Dry Red Spots on 8 Months Old Legs

Updated on November 20, 2008
V.S. asks from Lima, OH
21 answers

My daughter has had this before, but this keeps coming back & then going away and then coming back again. She develops these little dry red spots on her legs. They are not pimple-like spots. They look more like patches of red spots and they are all over her back legs. When she gets hot, they come out more. I thought maybe it was a heat rash at first, but since we are in November and it's like 35 degrees here, I thought differently. She is not running a fever and doesn't seem to be in pain. She is very happy and acts like nothing is wrong. I have been looking online and cannot find anything. Does anybody know what this could be? It is not affecting her breathing either. It only seems to be on the back of her legs. Please help!!!

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So What Happened?

Thank you for all of the great responses! We had an appointment w/ my daughter's doctor anyways so we asked and he said it's not excema just really dry skin. He told us to purchase Vasoline Intensive Care Lotion & put it all over her body and after 1 day of doing this, her spots have seemed to disappear! You can still feel them, but they are not red and not as bad so she is doing better. Thanks!

Featured Answers

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N.F.

answers from Cincinnati on

My 14 month old son has had patches on his legs and back since he was little and it is eczema. It is worse in the heat and when it's dry. We use a really good lotion (Aveeno for dry skin and eczema) after his baths and he doesn't have the patches of dry skin very often anymore.

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S.F.

answers from Fort Wayne on

This sounds like an allergic reaction. Perhaps she has eczema. You need to see the pediatrician or perhaps an allergist like Ear, Nose and Throat specialists.

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J.F.

answers from Toledo on

Sounds like eczema to me. Check with the pediatrician.

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M.A.

answers from Cincinnati on

Could it be eczema? Eczema gets worse in the winter months because of the cold. Good luck.

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A.P.

answers from Columbus on

Victoria,

My daughter had the same thing. We showed it to the pediatrition and she gave us a perscription cream to put on it. Live a hydrocortizone. It worked. I only had to apply it for 4 days and it was almost gone. After that I place Aquaphor on thoose dry red spot prone areas. They have not come back since. I still today either put Vacelene or the Aquaohor on her.

Good luck

A.

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M.G.

answers from Cleveland on

My girls have eczema and it sounds like what you're describing. Keep bath time short as water dries out the skin (and make sure it's the water's not too hot). We use hydrocortizone cream (per their doc). You can get an RX from the doc or just buy it over the counter. We put it on any rough spots after bath time and then reapply as needed. It comes and goes and we're not too worried about it. Most babies grow out of it over time.

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K.H.

answers from Youngstown on

It may be eczema. I know bathing her in Basic H2 will help keep the eczema under control. And I would also give her optiflora. Those two things work great. Contact me if you would like some more info. Hope this helps.
K. Hatch
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M.R.

answers from Cincinnati on

It could be eczema. A trip to the pediatrician will help you learn for sure what the issue is.

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K.C.

answers from Elkhart on

My son has these and they're eczema. Cortizone cream works. Keeping them moisturized with vaseline at nighttime under pj bottoms also works well. Eczema is a chronic condition so if she does have it then it's just something she'll have to manage. It can also be an allergic reaction to milk products and wheat. Since putting Finn on soy milk and using only hypoallergenic soaps and shampoo on him, we have seen a HUGE improvement. Good luck.

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K.Z.

answers from Cleveland on

Ask your doc if it could be something called "Fifth Disease". Kind of looks like measles but there are many varieties. Heat made mine look worse when I was a kid--hated having to stay out of the sun!

K. Z.

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C.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

Could it be bug bites? Maybe spiders or bed bugs. Appaerntly they can get in our clothes even when we are wearing them and follow us home. That's why one of the Movie Houses closed here in Cincinnati. Bed bugs all over biting peopl. We had spiders once when the appartment we were living in had a hughe tree right outside the bedroom window. I was the only one they were biting. Little red dots all over my belly. I would suggest having her seen by the doctor. Do they itch? Mine did not. Look over the house very carefully. for webs and check corners high and low. Check dark areas like the closet and under the bed. Check the mattress edges for the bed bugs. Also if they are bed bugs there could be little dark spots on the mattress or the sheets. BTW Bed bugs doesn't mean your dirty. Once they make their way in they are hard to get rid of. Our Fire dept people and police officers are taking them home in thier gear.
Good luck.

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M.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

Are they raised bumps? If so, they are probably hives. If they are flat and kind of dry looking it could be eczema. My daughters get this alot during winter. My one daughter gets it in the creases of her elbows and knees where they bend. My other daughter gets spots on her arms, legs and stomach. They look red, dry and sometimes kind of flaky. The pediatrician has given us a prescription for it when it shows up, and that works. Check with your doctor.
M.

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A.W.

answers from Columbus on

It could be excema if you are seeing it on the back of her knees. I believe you will see spots turn up there. I am not sure about them getting darker when she gets hot though, the only place I have delt with excema on my kids is in the diaper!!!

The only other thing I can think of just off of your description would be sceriosis (SP?) My husband has this and his spots reminded me of chicken pox only larger. They would really show up after he got out of the shower and when he was hot. I believe the form he has is gutate, there are several different types.

What I would do is call your ped and talk to one of the nurses see if they think she should be seen. They may be able to tell you over the phone what it is and give you suggestions on what to do.

Hope this helps you a little
A.

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A.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

It could be eczema. My son has it just on the back of his legs (more on the calf part) and he usually gets it in the winter. I just use Aveeno bath wash and Aveeno lotion for eczema, then after I put the lotion on I use Aquaphor on top b/c it acts like a barrier. You might have to also look at the detergent you use as well? Get something with no perfumes or dyes. Any bath soap or lotion with perfumes or dyes will make it worse. Good luck and if he gets worse call the doctor.

A.

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A.F.

answers from Columbus on

I agree with Kay. My daughter gets these all the time. Ask your pediatrician for a topical cream to put on them. There are several. I found one that works for my daughter over night!

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J.A.

answers from Cincinnati on

Victoria,
I'm wondering if this is some kind of an allergic reaction. You might try a hypoallergenic, artificial fragrance-free baby wash and lotion on him to see if this helps. I use Arbonne with my kids - botanical products with no mineral oil, artificial dyes or fragrances, or animal byproducts. They have a delicious smell, and I like knowing that I'm not putting lots of chemicals on my children's skin (and therefore IN their bodies.) If you're interested in trying a sample or would like to learn how to get it, let me know. Good luck!

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D.G.

answers from Columbus on

does she sit on something a lot ? High chair or car seat ? she could be allergic to the fabric or plastic covering.Try putting a recieving blanket under her before she sits any place and see if it goes way.

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T.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

Without seeing the actual spot it could be one of any number of things.

The most common thing that it could be is Eczema. It will come and go like many other rashes. It is very common in children. There are lots of foods that trigger eczema and there are also lots of herbal remedies that work.

You might look eczema and children as you will find there are many indicators that cause eczema but it's relatively easy to treat as well.

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J.B.

answers from Lafayette on

It sounds like excema to me. My son has it and it gets worse in hot weather. He gets it more under his knees and on his calves. He also has allergies to milk, egg, peanuts, and shellfish. They relate allergies and excema. I would ask your pediatrician.

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D.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

My son had the same thing except on the fronts. he had it for a couple years but now it is not in that spot anymore and has moved to his bum. at the Dr last week she said it was eczema. I had tons of people looking at it and no one could figure it out. My advice is to not let her sit an a wet/dirty diaper- that seemed to aggravate it with my son's. Also do you notice it more with a certain brand of laundry detergent, bubble bath, soap, or different diaper? Things to start keeping notice of if she has sensitivities.

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K.W.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi Victoria,
It may be eczema. The dry air may be making it flare up. Try some aquaphor.

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