little red pustules on 5 week old face, shoulders, back

[mamamille]

I thought at first it was newborn acne because it started on her cheeks, but now it all over her head, neck, shoulders, top of her back, and chest.  The largest ones are on her cheeks but even the bumps on her chest etc look like tiny, tiny pustules...

any ideas? 

I'm thinking reaction to her bath (used new soap), or to the washing detergent, or even the sheets as she sleeps with me on her belly.  She's the second child so she def is getting exposed to many public places, dd1's school etc.  but I thought when babies are fighting a virus the rash starts on the belly, and she does not have any below her boobies.

Thanks so much

[Chamomile Girl]

OK, the obvious question would be are you sure its not chicken pox?

[sapphire_chan]

DD's baby acne went all over like that. She never had any discomfort and they cleared up by 10 weeks.

Are they like http://wegoodinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/adult-acne.jpg ?

Or like http://www.fastchickenpoxcure.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chicken-pox-natural-remedies.jpg ?

[mamamille]

I never thought chicken pox as she doesn't seem to be "sick" just a stuffy nose that she's had for weeks.  And the blisters are tiny, tiny and not angry looking.  I'm thinking they are milia?  or acne...

thanks ladies

[fancyoats]

my dd2's baby acne was all over like that, op.  it was on her chest and upper back as well as her face and neck.  it's cleared up now -- took maybe 3 or 4 weeks.

[McGucks]

My ped cited a new study saying that newborn acne is actually a colonization of yeast cells and can be cured by a topical anti-fungal.  Just a thought.  Good luck and good luck some more.

[sapphire_chan]

If it's yeast, I'd start taking a probiotic complex and reducing sugar in your diet. Yeast can ruin developing enamel. It can also, sooner, make nursing painful and itchy.

Ugh I hate yeast sooo much.

[mamamille]

huh- that's interesting... I have increased my coffee intake a little bit right around the time the spots showed up... but I also noticed that her sweat glands def have kicked into gear. so a little toxins, a little shine, voila! pimples!

[elisheva]

my kids' baby acne spread in a similar pattern. Even if baby acne *is* due to yeast (which is a normally occurring substance in the body...), it resolves so quickly on its own (a matter of weeks, really) that I'm not sure I'd make myself crazy trying an elimination diet over this. I'm also not sure I'd go to pharmaceuticals for help. I never noticed any increased fussiness in my kids during this time so I honestly never gave it a second thought once I knew what it was.

[organicmom3]

Sounds like how my little ones excema started.  We are seeing a naturopathic doctor for it now as I don't want to do steroids on my precious babe.  His cheeks were always worse and then some spots on his arms too.  On bad days we see a lot on his back and chest and legs as well...some days it seems to fade... we are using a homeopathic remedy, a probiotic and Barleans omegas...pomegranite blueberry because its so high in omega 6's.  We have seen a difference though we've only done this for two months...oh, and applying coconut and/or sesame oil to the worse areas.  Hopefully yours isn't such a long term problem....good luck!