Young children are famed for boasting pinch-worthy cheeks and a smooth-as-silk complexion, but a common skin disorder sometimes blights the faces of toddlers: acne. Although rare in children of this age, acne can be alarming or confusing for parents, particularly when it is severe and persistent. Understanding the causes, effects and treatment for this condition can help parents cope with its occurrence.
Description
Severe acne in toddlers is a form of infantile acne--a condition that typically manifests several months after birth but may last for up to three years, according to gynecologist James W. Brann of the Women's Health Care Topics website. This acne usually forms across a toddler's nose and cheeks, appearing as yellow papules, blackheads, whiteheads or pustules. It is more likely to affect male toddlers than females.
Causes
Although the exact cause of toddler acne is unknown, it is most likely related to a rise in male hormones that occurs during toddling years. A minority of sensitive-skinned children may react to these hormones with acne outbreaks, particularly when genetic factors lead to abnormally high levels of testosterone. In other cases, pediatrician Alan Greene explains that nursing mothers taking specific drugs--including oral or topical steroids, antiseizure medication, antidepressants, bromides, iodides, lithium, antituberculosis drugs and birth control pills--may pass acne-triggering substances to their toddlers through breast milk.
Effects
If left untreated, toddler acne may lead to permanent scarring--particularly when the lesions are severe and deep below the surface of the skin. Although this condition typically retreats on its own by age three, toddler acne may continue for a decade or longer in rare situations. Some children who face acne as toddlers experience a recurrence of symptoms when they reach puberty. Unlike acne that occurs in teens and adults, toddler acne is unlikely to result in psychological disturbances such as embarrassment and lowered self-esteem, although parents of acne-ridden toddlers may feel upset by the condition.
Treatment
In some cases, acne in toddlers is treatable through a daily cleansing regimen using gentle soap and water. If a child's acne does not respond to this, acne medications such as benzoyl peroxide or topical antibiotics--available via prescription by a pediatrician--may be necessary to restore a clear complexion. However, toddler acne frequently subsides on its own after a period of months and may not require any intervention.
Considerations
When severe toddler acne is accompanied by signs of precocious puberty--such as underarm hair, pubic hair, body odor, breast development or a deepening voice in males--parents should consult a physician to determine whether an underlying condition is causing hormonal abnormalities. Such conditions can include Cushing's disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and tumors that secrete androgen. Because toddlers have delicate skin, they are more prone to scarring than adults, and parents should strictly refrain from popping visible acne lesions.
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