Hi there,
Acne in newborns, or neonatal/infantile acne, as it is commonly called, is not considered to be rare. The acne morphology in this condition may include comedones (whiteheads and blackheads), inflamed papules and pustules, nodules, and cysts.
The cause of infantile acne is largely unknown. It is thought to be genetic in origin. It is not usually due to excessive testosterone or other androgenic hormones and children with infantile acne are usually otherwise quite normal in appearance. However, the presentation of acne in neonates/infants may rarely be secondary to an underlying condition such as hormonal and genetic conditions.
I would advise parents to bring their child to their family doctor/GP to get their child's condition assessed. The doctor should be able to advise if further work-up or investigations are required after taking a careful history of your child's condition and conducting a physical examination. In most cases, acne in newborns is harmless and will go away on its own with no intervention necessary.
Best regards,
Dr. Joanna Chan
Reference:
1. Dr Amanda Oakley (1999). "Infantile acne". DermNet New Zealand. Accessed March 2019.
2. PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY . Neonatal and Infantile Acne Vulgaris: An Update. Cutis. 2014 July;94(1):13-16
