Newborn acne: why does it occur? 2026

Surely if you think about a baby's skin (and especially that of a newborn) you imagine a perfect, soft, delicate, healthy skin free of imperfections. So much so that when we see someone with a smooth and healthy dermis, we usually tell them that they have “skin like a baby.”

But what happens when the new little one in the family gets acne? He is only a few weeks old and small white or yellowish pimples appear on his cheeks, forehead and nose. It's okay that time passes quickly, but... There are still a few years left for puberty, right?

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Indeed, don't worry, they are still a few years away from adolescence. And although it has a similar name and appearance, it is not the same. This reaction usually appears during the first weeks of life and is known as neonatal, miliary, newborn, baby, or fattening acne or milk pimples. It occurs in 40% of newcomers and is due to the fact that the fat that accumulates in the skin is retained in its pores.

It makes sense that when we don't know this we worry. We expect silky skin and when we notice these little marks we have many doubts about their origin: about whether they will disappear on their own or not, about whether they cause discomfort to the child, about whether definitive marks will remain, or about whether the mother's diet is the culprit (especially if they are breastfed, it is natural to think that therein lies the problem).

However, the truth is that it is because the hormones that have been transferred to the baby through the placenta are those that have been responsible for activating greater production of sebaceous glands, which cause acne. This is because in the last trimester of pregnancy, the pregnant woman's body releases hormones more intensely to promote the maturation of the lungs and the immune development of the child, which affects the aforementioned glands.

Should we worry about baby acne?

These types of marks, the small pustules we talked about, do not hurt or itch. Furthermore, they are neither contagious nor have anything to do with the mother's diet; however, as we say, the thought that they arise due to breast milk is usually common.

Since it does not cause discomfort, it is not necessary to apply a specific treatment. Normally, in a couple of weeks or three, baby acne disappears on its own without leaving a trace. That is why it is not recommended to use products, squeeze pimples, or scrub the skin. It is best to keep it clean to prevent infections that would be cause for concern.

The baby may also have these pustules in the mouth or even on the gums, which are called Epstein's pearls. Furthermore, on the other hand, there is the so-called infant acne that appears between the third and sixth month and, in this case, it would require medical treatment.