Acne Already? But My Kid"s Too Young!
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Updated August 04, 2014.
Your kid is still playing with Legos and watching cartoons. Maybe your child is still strutting around in diapers. Surely those little bumps and pimples aren’t acne. Your child isn’t a teenager yet, so aren’t they too young to have acne?
Acne is a common skin problem across almost any age, from birth through adulthood. So if your child is breaking out, there’s a good change it’s run-of-the-mill acne vulgaris.
Let’s take a look at the childhood stages where you may run into acne breakouts, and what can be done to treat them.
My Child Is Between Eight and 12 Years Old
During the teen years, when hormones are raging, acne is almost expected. But acne often gets it start during the preteen years, between the ages of 8 and 12 years old.
Yes, Mom and Dad, you’re now seeing the beginning signs of puberty. Since the average age of puberty is about 8 or 9, it’s not unusual for kids of this age to develop acne breakouts.
Now is a good time to teach your child some good skin care habits – cleanse daily, don’t scrub at the skin, and don’t pick at pimples. Start your child on an over-the-counter acne treatment, if needed, to keep blemishes under control. If OTC products aren’t cutting it, or if your child’s acne seems severe, make an appointment with their pediatrician or with a dermatologist.
My Child Is a Baby or Toddler
If your child is still a little bitty thing, then you’re dealing with newborn acne or infantile acne.
Although they’re both often referred to as “baby acne,” they really are different.
Newborn acne happens between birth and about two months of age. Unless acne is very severe, the course of treatment is to do nothing. These breakouts nearly always go away quickly, on their own.
Infantile acne occurs in older babies and toddlers, causing blackheads and inflamed pimples. Like newborn acne, most cases of infantile acne clear up without treatment. If acne becomes severe, or is leaving scars, your baby’s pediatrician may prescribe a benzoyl peroxide or topical retinoid to help get breakouts under control.
My Child Is Between 2 and 7 Years Old
There is a period of time that physicians describe as the “acne-free zone,” roughly between ages of 2 and 7. It’s very rare for children in this age group to develop acne. If your child is in this age range and has a lot of blackheads and/or inflamed blemishes, you’ll want to have a pediatrician give your child a once-over to make sure there aren’t any hormonal issues going on.
For All Ages
Not all pimples are acne. There are a lot of other skin problems that can cause a pimple-like rash. The pimply bumps on your child’s skin could be something as simple as heat rash, or a reaction to a new product, especially if they have appeared very suddenly. Other skin issues like eczema, keratosis pilaris, and perioral dermatitis can cause pimple-like bumps across the skin.
If you’re unsure what your child has is actually acne, if your child is in that “acne-free zone,” or if you’re just concerned about your child’s skin, give the pediatrician a call. That’s what they’re there for! Your child’s pediatrician will help you treat the skin problem, no matter what it may be.
Sources:
Eichenfield LF, Krakowski AC, Piggott C, Del Rosso J, Baldwin H, Friedlander SF, Levy M, Lucky A, Mancini AJ, Orlow SJ, Yan AC, Vaux KK, Webster G, Zaenglein AL, Thiboutot DM. "Evidence-Based Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Acne." Pediatrics 2013;131;S163.
Updated August 04, 2014.
Your kid is still playing with Legos and watching cartoons. Maybe your child is still strutting around in diapers. Surely those little bumps and pimples aren’t acne. Your child isn’t a teenager yet, so aren’t they too young to have acne?
Acne is a common skin problem across almost any age, from birth through adulthood. So if your child is breaking out, there’s a good change it’s run-of-the-mill acne vulgaris.
Let’s take a look at the childhood stages where you may run into acne breakouts, and what can be done to treat them.
My Child Is Between Eight and 12 Years Old
During the teen years, when hormones are raging, acne is almost expected. But acne often gets it start during the preteen years, between the ages of 8 and 12 years old.
Yes, Mom and Dad, you’re now seeing the beginning signs of puberty. Since the average age of puberty is about 8 or 9, it’s not unusual for kids of this age to develop acne breakouts.
Now is a good time to teach your child some good skin care habits – cleanse daily, don’t scrub at the skin, and don’t pick at pimples. Start your child on an over-the-counter acne treatment, if needed, to keep blemishes under control. If OTC products aren’t cutting it, or if your child’s acne seems severe, make an appointment with their pediatrician or with a dermatologist.
My Child Is a Baby or Toddler
If your child is still a little bitty thing, then you’re dealing with newborn acne or infantile acne.
Although they’re both often referred to as “baby acne,” they really are different.
Newborn acne happens between birth and about two months of age. Unless acne is very severe, the course of treatment is to do nothing. These breakouts nearly always go away quickly, on their own.
Infantile acne occurs in older babies and toddlers, causing blackheads and inflamed pimples. Like newborn acne, most cases of infantile acne clear up without treatment. If acne becomes severe, or is leaving scars, your baby’s pediatrician may prescribe a benzoyl peroxide or topical retinoid to help get breakouts under control.
My Child Is Between 2 and 7 Years Old
There is a period of time that physicians describe as the “acne-free zone,” roughly between ages of 2 and 7. It’s very rare for children in this age group to develop acne. If your child is in this age range and has a lot of blackheads and/or inflamed blemishes, you’ll want to have a pediatrician give your child a once-over to make sure there aren’t any hormonal issues going on.
For All Ages
Not all pimples are acne. There are a lot of other skin problems that can cause a pimple-like rash. The pimply bumps on your child’s skin could be something as simple as heat rash, or a reaction to a new product, especially if they have appeared very suddenly. Other skin issues like eczema, keratosis pilaris, and perioral dermatitis can cause pimple-like bumps across the skin.
If you’re unsure what your child has is actually acne, if your child is in that “acne-free zone,” or if you’re just concerned about your child’s skin, give the pediatrician a call. That’s what they’re there for! Your child’s pediatrician will help you treat the skin problem, no matter what it may be.
Sources:
Eichenfield LF, Krakowski AC, Piggott C, Del Rosso J, Baldwin H, Friedlander SF, Levy M, Lucky A, Mancini AJ, Orlow SJ, Yan AC, Vaux KK, Webster G, Zaenglein AL, Thiboutot DM. "Evidence-Based Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Acne." Pediatrics 2013;131;S163.
