Acne - Childhood Acne

Acne is a condition that the majority of teenagers have to contend with at some time or another. For some it's just the occasional zit. For others, it's an ongoing battle against seemingly irrepressible outbreaks of pimples. The acne period for most people is between the ages of 12 and 22, but for some, the fight begins much earlier. These are children who suffer with childhood acne.

Childhood acne usually takes one of three forms: neonatal acne, infantile acne, of early onset acne vulgaris.

Neonatal acne is a fairly common condition that affects about 20% of newborn babies. For the most part, it appears in as open or closed comedones (acne lesions), otherwise known as blackheads and whiteheads. Sometimes papules or pustules appear as well. These are the red, raised lesions, with or with out a pus-filled head. The cause is related to in utero hormones that over stimulate the baby's sebaceous glands, which leads to the child breaking out with acne. These hormones migrate through the placenta, and after the baby is born, cause pimples on his or her face. Understandably this can cause a fair amount of consternation for the parents of these babies, who aren't expecting a newborn with a teen's skin problems.

This condition tends to affect male babies more than females and can develop at any time: from birth to three weeks after birth. Usually it's limited to the facial area, but can sometimes appear on the scalp as well. It rarely requires medical treatment though as most cases clear up by themselves in a matter of a few months. It's helpful to keep the baby's face clean but it goes without saying that one should only use the mildest of cleansers, and sparingly at that. Also avoid the use of oils and lotions on the skin, which can aggravate the condition.

Infantile acne is the type that develops in babies after about three months. This is unrelated to neonatal acne, which forms shortly after birth. It also appears as a result of in utero hormonal activity, but tends to be more severe than newborn acne. It too usually disappears by it self in about a year, but may require treatment. For some, it doesn't clear up until the age of 3. Babies with this condition will normally develop papules on the face but can also have pustules, whiteheads and blackheads. Babies with more severe cases of this acne may be treated with the milder types of the available over the counter topical medications. This should help to alleviate any inflammation and swelling experienced by the child.

While the bulk of acne occurs in the teenage years, and some newborns and infants experience it as well; the incidence of acne in those between infancy and the teens us rare, but does occur. It's known as early onset acne. The sebaceous glands are not active during the childhood years, and so children of this age don't often come down with acne. These oil glands start to become active during puberty due to the increased levels of hormones. When children do develop early onset acne, it may be due to the premature onset of puberty. In some cases though, children of those families that are prone to acne, can develop childhood acne.

Acne does occur in children in one of these tree forms, and is sometimes reason enough to visit the child's pediatrician. If your child has inflamed lesions or an extensive amount of acne, an examination by a medical professional is in order.