Baby acne

Baby acne, also known as acne neonatorum, is a condition that affects roughly 20% of newborn babies. Lesions appear at around 2 weeks postpartum and commonly disappear after 3 months. Lesions include small, red, papules, which mainly affect the cheeks, as well as the nasal bridge of infants. Infants usually develop neonatal acne because of stimulation of the baby's sebaceous glands by lingering maternal hormones after delivery. These hormones cross the placenta into the baby and after delivery they cause the oil glands on the skin to form bumps that look like pimples. Baby acne usually clears up within a few weeks, but it can linger for months.

Tiny bumps on a baby's face after birth that disappear within a few weeks are called milia and are unrelated to baby acne.

Baby acne has recently been described to be caused by saprophytic yeast of the Malassezia species, which cause a primary skin infection leading to the appearance of acne-like pustules. Initially it was believed to be the common yeast species, Malassezia furfur, which also causes 'cradle-cap' in infants. However, new publications have pointed to another species, Malassezia sympolais. Treatment options are still the same for both species, which includes low dose topical antifungals.