Treating Baby Eczema vs Acne

Baby eczema and acne are skin conditions that develop in children between the ages of one and six months. Baby eczema manifests itself as flaky, crusty patches on the newborn's skin, especially during their earlier stages of life. Even though many newborns outgrow baby eczema, it is treatable and common.

Acne that appears on the skin of a newborn child is known as baby acne. Baby acne can develop in any area of the baby's face, but it’s most common on the forehead, cheeks, and nose. In newborn children, baby acne is temporary and common.

Skin breakouts resulting from baby acne and eczema can be unpleasant, irritating, and itchy. Nothing beats Revitalizing Mist for an immediate calming effect. Spritzing Revitalizing Mist on your baby will help improve their skin's moisture levels and provides a soothing effect for agitated, acne-prone skin.

Although baby eczema and acne are two common and treatable skin conditions, it is difficult to distinguish them. Before seeking treatment, it is important to differentiate the two to get desirable results.

How to Differentiate Baby Acne from Baby Eczema

Baby acne usually develops within the first six weeks of a baby's life. Acne that develops after the first six weeks of a baby's life is called Infantile acne.

Baby acne usually appears as red spots or white pimples. Infantile acne is characterized by spots and pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads and may result in the formation of cysts.

Baby eczema usually develops between six months and five years of age. People may confuse baby eczema with any other type of skin rash. Baby eczema developing in children below six months is usually red and weepy. If the area affected is infected, the baby’s skin may develop pus-filled lumps or a yellow crust. One of the best ways to differentiate the two is;

Treatments for Baby Eczema.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition common in infants. Eczema is an autoimmune disorder and thus has no cure. However, treatments are available that will help you manage the condition. Most cases can be handled with a customized skin care regimen that may include prescription medication, moisturizers, and strategies to avoid triggers.

Below are some tips recommended by dermatologists to help reduce flare-ups and manage your baby’s symptoms.

Improve on Bathing Techniques

Bathing your baby helps remove dirt and other irritants from their skin. It is important to use warm water when washing your baby and to only wash the smelly or dirty parts of your baby with a mild, unscented cleanser. Avoid scrubbing your baby vigorously and limit your baby's bath time to five and ten minutes. Apply an unscented moisturizer immediately after the bath, considering that ointments and thick creams are more effective than oils and lotions.

Apply Topical Corticosteroids

Topical corticosteroids are medications used to treat baby eczema. These medications help minimize inflammation and the symptoms associated with eczema, i.e., itching. Topical corticosteroids are available in various formulations, including creams, ointments, lotions, and sprays. Revitalizing Mist is a type of topical corticosteroid that helps manage eczema and repairs any skin damage caused by the condition.

Revitalizing Mist is among the best topical medications because:

It soothes and cleanses the baby's skin
It minimizes skin breakouts
It speeds up the healing of damaged skin
It has simple yet effective ingredients
It hydrates your baby's skin

Working with your dermatologist to determine the best and most effective medication for your baby is important. Apply the medication immediately after every bath before applying moisturizer to your baby’s skin. Because infants are more sensitive to medicines than adults, adhere to your dermatologist's recommendations for dosage, frequency of use, and duration to avoid side effects.

Determine and Eliminate Triggers.

Everyday triggers may result in eczema flare-ups and worsening. There are different categories of stimuli that can affect your baby. These triggers include:

Physical triggers- such as saliva and sweat.
Environmental triggers- such as pet dander, pollen, dry air, or tobacco smoke
Product triggers include laundry detergents, soaps, shampoos(mainly the scented ones), clothing, fabric softeners, or baby powders and wipes.

If you can pinpoint your child's triggers, try avoiding or eliminating them. You can apply unscented petroleum jelly around your baby's mouth before naps and feeding if you notice that their saliva triggers eczema to develop on his face.

Look At Bleach Bath Therapy

Even though bleach bath therapy is not commonly used for babies, if your child's eczema is persistent and difficult to control, your dermatologist may recommend it. By reducing inflammation and bacteria on the skin, diluted bleach baths can assist in managing your child's symptoms. It is important to follow your dermatologists' bleach therapy instructions carefully to ensure your child’s safety and prevent irritating your child’s already sensitive skin.

Treatment For Baby Acne

Baby acne usually goes away without treatment. Some children may develop acne that lasts for months rather than weeks. Your dermatologist may prescribe an ointment or medicated cream to help clear up this persistent form of baby acne.

Do not use over-the-counter acne medications, lotions, or face washes. Babies' skin is usually sensitive; thus, strong medications may aggravate the acne or cause further skin irritation.

However, if these methods fail, here are some that may help manage your baby's symptoms.

Use of Topical Medications

Similar to the treatment of baby eczema, the use of topical medications helps to minimize and manage the symptoms associated with acne. Consider seeing a pediatric dermatologist if your baby develops acne and managing it has become challenging. Just like in eczema, Revitalizing Mist is a topical medication that helps manage acne and repairs skin damage associated with the condition.

It is vital to inquire about the appropriate dosage for children, side effects, drug interactions, and how the medication affects your child’s growth and development.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

UV rays from the sun may cause inflammation and redness. Also, some medications used to manage the condition may cause your skin to be more photosensitive. (sensitive to light). You should dress your child in protective clothing and limit their time in the sun to avoid further irritation. You can use medicinal sunscreen on your baby before exposure to the sun to prevent further aggravation of the acne.

Avoid Oily Creams and Lotions

Acne, whether in children or adults, develops due to the coagulation of skin pores. Oil and dust become trapped around the sweat pores and hair follicles, forming a plug that irritates the surrounding skin. This irritation results in the redness and swelling usually associated with acne. Since acne develops due to the accumulation of dirt and oil in the skin pores, lotions and oily creams should be avoided on acne-prone skin.

Final Thoughts

While there is no specific medication for baby eczema and acne, it is in your best interest to seek the help of a professional to learn how to manage it properly. Eczema and acne symptoms do not only overlap themselves. They can also coincide with the symptoms of other serious medical conditions, such as problems with the baby’s endocrine system,(CAH) congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or even a tumor.

It is vital to start treating your acne or eczema immediately when you notice it, as this will prevent the condition from becoming worse and make treatment more difficult.