Neonatal and Infantile Acne Vulgaris: An Update
Acne may present in neonates, infants, and small children. Neonatal and infantile acne vulgaris are not considered to be rare. The presentation of acne in this patient population sometimes represents virilization and may portend later development of severe adolescent acne. Neonatal and infantile acne vulgaris must be distinguished from other cutaneous disorders seen in newborns and infants. Infantile acne tends to be more pleomorphic and inflammatory, thus requiring more vigorous therapy than neonatal acne.
Practice Points
- Infantile acne needs to be recognized and treated.
- Acne in early childhood may represent virilization.
Differential Diagnosis
Infantile acne often is misdiagnosed because it is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis. When closed comedones predominate, acne venenata induced by topical creams, lotions, or oils may be etiologic. Chloracne also should be considered.14
Treatment
,Guardians should be educated about the likely chronicity of infantile acne, which may require long-term treatment, as well as the possibility that acne may recur in severe form during puberty.1 The treatment strategy for infantile acne is similar to treatment of acne at any age, with topical agents including retinoids (eg, tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide) and topical antibacterials (eg, erythromycin). Twice-daily erythromycin 125 to 250 mg is the treatment of choice when oral antibiotics are indicated. Tetracyclines are contraindicated in treatment of neonatal and infantile acne. Intralesional injections with low-concentration triamcinolone acetonide, cryotherapy, or topical corticosteroids for a short period of time can be used to treat deep nodules and cysts.2 Acne that is refractory to treatment with oral antibiotics alone or combined with topical treatments poses a dilemma, given the potential cosmetic sequelae of scarring and quality-of-life concerns. Because reducing or eliminating dairy intake appears beneficial for adolescents with moderate to severe acne,27 this approach may represent a good option for infantile acne.
Conclusion
Neonatal and infantile acne vulgaris may be overlooked or misdiagnosed. It is important to consider and treat. Early childhood acne may represent a virilization syndrome.
