Baby/toddler Rashes

Updated on March 31, 2011
C.K. asks from Marionville, MO
6 answers

My daughter is almost 2 and has had a rash going on for two months now. I have taken her to the doctor and even gotten second and third opinions. I'm at my wits end. We've tried all the allergy meds and changed to the "free" soaps for everything. She has been treated for everything it could possibly be. Including scabies, which no one else had and no one has gotten. It's not any of the diagnosis that the doctors have tried. I need help. The rash is red and itchy, has small red bumps, has a sandpaper feel and is generally making my baby miserable. Has anyone else had this kind of issue? Any help would be great!
The rash is on her belly, hands, thigh and calf. The GP said that she can't get an appointment with a dermatologist for months! I have started making a journal of foods she has. My son had a reaction to red dye when he was small, but that is not what is causing her symptoms. I have taken everything with dyes in it away that I can. I have even started giving her soy milk instead of whole milk. I'm hoping the process of elimination doesn't take too long. She is miserable and so am I that I can't make her better.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

So I started treating her for excema. Found a new laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, I even switched to natural diapers. It's a little better but still not gone. So I am going to try the gluten free diet and lactose free diet to see if any of those help. Thanks so much for the advise! I really like this site.
LeAnne C, I would like to message you to talk about your knowledge. That would be great!
Thanks so much again! I will continue with updates.

More Answers

L.C.

answers from Kansas City on

there can be tons of other things, not just the detergent. My son used to have tons of skin issues. It turned out being his baby shampoo. Even though we were using johnsons, it has formaldehyde in it and he has a chemical sensitivity to it. I dont know how far away you are from me, but i am a health educator in shawnee. If you ever wanted to meet at all i could take a look at it and offer some suggestions. Or you are welcome to message me on here and we can just talk there. whatever you are comfortable with. Have you also tried using some gluten free food on her for a few weeks? my daughter celiac disease did not really start to flare until after she turned a year old. But skin rashes are very common with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

1 mom found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Lafayette on

could it simply be excema? my daughter has that (we're getting ready to try allergy testing to see if there is an allergic reaction causing it). to treat it we use euccerine lotion (from the tub) and put it on after a cool bath before drying off. it helps to lock in the moisture. it helps a lot. We do the lotion as a maintinance, when she is having a major break out of it, we use aquaphor or petroleum jelly. it keeps the moisture in better. maybe try this, see if it helps?

good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.W.

answers from Eugene on

These rashes are maddening because if it's an allergy, it can be caused by almost anything. Have you seen a dermatologist? They tend to be able to diagnose better than a GP.

Here are some of the things that have caused problems in my very allergic family: bounce dryer sheets, various soaps and lotions, dark blue dye like in blue jeans, dust, mold, latex, various plants and weeds, foods like peanuts, nuts fish seafood, wheat, milk and soy, pork strawberries, citrus.

I had a rash around my eyes and face for several months and finally figured out I'm allergic to newsprint ink. It was red, itchy and felt like sandpaper. My doctor suggested the newsprint which seemed unlikely since we've gotten the newspaper for years but, yup, 3 days after stopping the paper, the rash totally cleared up.

It's miserable to be so itchy. The doctors can only guess what it is, you have to be the detective. By the way, where is the rash on you daughter's body?

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

Are any of the bumps look like a blister? It could be Molluscum Contagiosum. My daughter has it and it can take a very long time to disappear, that's the only reason why it came to mind.

P.S. A shout out to you too, my hometown is Springfield MO! :)

1 mom found this helpful

S.M.

answers from Kansas City on

If you push a clear glass up against the rash, it's supposed to lighten up. If the rash stays dark when you push the glass against it, you are supposed to get her checked for lukemia. I don't want to scare you. But do check that.

My grandson has been having issues too. It ended up being oatmeal for him. We had been giving him oatmeal baths, it was in his shampoos, and he ate a lot of oatmeal. We had to cut him off of all kinds of oatmeal inside and out. He is completely better now.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.M.

answers from Kansas City on

My 4-year old son has the same problem, but it only shows up on the top of his hands and around his wrists. I started puting Neosporin on his hands every night, and he wears gloves to bed - it clears up within about a week. It is worse when it's cold outside (especially if he's been playing in the snow), and when I forget to put lotion on him (I use cocoa butter when his skin appears normal).
Aside from that, have you also switched to hypo-allergenic laundry soap and fabric softener?

1 mom found this helpful
For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions