- Milia, “whiteheads”, may appear on the nose, cheeks and forehead and are due to immature oil glands and tend to disappear without additional treatment within a few weeks.
- Newborn acne (acne neonatorum) appears as red splotches and whiteheads on the baby’s cheeks, forehead, nose and chin and are thought to be caused by maternal hormones. The mean age of onset is 3 weeks of age. No treatment is necessary. When onset is at 3-4 months of age, acne is called infantile acne. If it persists, see your doctor about possible treatment. Newborn acne can come and go until approximately 4 to 6 months of age.
- Swollen eyes are common and are due to fluid shifts after birth.
- Most babies are born with blue/gray eyes. Eye color may be predicted by 6 months of age but may change up to one year of life.
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage, which is the breakage of small blood vessels in the eyes, is not uncommon following a difficult delivery. This should go away in a couple of days.
- Blocked tear ducts, “nasolacrimal duct obstruction”, are common in the first weeks of life. The affected eye appears watery and may produce mucous which can dry and become crusty. Notify pediatrician for further instruction. Common treatment involves gently cleaning the affected eyelid with a clean, warm, moist washcloth and massaging the duct 2-3 times per day. To provide lacrimal massage, gently stroke the area from the inside corner of eye downward to the bridge of the nose using a clean finger.
ADVERTISEMENT
