What to Do If You Notice Pimples on Your Baby’s Head

Have you noticed pimples on your baby’s head that aren’t going away and are actually spreading to other places? In this article, I’ll share what you can do to ease the symptoms and keep your baby comfortable.

Pimples on Baby's Head

At first, I brushed it off, figuring the pimples on my baby’s head would go away on their own. After all, it started with just one or two pimples, which seemed harmless enough.

But within two weeks, the pimples spread across the entire right side of his scalp. And just as those patches would begin to clear up, new ones appeared on the top of his head.

I’ve dealt with cradle cap—this wasn’t that.

They weren’t signs of baby acne either, like the ones he had on his cheeks and forehead as a newborn. These were actual, popping pimples with whiteheads and goo, like the type an unfortunate teenager would see on his face.

I did what I always do when I worry about my kids: I called the pediatrician. I described the symptoms, hoping she’d just tell me a few home remedies to try and which medicine to get at the pharmacy.

Instead, she wanted him to come in for an appointment—that same day. She ruled out baby acne which, at five months of age, my little guy was too old to have (and apparently, baby acne doesn’t appear on the scalp). Instead, she was afraid he might have an infection.

It turned out… she was right. After she examined him, she determined that he had a staph infection on his head. It was thankfully only topical—nothing due to internal issues.

If you find yourself in similar circumstances, take a look at the tips that helped and what finally cleared the pimples and infection:

Describe the symptoms to your pediatrician

Your first move should always be to give your pediatrician a call. Because every baby is different, pimples on one baby’s head may not mean a staph infection as they could on another.

Describe the symptoms, including:

  • When you noticed the pimples first began
  • How many pimples you saw when it started
  • How many pimples are now on your baby’s head
  • What the pimples look like
  • Whether the pimples are getting worse or moving to new areas

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Apply an antibiotic ointment

Even before our pediatrician saw my baby in her office, she recommended applying an antibiotic ointment, specifically Neosporin, on the pimples until they went away. The Neosporin would help prevent more bacterial growth and keep him comfortable.

Give oral antibiotics

My baby needed to take antibiotics to stop the staph infection. In his case, we gave prescription drops over the course of five days. You’ll need to discuss with your pediatrician which medicine she recommends your baby take based on his skin conditions.

Keep your baby cool

Our pediatrician suspected the staph infection actually began as a heat rash that got worse. This made sense since the weather had been hot.

To prevent the heat rash from worsening and to keep my baby comfortable, she told us to keep him only in a diaper and avoid irritants like blankets and hats. We also closed our curtains to keep sunlight out and stuck to indoor outings instead of those out in the sun.

Conclusion

It’s hard not to worry when you see pimples on your baby’s head only to find out that he has a staph infection. Thankfully, you can do plenty to keep it from getting worse.

Call your pediatrician and keep her updated on any concerns or progress you might see. Follow all her instructions and keep your baby as comfortable as you can. By taking proactive measures, you’ll help him heal from those pimples once and for all.

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing this. I’m dealing with something similar with my five month old and trying not to freak out. How did you confirm that it was Staph? And how did you confirm that it was topical only, not internal? I’m calling my pediatrician tomorrow to inquire further! Thank you!!!!

    1. Nina Garcia says:

      Hi Jen! We confirmed it was staph when we visited the pediatrician, and she recommended the topical treatment.