean cloth or cotton ball.

Conclusion

Baby acne is a common ailment, and parents shouldn’t worry too much about it. But of course, no one wants to see their precious one covered in pimples, so the tips above should help you with how to get rid of baby acne.

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How To Get Rid of Baby Acne: When Baby Doesn’t Have Baby-Smooth Skin

How to get rid of back acne

Acne is a problem that usually plagues teenagers, but it may cause problems for adults as well. There are many products out there meant to treat facial acne, but what about back acne? Back acne, often shortened to “bacne”, can be difficult to deal with, but not impossible. Read on to find out how to get rid of back acne.

 

(Photo from learntogetridof.com. No copyright infringement intended)

What is back acne?

Back acne is a kind of body acne that manifests on the back. Like facial acne, back acne is aggravated by clogged sweat glands and usually makes its appearance during puberty. Since men tend to sweat more than women do, men are more likely to be afflicted with back acne. The skin on the back is much tougher than the skin found on the face, so treatment for back acne can be more aggressive than those used on the face. However, extreme measures such as popping and pinching the pimples and pustules caused by the acne are still not recommended as it will still leave unsightly scars.

What causes back acne?

Back acne is caused by more or less the same reasons as facial and another body acne. In the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, are pilosebaceous units that consist of a hair follicle and sebaceous glands. At the onset of puberty, the sebaceous glands begin producing sebum. This production is easily affected by hormonal changes, and puberty is a stage of many hormonal changes and imbalances. This imbalance signals an overproduction of sebum, which then clogs the pilosebaceous canal, accumulates bacteria, and thus creates the pimple that is seen by all. Though this is often triggered by the hormonal imbalances of puberty, back acne may be hereditary, making those with parents who had back acne more likely to develop it.

How can back acne be prevented?

They say that prevention is the best cure, and with the case of back acne, that is definitely true. As acne is primarily caused by clogged pores, attention must be given to clearing the pores and keeping them free of blockages. Cleanliness is very important in the preventing acne so that the bacteria that will give rise the pimple later on will be stopped. Always make sure that the clothes you are wearing and will wear are clean. If, despite constantly making sure that the clothes you are wearing are clean, you are still plagued with back acne, perhaps it is the detergent at fault. Some individuals have skin that is sensitive to some kinds of detergents, especially the harsher ones. If this seems to be the case, it will be much better to choose a natural or organic detergent, which should be much gentler on the skin.

Active people who have the tendency to get back acne should always make sure to shower after every workout, as accumulated sweat on skin and especially when trapped inside clothing will further aggravate the condition. Working out will also cause the sebaceous glands to work overtime, producing more sebum, which will lead to further blocking of the pores. Again, as skin on the back is much tougher than facial skin, it is much harder to get rid of back acne than it is to prevent it.

How do I get rid of back acne?

Once back acne makes itself known, it is not the end of the world. There are many solutions that one can try when dealing with back acne. As every person is different, some remedies may be more effective than others, so make sure to try others if one doesn’t seem to be very effective in curing your back acne.

Exfoliate

Dead skin, sweat, and sebum are the three things which can trigger a back acne breakout. Use a loofah or a pumice stone to exfoliate the affected area, sloughing away dead skin and revealing fresh new skin beneath. However, do not over-exfoliate as this may further irritate the skin and cause more breakouts.

Sea Salt Bath

While going to the beach may be the furthest thing on your mind when you are suffering from back acne, it may actually do you some good. Submerging the affected areas in the beach’s salt water can help alleviate the condition. The salt in the water will dry out the pimples until they eventually disappear. If the beach is too inaccessible, it is easy to make your own sea water concoction: simply mix salt and warm water together. This can be done in a bathtub so you can sit back and relax, or in a spray bottle, so that it will be easier to spray on as the back can be hard to reach. Only submerge the affected areas for a maximum of 30 minutes; anytime longer may lead to dried out skin, which isn’t any better.

Vinegar

This may not seem like a pleasant solution, but there are many people who swear by this. If your skin is tough and your back acne is very persistent, simply head over to the grocery store and buy some vinegar. Those who have chosen this solution find that the most effective vinegars are Japanese rice vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Simply dab the vinegar on the affected areas 10 to 15 minutes before taking a shower or going swimming. If the back acne is extreme, the vinegar may be left on overnight. Should your skin be a bit more sensitive, simply dilute the vinegar with water.

Facial Acne Cleansers

Why use cleansers meant for facial acne for back acne? If even the skin on your back is sensitive, then it is better to use cleansers which are designed to be gentle. The salicylic acid in these cleansers can also work wonders on your back acne without being too harsh like other treatments.

Conclusion

There are many different ways to get rid of back acne, and these work differently for different people. If nothing seems to be working for you, you can always consult with your dermatologist to see if there may be some other underlying problem causing your back acne. Hopefully, this article has been helpful in teaching you how to get rid of back acne.

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How to get rid of back acne

How to Get Rid of Acne Overnight

There are people who are very lucky to never have to deal with acne their entire lives. They have simply woken up and gone about their day without really worrying how they look like, because more often than not, they look perfect already. However, not everyone is this lucky. Not everyone is blessed with unblemished skin. For the less lucky ones, all hope is not lost! With the many discoveries throughout the years, there are now lots of ways to deal with acne. In fact, there are many ways on how to get rid of acne overnight.

(Photo from Flickr)

 

What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition where one’s pores become clogged, resulting in pimples. Acne, known as Acne Vulgaris in medical circles, usually makes its presence felt during puberty as hormonal imbalances become rampant at this age. At the onset of puberty, the amount of androgens (a type of hormone) rises, causing an imbalance that triggers an overproduction of sebum or oil. The sebum, especially when it comes into contact with dirt and bacteria, can plug a pore closed and will give rise to pimples. There are different kinds of pimples that can occur during acne (in order of severity):

• Whiteheads – small, stay under the skin


• Blackheads – still small, but are much more visible on the surface of the skin


• Papules – pink bumps on the skin


• Pustules – red bumps on the skin, contain pus


• Nobules – large and solid, painful when touched


• Cysts – also painful, filled with pus, can cause scarring when popped

Acne is a rather common disease that will afflict people at one point in their lives in varying levels of severity, but that doesn’t mean that you have to deal with its ugly symptoms.

 How can I prevent acne?

Even though acne may be inevitable, there are still measures that can be taken in order to prevent acne. The number one thing that you can do to prevent acne is to maintain cleanliness at all times. However, make sure that you do not overdo it. Washing too much can strip your skin of the natural oils that it needs to maintain good skin, and cause it to dry out. Washing your face twice a day is enough. If your skin tends to be on the dry side, use a moisturizer. Should you be fond of using make-up, make sure that you wash it off at the end of the day so that it will not breed bacteria and cause further clogging in your pores. Another thing to watch out for is your hair – make sure that, especially if you put lots of product on your hair, it doesn’t touch your face as much as possible as it can also carry bacteria and other pore-clogging substances.

How can I get rid of acne overnight?

The best way to deal with recurring acne is to really get to the root of the problem, which may require a trip to the dermatologist, but sometimes, there just isn’t time for that. The following are some treatments which have been proven to reduce or eliminate acne altogether overnight.

Natural remedies

Natural remedies for acne can easily be obtained in your kitchen or in your local grocery store. These are often cheap and simple ways to deal with acne.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice helps dry up pimples fast. However, the juice used should be fresh and not bottled so that it will not contain preservatives. Simply apply the lemon juice to the pimples before going to bed, and rinse it off the following day.

Ice

If your acne is more of red, inflamed blotches, you can use ice to reduce it. The ice will help the blood flow better in the area, making the redness go away, and it will tighten your pores, making it harder for bacteria to enter and for pimples to form.

Basil Tea

If you have oily skin, basil tea may be the solution for you. Simply boil a few fresh basil leaves in a cup of water, have it steep for a bit, cool in the fridge, then apply on your face.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural astringent, and many who once had extreme cases of acne swear by the results that this remedy gives them. Apple cider vinegar is the usual choice, but other kinds of vinegar, such as Japanese rice vinegar, can also be effective. Experiment to see what will be the most effective remedy for you. The vinegar will dry up your pimples fast and help minimize your pores.

Chemical Remedies

Sometimes, natural just doesn’t cut it. Chemical remedies may be better for more extreme cases of acne.

Toothpaste

This remedy is easy enough to obtain. Head over to your local grocery store and buy some white toothpaste. Do not use gel toothpaste as this will not have the same effect. The silica in the toothpaste will dry up pimples overnight, or in as fast as 30 minutes. Dot the toothpaste on the pimples and leave on for at least 30 minutes for it to take effect.

Benozyl Peroxide

Benozyl peroxide is often found in acne treatments, and it used to kill acne-causing bacteria. A 2.5% concentration is enough to be effective, as higher concentrations may be irritating to the skin. In addition to killing bacteria, benozyl peroxide can help peel away dead skin in order to reveal fresh, smooth skin.

Salicylic Acid

Don’t let the acid in the name scare you, as salicylic acid can be very helpful in purging your face of pimples overnight. It speeds up the process of replacing dead skin with new skin, making the pimples dry up and disappear. As it tends to dry up skin, it is advised that this be used along with a moisturizer.

Conclusion

There are many different ways on how to get rid of acne overnight, and now it is just a matter of finding out what works best for you. With the wealth of possible solutions to this age-old problem, there is no need to worry if acne suddenly decides to show up despite the fact that you are past puberty or even during puberty. Simply return to this article to refresh yourself on the different ways you can rid of acne overnight.

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How to Get Rid of Acne Overnight