What Is Baby Acne?
Can little kids get acne?
As a rule, kids from age two to eight automatically get an acne pass because their sebaceous glands (the oil-producing glands inside hair follicles) have yet to kick into gear. If pimples do pop up before age eight, it’s best to see a doctor to rule out a more serious condition. “Acne that appears before age eight in girls or age nine in boys could be a sign of precocious puberty, which is a medical issue,” says Weinstein.
Once a pediatrician has confirmed a child’s spots are due to isolated hormones and not early puberty (a condition where the brain jumpstarts sex hormone development ahead of schedule), your doctor can decide on the best treatment. Most acne medications are still too strong for kids, but milder doses of benzyl peroxide, antibiotics or retinoids (derived from vitamin A) can be used to fight bacteria and unclog pores.
