Acne Neonatorum

Aka: Acne Neonatorum, Neonatal Acne, Acne in the Newborn

II. Epidemiology

  1. Onset in up to 20% of newborns

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Maternal androgenic hormones stimulate Sebaceous Glands
  2. Resolves without scarring when maternal hormones wane after 3-4 months

IV. Signs

  1. Distribution: Face
    1. T-Zone: Forehead, nose and chin
  2. Characteristics
    1. Comedones (typically closed comedones)
    2. Inflammatory Papules, Pustules and Nodules may occur

V. Differential Diagnosis

  1. Neonatal Pustules and Vessicles
  2. Hyperandrogenism (e.g. adrenal cortical hyperplasia)
    1. Consider in severe, refractory and persistent cases

VI. Management

  1. Resolves spontaneously without treatment
  2. Treatment can be used if parents wish
    1. Over the counter acne soaps (low pH)
    2. Sparing use of Benzoyl Peroxide lotion 2.5% (test first on antecubital fossa)

VII. References

  1. Claudius and Behar in Herbert (2020) EM:Rap 20(8): 5-7
  2. Katsambas (1999) Int J Dermatol 38:128-30 [PubMed]
  3. O'Connor (2008) Am Fam Physician 77:47-52 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Ontology: Neonatal acne (C0263437)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
ICD10 L70.4
SnomedCT 201219009, 49706007
Italian Acne infantile, Acne neonatale
Dutch pasgeborene acne, Acne infantum, kinderacne
French Acné neonatorum, Acné infantile, Acné juvénile
German Kleinkindakne, Acne neonatorum, Acne infantum, Akne infantil
Portuguese Acne do recém-nascido, Acne infantil
Spanish Acné del recién nacido, acné infantil, acné neonatal (trastorno), acné neonatal, Acné infantil
Japanese 新生児ざ瘡, 乳児性ざ瘡, ﾆｭｳｼﾞｾｲｻﾞｿｳ, ｼﾝｾｲｼﾞｻﾞｿｳ
English infantile acne (diagnosis), neonatal acne, neonatal acne (diagnosis), infantile acne, Acne infantile, acne infantile, acne neonatorum, acne neonatal, Infantile acne (disorder), Infantile acne, Neonatal acne, Acne neonatorum, Neonatal acne (disorder)
Czech Akné novorozenců, Akné dětí, Dětské akné
Korean 유아성 여드름
Hungarian Acne infantum, Acne neonatorum, Gyermekkori acne
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

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