- What causes pimples on a baby's head and what do they look like?
- Causes of acne in infants
- How to deal with acne on a baby's head?
- How long will acne last on a baby's head?
- Treatment of purulent and red pimples on the head of a baby
It is especially important for every mother to monitor the body of her child, especially the infant, to make sure that he is perfectly healthy and to respond in time to all possible diseases or disorders that may occur in the first days or months of the baby’s life. Despite the fact that most newborns are advertisements, on television and in magazines have flawless skin, the truth is that most newborn babies suffer from skin diseases. The skin may look unhealthy, but acne is generally not malignant and does not stay on the skin for long. A fairly common condition among infants is baby acne that appear on the scalp What causes acne on a child’s head and how exactly you can cope with this problem we will find out in this article!
What causes pimples on a baby's head and what do they look like?
About one-fifth of all newborns and infants are likely to develop baby acne. This is consistent with research conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Baby acne is also called neonatal acne. The appearance of acne on the scalp of babies is more common in boys than in girls.
The reason for the appearance of acne in a child is explained by the presence of maternal hormones from pregnancy at certain stages in the first months of the baby's life. Pimples in addition to the head can also appear on the neck, head or face of the child, the presence of which can last from three to four months. Of course, there may be other reasons, causing acne on the head, which we will discuss in detail in the article below.
Causes of acne in infants
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How do maternal hormones affect the appearance of acne on a baby’s head?
The placenta transfers maternal hormones to the fetus during pregnancy. This process supports the baby's development and growth. Small amounts of maternal hormones remain in the baby's body after birth. Because the sweat glands in the baby's head and face are still immature, they can react with maternal hormones that are still present. in the child's body, which leads to inflammation and blockage of the glands, which leads to acne.
On a child's head, pimples appear as red bumps that have a white center. The manifestation of acne in infants can even be comparable to the manifestations of acne in an adult or teenager. Pimples on the head can also be scattered over different areas of the skin and be quite small in appearance.
Seborrheic dermatitis
With seborrheic dermatitis, children may produce more oil (sebum) from the sebaceous glands in their skin, a common symptom of which may be dermatitis.
Have you noticed deep red bumps on your baby's scalp, as well as crispy yellow flakes that look like dandruff on your baby's scalp? This is what infantile seborrheic dermatitis looks like, the main symptom of which is a flaky skin condition, which is very common in infants. Seborrheic dermatitis mainly starts from the head. However, it can also begin in the diaper area and then spread up the body. Treatment of such a disease can take more than six months. months.
Therefore, it is important to constantly cleanse the skin with baby antibacterial soap and apply baby oil to all parts of the body that are affected by such acne. Loosening dead skin and thoroughly cleansing with shampoo helps prevent the buildup of dead cells and the spread of acne in infants.
If you are concerned about your child's scalp acne, you should take him to see his or her pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist to see if scalp acne is a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis.
Yeast infection
A yeast infection, also known as a Candida infection, can spread anywhere on a child's body: in the nose, on the skin, and even on the head and mouth.
Yeast can lead to a small rash of acne, red in color. The appearance of a rash of acne on the baby's head also depends on what shampoos are used to treat the acne on the baby's head. To eradicate acne from the scalp caused by a yeast infection, the doctor may prescribe topical and also oral medications.
What urgent actions need to be taken when a child has acne?
When should you see a doctor?
If a child has a rash on the head, then it is necessary to reconsider the characteristics of nutrition and care, and eliminate the effect of provoking factors. If after this the condition does not return to normal, then it is recommended to consult a doctor.
The pediatrician will prescribe a series of examinations to identify the cause of the rash. You should not hesitate to visit a doctor if you have purulent pimples, especially if they quickly spread throughout the body.
To treat such a rash, an antibacterial course is required. You cannot choose antibiotics for your baby on your own. Many drugs are prohibited for children under one year of age.
It should also be taken into account that prolonged and incorrect use of medications can lead to the development of dysbiosis and the appearance of new elements of a rash on the head against this background. The purulent process can lead to the development of an abscess, furunculosis, and sepsis.
Often, with an infectious lesion, a child experiences the following unpleasant symptoms:
- increased body temperature;
- severe inflammation and swelling of the affected area;
- moodiness;
- loss of appetite;
- weight loss;
- dyspeptic disorders;
- nausea and vomiting;
- lethargy;
- drowsiness.
The sooner therapy is started, the faster the recovery will occur, the lower the likelihood of developing dangerous complications.
How to deal with acne on a baby's head?
Follow a gentle cleansing routine for your baby's scalp
By following basic home instructions, parents can minimize the appearance of scalp acne in babies.
- You should wash and dry your child’s hair with a very mild shampoo, which is classified as a children’s type of shampoo;
- Be careful not to rub your delicate scalp too vigorously.
- Some doctors also recommend using plain white yogurt. Rub the yogurt in the bath without rinsing off the yogurt for about 5 minutes, then gently rub it with a towel, helping to clear the rash and moisturize the scalp.
What to avoid
Don't treat acne and scalp pimples in children the same way as you do in adults or teenagers.
- Don't try to squeeze pimples.
- Do not use medicinal solutions that are intended to treat acne, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
- Do not use astringents.
- Avoid using oily lotions on your baby's skin. Oily lotions can make your baby's acne worse.
The most important thing for a mother is to be calm and patient. Children's acne most often does not bother the child with pain or other unpleasant sensations; try not to let this bother you, because most often acne in babies goes away on their own within 2 - 3 months without the need for special treatment, which can often only worsen the disease!
Pustules on the body
The formation of pustules on the body and face of a baby can be a rather alarming symptom and a natural condition that does not require targeted treatment. So, such pimples can appear due to:
- Hormonal fluctuations. When a baby has recently been born, his mother’s hormones are still in his blood, and his own endocrine system is just learning to work correctly. The processes of elimination of maternal hormones may be accompanied by the formation of small pustules and acne. Such acne does not bother the baby at all.
- Toxic erythema. We talked about this state a little higher. If it is generalized, then the baby’s body may become covered with many rashes and pustules. At the same time, the baby’s condition worsens, the rash brings discomfort, and the temperature increases.
- Attacks of various bacteria. When pathological pustules appear, the skin around them appears swollen and red. The blisters can grow and burst, resulting in the formation of ulcers and erosions on the baby’s body. A bacterial rash requires targeted treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
Most often, pustules on the body of infants occur due to natural hormonal processes in the body and go away quite quickly. But only a doctor can accurately determine the cause of their appearance.
How long will acne last on a baby's head?
Baby acne in a baby can appear within a few weeks after birth and can appear during any period of active growth of the baby for a short period of time up to a year. However, acne can also remain on the head for a couple of months. Talk to your child's doctor if the acne does not go away within three months Most often, the doctor prescribes a drug and recommends treating acne in a baby only if the acne becomes severe or is on the head or other parts of the body for a longer period and for a period of more than 3 months, since during this period acne appears on any part of the child’s body of any age, including infants, should pass on their own.
Coconut oil is a powerful natural remedy for long-lasting acne!
White spots in an infant
Tiny white dots on a baby's skin are a very common occurrence. Small pimples are called milia; they are most often localized on the nose, but can also be found on the forehead or cheeks. The main reason for their appearance is blockage of the sebaceous ducts, which, in turn, is caused by insufficient maturity of the sebaceous glands.
Whiteheads disappear from a child’s skin in just a few weeks, and parents are advised to:
- Care for your baby as usual.
- Do not overheat the baby excessively.
- Do not lubricate milia with any creams, ointments, or especially medications.
- Do not try to squeeze out the white dots, pick them up or remove them with a washcloth, etc.
If you try to get rid of milia mechanically, this will not speed up the process of eliminating them, but will bring discomfort to the baby and also increase the risk of infection.
Treatment of purulent and red pimples on the head of a baby
Although no treatment is usually required for baby scalp acne, pimples that are red or pus-filled can be effectively treated with topical tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide. Since many pimples often go away without any treatment, you should talk Talk to your pediatrician before trying anything like benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin.
Erythromycin gel is another possible treatment option for purulent or red pimples on the scalp of an infant.
Keep in mind that in severe cases, child acne, especially with purulent acne, may not go away on its own even for several months, and sometimes until the child is six months old.
Also keep in mind that common treatments used, such as by parents to treat their acne on the face or body, the use of moisturizers and other creams and lotions, can make childhood acne worse. Since improper treatment can only make acne worse, it is best to These are not festering large pimples, just leave them alone until they eventually go away on their own.
Gentle cleansing of your baby's scalp is recommended to be done with just water and mild soap or baby shampoo on a regular basis once a day. This is usually the best "pimple treatment" until your baby's acne goes away.
Pyoderma in a child
Vesiculopustulosis
The pathology is characteristic of the neonatal period. Vesiculopustelosis is an inflammatory process in the area of the mouth of the sweat gland. The formation of pustules in a child is preceded by prickly heat. As a result of infection, the elements of prickly heat become inflamed and transform into pustules with a milky-white secretion. The rash is located on the skin of the scalp, torso, and in folds.
Pemphigus of newborns
Neonatal pemphigus occurs on days 3-15 of a child’s life. It is characterized by the appearance of conflicts (bubbles) ranging in size from a pea to a walnut, filled with cloudy contents. The typical location of blisters is on the abdomen, perineum, and in the umbilical area. After conflict resolution, wet erosion remains. The general condition of the baby is usually disturbed: there is fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
Ostiofolliculitis. Folliculitis
Ostiofolliculitis is an infection of the mouth of the hair follicle; it has an acute onset: pustules penetrated by hair appear on an unchanged skin background. The favorite localization of rashes is the head, chest, and limbs. After a few days, the pustule resolves and becomes covered with a crust, which leaves behind a pink spot.
When the process spreads to the entire follicle, folliculitis develops. The area of inflammation increases in size and becomes painful. After a week, the abscess dries out without leaving a scar. If the infection penetrates into the subcutaneous layer, a boil forms. A conglomerate of boils is called a carbuncle. Opening a carbunculous pustule leaves deep scars.
Impetigo
There are several types of pathology. Streptococcal impetigo is characterized by the formation of conflicts on the face with a purulent-serous secretion, which open after 3-4 days without leaving a scar. Slit impetigo is also called “jam”. It represents maceration, linear erosions at the wings of the nose, in the corners of the mouth, and eyes. In the bullous form of pyoderma, pustular rashes are localized on the skin of the hands and lower extremities.
Papuloerosive streptoderma
Diaper dermatitis occurs only in children under one year of age, more often in the neonatal period. In the anogenital zone, on the inner surface of the thighs, dense bluish papules with an inflammatory halo form. Papules transform into blisters, then into erosions and crusts. The elements appear against the background of maceration, irritation of the skin by feces.
Intertriginous streptoderma
Often streptoderma occurs in children with lipid metabolism disorders. Rashes appear in the area of large folds: inguinal, cervical, axillary, buttock. The rash consists of blisters that, when resolved, leave weeping erosions with scalloped borders.
Erysipelas
The disease affects young children. The predominant localization is the neck, limbs, face. An erythematous area of irregular shape and different sizes appears at the site of inflammation. On palpation, local hyperthermia and pain are noted. In severe cases, erythema is accompanied by abscess formation and skin necrosis. The general condition is disturbed.
