What is the difference between acne and eczema in newborns?

In most cases, non-professionals have no idea about the difference between acne and eczema. Once these two diseases occur in infants, they can easily spread and worsen if not treated as soon as possible. However, since the symptoms of the two diseases are similar, misdiagnosis is very likely to occur during treatment. So, what is the difference between acne and eczema in newborns?

Pediatric eczema: Infant eczema, commonly known as milk rash, is a common allergic skin inflammation caused by internal and external factors. The skin lesions are polymorphic lesions mainly composed of papules and herpes, with a tendency to exudate, recurrent attacks, overlapping acute and chronic phases, accompanied by severe itching, and the cause is often difficult to determine.

Infant eczema is an allergic skin disease, which is mainly caused by intolerance or allergy to ingested, inhaled or contacted substances. Children with eczema initially develop red skin and rashes, followed by roughness and flaking of the skin. Touching the child's skin feels like touching sandpaper.

Neonatal acne: Acne in newborns and infants is caused by hormones in the mother's blood, while childhood acne is mostly related to genetic factors.

Neonatal acne mostly occurs in children shortly after birth or under 2 years old. The location of occurrence is similar to that of young people, also on the forehead. Skin damage on the chin, cheeks and other parts also occurs in various forms, including red papules, whiteheads and blackheads, small nodules and pustules. Generally, within 1 to 2 months after birth, when the level of male hormones in the baby's body decreases, most neonatal acne generally does not require medication.

In general, although there are certain similarities in the clinical manifestations of acne and eczema in neonates, acne and eczema are two different diseases after all. Only when people have sufficient understanding of the two can they easily distinguish between acne and eczema in daily life, so as to treat neonatal acne or eczema as soon as possible.