Infant Acne and Cradle Cap: What Should You Know?
Dr. Valleteau de Moulliac,
Pediatric advisor for Laboratoires Sarbec
INFANT OR NEONATAL ACNE
Your baby may have small “spots” on their face that look like teenage acne: mostly small whiteheads, sometimes blackheads, small red papules, or even pustules. These lesions are mainly found on the trunk and cheeks. This is neonatal acne, which usually appears during the first month of life without any other symptoms. This acne is common (20% of infants), occurs more often in boys, and disappears spontaneously between 1 and 3 months without leaving scars. It is caused by the sudden drop in maternal hormones after birth, which triggers the secretion of androgen (male) hormones in both sexes, stimulating the sebaceous glands of the skin in some newborns who are more sensitive to it, just like in adolescence. Do not change your usual hygiene habits. Do not use any treatment. If needed, talk to your doctor. This does not indicate an increased risk of acne during puberty.
CRADLE CAP
If you notice, between 2 weeks and 3 months, red patches covered with a thick, greasy, or even yellowish coating appearing on your baby’s scalp at the top of the head and over the fontanelle, your child has “cradle cap,” so named because it looks like milk that has dried on a baking tray. It occurs during the milk-feeding period. It has absolutely nothing to do with milk, whether breast or formula. It is not related to insufficient or improper hygiene on your part. It is common, harmless, and has no impact on your baby’s life or development. It is mainly unsightly, which is why treatment is recommended to prevent it from persisting, spreading, or becoming infected. It can spread to the upper part of the forehead. “Cradle cap” is actually the minor or mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, which can also affect the face, underarm folds, or diaper area: in this case, it is called bipolar. Cradle cap is caused by excess sebum production, probably infected by a yeast.
If you find these “cradle cap” patches unsightly, know that they are temporary, harmless, and disappear within a few weeks, sometimes a few months.
However, make sure to clean your baby’s head very thoroughly every evening with a gentle shampoo (applying petroleum jelly two hours beforehand if the patches are very thick), then gently brush the scalp with a soft bristle brush to remove the scales. Don’t worry if the hair falls out, it will grow back: you can then apply an emollient cream. This way, the scales will disappear within a few weeks.
Consult your doctor if the cradle cap does not disappear despite these treatments, if it spreads to the rest of the body, or if it becomes infected.
If these cradle cap patches are harmless and temporary and do not affect the way you see your baby: they always disappear with or without treatment.
