Baby Acne And Breast Milk | The Surprising Connection?

If you’re a breastfeeding mum, you might find it surprising to hear that there are other uses for breast milk than simply feeding your baby. Or maybe you’ve already discovered some of these for yourself.

Breast milk is packed with incredible healing components, as well as anti bacterial, anti infective and immune boosting properties.

Nursing mothers have historically used breast milk in home remedies to treat a number of different ailments; one of these is baby acne.

Read on to discover for yourself just how baby acne and breast milk can be used to treat it.

Baby acne – what is it?

Baby acne, sometimes called infantile acne, neonatal acne, or newborn acne, is a relatively common skin condition in newborns.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, baby acne occurs in around 20% of babies in the first few weeks after birth.

Baby acne most commonly presents as small red bumps on your little one’s cheeks. You might also notice these red bumps in other places on your baby’s face or torso.

Baby acne is different from milia, or ‘milk spots’, which are dead skin cells that look like tiny white bumps on your baby’s cheeks, nose or chin.

The cause of baby acne?

A common cause is sebum. Sebum is an oily substance produced in the sebaceous glands in your baby’s skin. Too much sebum can result in clogged pores and baby acne breakouts.

The over-production of sebum in newborns is thought to be a result of placental hormones that stimulate oil production, prior to your baby’s birth.

Because sebum or oil production is influenced by the maternal hormones your baby is exposed to during pregnancy, there’s not much you can do to prevent baby acne.

In saying that, maternal hormones aren’t the only cause for baby acne. If this were the case, more babies would be born with acne or develop it soon after birth.

Another cause might simply be your baby’s sensitive skin. Some babies have skin that is very easily irritated by soaps, body washes or greasy skincare products.

How long does baby acne last?

Baby acne typically appears at any time between birth and two weeks of age. It typically lasts anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

Eventually, the placental hormones that can cause baby acne leave your baby’s body and the excess sebum goes away.

If your baby’s acne appears for the first time after 6 weeks, check with your healthcare provider or a paediatric dermatologist, as this could be a sign of a skin infection or eczema.

The good news is baby acne is harmless and will clear up in a few months as hormone levels stabilize and the oil glands mature. In the meantime, here are a few tips to help soothe your little one’s skin:

• Gently wash the affected area with a mild baby cleanser and lukewarm water a few times a week. Pat dry instead of rubbing vigorously.
• Apply a small amount of breast milk to the acne 3-4 times a day. Breast milk contains antibodies that can help fight infection and promote healing.
• Keep your baby’s skin moisturized with a fragrance-free baby lotion, especially if the air is dry.
• Avoid harsh skincare products, as these can further irritate the skin.
• Don’t pick at the bumps or acne. This can lead to scarring or infection.
• See your baby’s paediatrician if the rash is severe, oozing, or doesn’t start to clear up within 4 months. Oral medication or prescription creams may help in these cases.

For more information about eczema in babies, you can read BellyBelly’s article Controlling Eczema | 5 Flare Up Triggers For Baby Or Children’s Skin.

Can breast milk help baby acne?

Although there is no scientific evidence to support the claim, when it comes to baby acne treatment, some mothers swear by breast milk.

The reason breast milk might be effective in treating skin conditions is due to its antimicrobial properties.

Applying breast milk directly to your newborn’s skin can kill the bacteria that clog the pores and reduce the inflammation that leads to neonatal acne.

The link between baby acne and breast milk

Breast milk is nature’s perfect food for your little one, but it may also be linked to those little pimples popping up on baby’s face.

As we know breast milk contains maternal hormones that can stimulate baby’s oil glands, leading to clogged pores and inflammation. The hormones in breast milk may trigger a mini acne flare-up. Not to worry though, baby acne is harmless and will clear up on its own in a few weeks as baby’s oil glands mature, and hormones balance out.

Breastfeeding has so many benefits, so don’t stop on account of a few little pimples. Baby acne is normal and will resolve itself without treatment. Keep breastfeeding and know that you’re giving your baby the best start in life. Within a month or two, baby’s complexion will be back to that soft newborn glow.

How to use breast milk to treat baby acne

To treat baby acne, first gently wash your baby’s skin with warm water.

Then start by washing your hands and expressing a few drops of breast milk, either into a clean container or directly onto your baby’s skin.

Alternatively, you can express breast milk using a clean and sterilized breast pump and then transfer the milk into a clean container.

Use a soft cotton wool ball to soak up the expressed breast milk, or simply use your finger to dab a little on the affected areas of your baby’s skin. Then allow it to air dry.

There is no limit to the number of times you can use your own breast milk as baby acne treatment.

If treating your baby’s acne with breast milk is making your baby’s skin worse, ask your healthcare provider for advice.

How do I give my baby a breast milk bath?

If you have an excess of expressed breast milk, you might like to try adding it to your baby’s bath. The bath doesn’t need to be made up entirely of breast milk; it can be diluted with your baby’s bath water.

Adding human breast milk to your baby’s bath not only helps with treating baby acne but can also help moisturize and soften a baby’s dry skin, soothe nappy rash, and even help treat cradle cap.

Tanya Altmann, paediatrician and author of the American Academy of Pediatrics book Baby and Toddler Basics, says:

‘It’s not surprising that it (breast milk) could be beneficial for skin. Antibodies contained in breast milk can also help with many minor skin irritations and infections. That’s the rationale behind putting a drop or two of breast milk in the eye for minor irritation or infection, or for baby acne or a diaper rash’.

Dr Altmann also notes that breast milk contains many ingredients found in skin moisturizers, including fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

For further reading, check out BellyBelly’s article Newborn Skin Peeling – 7 Simple Tips To Manage Peeling Skin.