PLEASE HELP - 6 MO w/SEVERE RASH/EXCEMA On Privates

Updated on February 14, 2010
K.B. asks from Phoenix, AZ
68 answers

I AM SOOOO DESPERATE FOR HELP!!! my son is 6 months old and has VERY sensitive skin. he screams most of the day, cant sleep other than 10 min at a time when he wears himself out screaming. During most diaper changes and for about 15 min after, he litterally tries to crawl out of his skin. During diaper changes he doesnt just grab at his privates, he digs in & rips and shreds the skin.

I have tried everything I can find on the internet, I have taken him to 3 doctors in our peds office, then tried 2 in another practice, and the ER when it was seriously bleeding.
I tried 4 different brands of disposables, chlorine free, and have now switched to cloth diapers. I use very little soap to wash, use sensitive skin free and cler hypoallergenic laundry soap, and then rinse them 2-3 extra cycles. Use flannel wipes with just water... wash him with organic baby excema wash.... leave him diaperless for several hours a day.
We have tried Burts, Erba, Butt Paste, a white spray called rash mist, arbonne baby, desetin, eucerine plus, petroleum jelly, vasoline and cornstarch, Aquaphor, vasoline & vit E, baking soda bath, oatmeal bath, Aveeno, 6 different kinds of baby excema cream, $74 prescription of Vusion. That is all I can think of at the moment.

I dont understand what is causing this or how it happens. I can change him once and his skin will look fine, thouh he is still miserable. Another time it will be bight pink, like a sunburn, but no bumps. another time it will be bright red with thousands of little bumps. Another time it will look totally fine until the diaper is off a few minutes, then will start bleeding.

I am praying that someone out there has an idea on how to help him. It is KILLING me to see him suffer like this, and I am going broke trying every product out there trying to find relief for him.

My MIL said my husband had sensitive skin but not this bad. She had severe excema as a baby, and her mom used an ointment that the phone workers used on their burns. (back in the 40's) Does anyone know what that ointment was?

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So What Happened?

I want to thank all the moms for so many responses. And I feel for all the other moms who responded they are going through similar situations. It is terrible to see your baby suffer, and not know how to help them. I wish I could say I had a resolution to my problem, but figured I would update you all on what is helping somewhat and also what has not worked at all, or been a total waste of time and money.

We went again to the dermatologist while the rash was at its worst so he could see what i was concerned about, he again just told me it was diaper rash and not to worry, to use aquaphor(which I already told him was not working) and to use a steroid creme for 2 weeks. (ANy more than 2 weeks is severe issue as it thins the skin quite a bit.... hyrocortisone is a steroid too, so for moms that are using that on there kids on a regular basis, you might want to reconsider.) The steroid creme didnt help anyways, and they did not have any answers for me when I asked what to do after the 2 weeks. He also didnt have any answer to how it could be diaper rash on his face, legs, back and arms.... hmmmm

Next step was the Allergist. Researched many doctors and parents and the Phoenix magazine to find the best one... $400 later I was told he has exzcema and have more steroid creme he will never use. For babies his age -I was told- it is not actually possible to find allergies in the blood, it will only show the foods that he has ingested.
So... what has helped... I am giving him a bath in a deep small sterilite container with a tablespoon of Berts Bees Apricot Baby oil and warm water for about 15 min.
I use pure aloe from an aloe plant, olive oil, coconut oil as a body oil after the bath. Cont. using cloth diapers with natural fragrance free laundry soap, still double rinsing. When I need to "wash" him, I use quaker oats in the bath as a kind of cleanser and skin conditioner. If he has serious "dirt" aka poop, I use california baby excema wash, and be sure to oil him up good after.

His "diaper rash" part is doing much better, but I am still not able to leave him diaper free for very long, as I cannot leave his hands free or he will rip his privates to shreds and bleed profusely! It is very difficult simply changing his diaper or giving him a bath. If anyone has any ideas on this I would be very very appreciative.

I am going through a very serious diet change and removing all but three foods from my diet for 3 weeks at a time. His skin is looking a little better after the changes in the bath and lotions, but need to get him to stop ripping into his skin, especially his privates.

Thank you all!

Featured Answers

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K.T.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi Kristine, my son is almost 7 months old and we have tried EVERYTHING under the son for his Ezcema and my Peds recommended this combination of things that you MUST use all together. First Eucerin cream that comes in the jar, then plain old vaseline, last hydrocortisone cream WITH ALOE !!!! I'm telling you this WORKS !!!!!!!! My peds also told me that ANY type of baby soap that make suds dries the skin out that much more, so we also use cetaphil for his baths, hope this helps!!! It has made my sons SOOOOOOOOOOOO much better !!!! Let me know if you try it??? Take care ~ K. =)

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A.L.

answers from Phoenix on

My son had the same problem. I too tried everything. The only thing that works for us is Pinxav. http://www.pinxav.com/
It really works. Walgreens will order it for you through the pharmacy if you don't want to buy it on line.
Good luck!

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N.B.

answers from Detroit on

This is probably due to some kind of food allergy that he has. Ask his doctor about getting him allergy tested or start weeding out food groups one by one. Int the mean time try any kind of ointment with tea tree oil in it, it has an antiseptic quality to it and works wonders!

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A.M.

answers from Phoenix on

My daughter is allergic to sunscreen and breaks out in excema when we have applied it to her, she turns like a tomatoe and gets bumps too, it doesn't sound quite as bad as your son but this is what I did. I also work for a Dermatologist and this is what I've been told. Stop using soap!! Soaking him in the bath is going to get him just as clean,(one of the derms hasn't had her daughter use soap in years) You can us Cetaphil lotion as soap if you want, only patt him dry, then lotion him up with Eucerin original moisturizing creme. Or as weird as it sounds one of our Dermatologist highly recommends crisco, yes crisco baking oil the thick lard kind put it on twice a day. And while he is playing on the floor put a pad down and let him go diaper less for as long as you can. I've also been told to stay away from the organic stuff. Hopefully this helps! Good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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C.T.

answers from Phoenix on

Kristine, my daughter went though the same thing. As much as it hurts to say it I got to the point of calling my husband and saying "I am done".

Turns out that she was allergic to something. Once I took certain foods out of my diet she was great! She squirmed and screamed due to stomach discomfort and then she always had a rash on her bum, back, neck and face. Once her diaper rash was so bad I thought that she would scar.

Say a prayer and relax, take your little one to an allergist.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.D.

answers from Flagstaff on

if it is excema, i've been using sesame seed oil when it's severe and olive oil when it's less severe.
it usually gets me behind my ears and knees and most often on my hands.
when it's severe, i pour the oil over my hands and wear cotton gloves (winter gloves) and it helps so much. usually by the next morning it's almost gone. my worst case i can remember took about one week to resolve.
when i was young and had it, my mom would give me baby oil baths which just made me itch even more. she'd give me lotions to put on and they hurt so bad. she got ointment from doctors and it burned.
when i was middle aged, a friend of mine worked for avon and swore that her products would help. they also burned.
i'm not sure how i realized sesame seed/olive oil worked, however it was the best gift ever.
i constantly watch my water intake to stay hydrated, i shower only every other day with warm not hot water and pat dry instead of rubbing. i use gloves for heavy cleaning.
all of these have helped so much, i rarely break out these days and if i do, i turn to the oils which don't hurt, are all natural, and really work
good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Tucson on

Don't put any more petroleum or mineral oil products on him. They cause problems with the skin's photosensitivity - in other words they promote skin damage not prevent it - they also interfere with the body's natural moisturizing mechanism leading to dry skin and chapping - it is used by manufacturers because it is extremely cheap. Also make sure you are not using any parabens - they are added to products to extend shelf life and inhibit microbial growth but are widely known to cause allergic reactions and rashes - plus they are toxic. Also stay away from Ureas - also preservatives - they have been established by the American Academy of Dermatology to be a primary cause of contact dermatitis. Propylene Glycol also causes allergic and toxic reactions. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is used to promote foaming and causes dryness, skin rashes, hair loss, and allergic reactions. Stearalkonium Chloride is toxic and causes allergic reactions - it is in fabric softeners. Any synthetic colors (dyes labeled FD&C or D&C followed by a color and number) are believed to cause cancer. Synthetic fragrances can have as many as 200 ingredients apiece and, among other side effects, can cause skin irritations, rashes, and hyperpigmentation. Triethanolamine (TEA) is added to adjust pH and is known to cause allergic reactions, skin dryness and could be toxic if absorbed in the body over a long period. Often these ingredients are used in products with "natural" on the label so you MUST read all your labels. For washing clothes I recommend using soap nuts instead of any commercial detergent and I am familiar with an all natural skin care line that uses none of the above ingredients, only pure botanicals from the rain forest. If you want more information on soap nuts or that skin care system (which I believe would repair your baby's skin) feel free to contact me. It's also possible that the baby internal system is very acidic - what are you feeding him? And if you are nursing, what are you eating? Human bodies need to be more alkaline than acid for optimum health. Let me know if you are interested in a list of what foods are alkaline producing versus acid producing. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.A.

answers from Phoenix on

Yikes! Poor baby, and POOR mom! I may not have anything new to suggest, but it sounds like it could either be a food allergy or a thrush diaper rash infection (google it for pictures and advice) or like you said an extreme case of eczema. I have eczema and it has improved a lot since I have moved to Arizona. I know a little sun exposure has helped a lot. If it is a thrush diaper rash then you probably don't want to use most over-the-counter diaper rash ointments or creams. My baby has had thrush, accompanied by the diaper rash and we used an ointment specifically made for the thrush rash (yeast). It is called "Diaper Rash & Thrush" by Motherlove. I purchased it at a store in Mesa called Every Mother and Child (they have a website too).

Good luck with enduring this trial. I hope you find your answer soon!

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S.S.

answers from Tucson on

Try an Osteopath. They may be able to treat this from a completely different angle.
Are you breast feeding? It sounds like he has to much exposure to yeast? If breastfeeding and he is really sensitive and may be reacting through the milk to what you're eating. If you are not breast feeding possible there is something in the formula that may be doing this.
Try this osteopath.
Theresa Cisler D.O. ###-###-####.
Also try going to health food store and get some Calendula. It is amazing, totally natural and works better that anything I have ever found.
Good Luck

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J.P.

answers from Tucson on

All three of my kids have very sensitive skin and my youngest son who is also 6mo has this same problem (may not be as bad but close). My doctor has advised me to use over the counter cortozone in the private area as anything else will be to strong and could cause more irration. It has help my son. He still has the occassional break outs but they are not as bad. I hope this helps.

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J.V.

answers from Phoenix on

Try using corn startch at every changing to help protect the skin. Also... have you tried cloth diapers? We cloth diaper, so let me know if you need help getting started or with information.

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B.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Have you tried Aquaphor healing ointment. You can buy it at Walmart. My grandson had this and this helped alot.

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P.S.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi, I am afraid I don't have any advice for you other than perhaps going to see a dermotologist, if you can aford it. However my father worked for the phone company, and the ointment they used for burns was called FOIL - i don't know if they still make it, but it was what they used for burns, he treated our sun burn with it regularly when we were kids (in New Jersey)in the 70's and 80's. I hope this is some what helpful, good luck, and hang in there
P.

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J.F.

answers from Tucson on

This is going to sound very strange... But go to the nearest feed store(but I'm pretty sure they sell it at walmart) the product is called bagbalm its in a green tin... kinda smells funky but costs about $5-7

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A.L.

answers from Phoenix on

I don't know if this will help but we have used Corona. NOT the beer but a balm available at the feed and supply store. It is used for animals but I know several people who use it on their kids.
Also has anyone reccomended allergy testing??? I dont know if that can be done on a 6 month old but it might be worth looking into. He might be allergic to something in the fibers or ointment. Good luck.

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T.S.

answers from Phoenix on

I feel your pain. My son is going thru the same thing. Although, your poor little guy sounds worse than mine. Like you, I have every diaper cream off of the shelf plus 4 perscription creams. Been to dr's and derm's and all they can say is that he is a sensitive child. My boy is also tearing himself to shreads. It is very frustrating. I found an ointment on line that has been helping my guy. Not a miracle cream, but helping. Mama Rose's Naturals Magic Touch Skin & Diaper balm. Here is the link http://www.mamarosesnaturals.com/product.asp?SKU=28119500...
Made by a mom for her little girl. Supposed to be natural and made with organic herbs. Also, it doesn't affect the absorbency of cloth diapers. I hope this helps. Good luck. I know it is hard.

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C.V.

answers from Phoenix on

Try Baby Arbonne, I am sure you have gotten lots of responses like this. Just keep in mind that it is much cheaper than a visit to the dermatologist or pediatrician. Call me if you want more information. ###-###-####

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A.D.

answers from Tucson on

Are you breastfeeding? Are you sure he doesn't have thrush? I use vaseline on my son and that seems to do the trick. Maybe he is allergic to something he ate?

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C.D.

answers from Phoenix on

My son had a "diaper rash" that would never clear up with diaper ointments, baby powder, etc. It turns out that he also had a yeast infection, and his poor bottom would rip and bleed at the slightest touch. I bought some OTC Monistat 7 and out that on his bottom, and it cleared right up. If your son has had antiobiotics recently, this may be a solution.

Good Luck!

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L.C.

answers from Honolulu on

See www.naet.com. It is probably allergy related. Sorry to hear about your problem, hopefully you can get some help!

L.

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P.F.

answers from Albuquerque on

My grandson also has very sensitive skin. My daughter has done several things you have mentioned, and also colloidal silver, which seemed to help the healing process most. You might also want to try silver nitrate. Good Luck. I'll pray for his speedy recovery.

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R.N.

answers from Albuquerque on

Good morning Kristine,

You might give California Baby a try. This brand has lots of sensitive skin, including excema, creams. They have a body wash too, that I use for my daughter's bath and that always soothes the irritation as well, without addt'l drying effects. It is all natural with very little scent. If you haven't already tried it, I highly recommend it as my daughter broke out with roseola last November when she was 10 months old and then her excema on her chin really flared up in January and February of this year. I was able to use a little bit of this cream all over her entire body and apply liberally and as often as necessary. It stopped the itching on the chin instantly and took away the redness within minutes. My daughter loves this cream and when her excema flares up or she has a diaper rash, I ask her if she wants cream as she is now 17 months old and knows that it doesn't sting and makes her feel better right away. I also use it on her neck where she recently got heat rash, and again, it disappeared within 24 hours. You can get these products at Whole Foods or Sun Flower Supermarket, any natural food store. They can be purchased on-line as well. Good luck.

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J.L.

answers from Phoenix on

`I would get a referral to a pediatric dermatolgist. My children see Dr. Hansen at Phx. Children's Hospital. He helped my children with excema and it's been under control. He advises to use plain old petrolium jelly for moisture and prescriptions for the itching. He would be able to rule out anything else. One of my sons had a small pimple in his diaper area as a newborn and the doctor took a culture of it. It came back as MERSA - from his circumsicion. We had to use a prescription cream to treat it. Good luck. I think you're smart to keep it simple. We used to just use water and cotton balls to wipe the baby's bum - when they were still being breast fed.

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J.W.

answers from Phoenix on

I'm so sorry for you little guy. you may have heard this already, but if you are breastfeeding, the squirt breastmilk directly on his bottom. The antibiotics and other fantastic stuff in breastmilk is great for diaper rash. It may not help, but it doesn't hurt to try. Just soak his little behind and let it air dry a little before closing his diaper up. Breastmilk is also good for scrapes, pink eye, ear infections... it's amazing stuff.
Good luck, and God Bless. J.

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T.C.

answers from Flagstaff on

When my son had a severe rash, he would bleed also. The doctor told me to mix desetin, vaseline, and maalox together into a paste. I used a spoon to lather on thick. This way there we no germs transferring from my hands. It cleared up almost instantly!
Try it, it works! Good luck.

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A.N.

answers from Phoenix on

my 3 yr old granddaughter has severe excema on her arms and legs and feet. she scratches until she bleeds and cries all the time. My daughter got a perscription for her that seems to help it's called Hydroxyzine and is taken at bedtime. She wasn't able to sleep for very long either.(it helps her sleep). She also has a cream called Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment that helps too. I hope this note helps, your in my prayers, God Bless and good luck. A.

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T.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Kristine,
I have the solution for you, have you ever heard of Arbonne?
Their products are Pure, Safe and Beneficial. Their baby line is called ABC(Arbonne Baby Care).
I would love to send you a sample of it and feel free to check out Arbonne's website www.arbonne.com
T.
www.tesabartell.myarbonne.com
ps if you are at all a bit curious about Arbonne, I teach others to get it at wholesale (35%-80% off)

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K.H.

answers from Phoenix on

I dont know if this will help or not. My 6 mo old son had severe eczema under his neck, chest, arms and was starting in the folds of his ankles and crotch. We tried everything, we were even told he had a fungal infection by a ped urgent doctor. Nada!!! Weve been going crazy trying to figure out why one day its better the next day its bad again. Anyway he had surgery last week and the anestheologists (sp?) said it's eczema...came home and researched it! He is a breastfeed baby and the eczema is a reaction to the foods in my diet. Im now on the elimination diet to try and determine what exactly he is allergic to. Im off dairy, eggs, wheat (that one is rough), fish and nuts. His neck cleared up in one day!!!!! Poor guy has been scratching, clawing. He's had reflux pretty bad, even on medicine. He bowel movements have suddenly changed. Amazing!! Maybe this will help or not. Let me know what you think.
K.

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J.R.

answers from Tucson on

Have you looked at food allergies yet? Are you nursing or bottle feeding? Food allergies can manifest as skin reactions. If you are bottle feeding there are hypo allergenic or elemental formulas you can use-- through your doctor. If you are nursing then you will need to change your diet. Start by taking out milk and soy. The big food allergens are dairy, soy, wheat, egg, corn, fish. My son cant have any products on him with soy in it-- he would get hives. Google elimination diets on the web if you are interested. I can also give you more information if you would like.

J.

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L.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Have you tried going to a naturopathic doctor? They're great with treating skin and digestive problems and can help you sort out food allergies. They use very low dose natural medicines, such as homeopathy, as opposed to steroid creams. If you're in Chandler, there's a naturopath with a family practice at www.lifesculpting.biz.

I hope your little boy feels better!

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M.E.

answers from Anchorage on

Hi Kristine -

You are going to have to treat this from the inside & outside at the same time. Excema and other skin disorders are the bodies way of trying to clear toxins from it. Anything you use that has a petroleum or oil base is going to block the pores and keep whatever is causing this inside.

1st suggestion - are you breastfeeding? If so, drink Red Clover tea before and during breastfeeding. It is a great blood cleaners and he will get the nutrients through your breaast milk. If not, depending on his weight, you can give him the tincture directly (I can help you with this).

2nd suggestion - Pau d'Arco - a wonderful anti-viral herb - added to a bathing tub and used like a sitz bath. Use tepid (warm) water and add the herbal powder/bark (using a draw-string muslin bag works great). Let him sit in the water for 15-20 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day if possible.

3rd suggestion - Get an all natural topical ointment. Read the ingredients on the label - if you can't pronounce it, don't use it. Don't use anything with petroleum (like vaseline or Eucerin).

4th suggestion - Rescue remedy for the emotional trauma this is causing - forgot this on my first response. There is nothing better to help soothe the body from the inside.

If you don't know of an herb store where you can get these items, drop me a line. If there is not one in your area, we can ship to you (this is not a sales ad).

There may be other things to look at, but this would be a good beginning.

Let me know if I can help.

Blessings,

M. M. Ernsberger
Certified Clinical Herbalist

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J.L.

answers from Phoenix on

I am so sorry to hear about your son. My son suffered from sensative skin too when he was younger. He would get the worst eczema on his face, elbows, and behind his knees. In a matter of hours it would go from pink to cracked and bleeding.
I too tried every product I could find. I found that what worked best for me was to wash him with cetaphil gentle skin cleanser (I used johnsons regular baby shampoo on his head) and then put on a thick layer of aquaphor healing ointment all over his body. That combo seemed to work better than anything else. I also started giving him baby probiotics. They sell them at most health food stores. That helped clear his skin up too. The probiotics take about a week of faithfully giving them before they start working so don't give up on them if it doesn't help right away.
I used pampers cuisers on my son they were the only ones that kept him really dry and fit him right. I used pampers sensative wipes or his but would be glowing red. If the cloth diapers aren't working any better to clear up his rash the disposable ones seem to keep them dryer (at least the kinds of cloth i have tried).
My son is now 2 1/2 years and he has grown out of most of his skin problems so don't give up hope. Your son will probably grow out of it too.
Hope this is helpful.

J.

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L.B.

answers from Phoenix on

Since you tried everything on his bottom half - change what your doing with the hole on the top half. Try changing what your feeding the poor boy. I doubt water causes issues - try giving him water for a few hours and see if he gets a few hours of relief. That might help to see if it's the formula/breast milk and not the solids if you started those.

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S.L.

answers from Tucson on

Hi Kristine-
What is your son eating? Have you looked at his formula? Is he getting enough other liquids?; sometimes a particular food will set the whole thing you are describing off. He should eat whatever he ate befor this all began- unless it was present from birth. Hopefully, you are hursing, eating healthy foods, using prenatal vitamins Careful of apple and citrus. Both can cause very serious reactions. My son screamed for 24 hours once when I gave in & had a cup of coffee while I was nursing. I used zinc oxide & nothing else- no powder or anything, and gently made sure he was squeaky clean. Try not to be upset, since he will worsen in reflection of your emotions. Try a diaper service. Usually, their product is much freer of allergens than those we do at home. I don't know what else to recommend, other than camo-care, which is an old standbye. (get it in most health food stores). I hope this is helpful to you. S.

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D.C.

answers from Phoenix on

could it be an allergy to a food? or a yeast infection?

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A.B.

answers from Phoenix on

Ask the pediatrician for Questran mixed with aquaphor----you have to have a prescription for it. Or try Criticaid-----I think it's OTC.

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R.A.

answers from Phoenix on

I use non-toxic products for my little girl. Have you ever heard of a company called Melaeuca, I use their cleaning and laundry products. Give me a call or email to learn more about it ____@____.com ###-###-####

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K.E.

answers from Phoenix on

Have you tried eliminating things from his diet? Is his breast or formula feed? I know my
kids didn't do well with juices. The juice can be acidic and cause rashes. If I gave them any at all at this age is was mostly water with a tiny bit of juice, but I mostly only gave milk and water. What about his milk, maybe he is allergic to milk, has your doctor mentioned it could be allergy (food) related? I baby sat for moms who gave lots of juice and they tended to have rashes much more often. Just a suggestion I don't know if you even give him juice but it could be some type of food allergy.

I hope this helps, Kristine. I'll pray he heals soon, it is very painful and hard to see them in this pain. I know when mine were on antibiotics they got rashes too, and sometimes when it was extremely hot.

Take care,
K.

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M.J.

answers from Phoenix on

My daughter had rashes like that when she was an infant. Sometimes nothing, or just red, then outright bleeding. It turned out that she had a yeast infection. When the doctor told me that, I was skeptical(but was told that yeast affects babies differently). Once I tried the cream the doctor prescribed, she healed right up.
Just a thought.

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O.M.

answers from Flagstaff on

Hi Kristine,

I sure hope this problem solves itself for you. It sounds horrible. I would recommend the Calafornia Baby Diaper Cream. It can be found at your nutrition/ health food stores. It is expensive but it is the best I have found for sensitive skin. I think it is really worth a try. It is also an anti- bacterial and fungal. Its completely natural. It works wonders for my son when other remedies did nothing. Good Luck!

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M.S.

answers from Phoenix on

Have you tried bag balm? It is sold in a green tin at Walmart in the pharmacy area. It's worth a shot. It is like a salve.
It worked very well for us.

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M.S.

answers from Albuquerque on

I know it sounds nuts but try Crisco (in the blue can). When I worked day care a mother like you who had tried everything had gotten this remedy from some old gramma she knew. Worked great. Give it a try.

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T.H.

answers from Tucson on

Hey there-

My daughter has similar issues- she's 2 now. Her poor bottom is frequently a red mess no matter what I do. Here's what's been working for me, though. Any time her bum has red bumps (and hers turn white and puss-filled), I've recognized that as a sign of yeast infection. I use cloth diapers on her most of the time (better for regular rash), but when the yeast pops up, I mostly let her run around bare-bottomed for the air circulation. She wears disposables at nap time and night time. I use water and baking soda to wipe her bottom between changes, and do the baking soda baths. That helps a lot and doesn't hurt her at all. Then I use actual monistat cream on her- my midwife recommended it- because nystatin (the baby stuff) doesn't work on her yeast. Usually, a few of the bumps will break open- I do the same thing with them, but cover them up with a bandaid to keep her from scratching. It usually takes me about a week to get it cleared up.

With the regular diaper rash, what I've found works best is using no cream and very soft cloth diapers. I bought my daughter the Fuzzi Bunz, and I change those super frequently. You have to be careful to get them very clean during washes, so I follow the wash directions exactly. The soft fabric doesn't irritate her skin, and for some reason, using no creams at all must help her skin breathe better. I also have her spend a lot of time running around bare-bottomed. Again, if the rash is bad, I use a disposable on her at night when she goes several hours without being changed (luckily, because she's two, she can go all night without wetting herself).

It honestly sounds like your little boy might have a food allergy to something. If you're nursing, check your diet. He might be lactose intolerant and you may need to remove milk products from your diet. That happened with my daughter. The more milk products I ate, the worse her rash got. We have to buy her lactose-free milk now that she's older. You can also check your wheat intake, and also gluten, and if you eat a lot of nuts, it could be that, too. If he's formula fed, you can try switching to a different brand, and give it a try with the organic type or the soy type.

I hope you figure it out. I know how frustrating and upsetting it is to see your little one struggling with diaper rash.

:-) T.

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D.H.

answers from Santa Fe on

Have you considered food allergies? Our Pediatrician (located in Los Alamos, NM) is an allergist and she said often skin eczema is related to food sensitivities. Are you breast feeding or using formula? take a look at what your baby is eating, maybe that could be the cause. I know my nephew had many of the same issues. he is now being treated for allergies (using a method that involves taking drops, not shots) and is seeing incredible improvements. Good luck-keep looking for answers. By the way, my nephew really did begin to show improvements at about 1 1/2 yrs.

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C.M.

answers from Longview on

Good Morning Kristine
My son has exzema also , though not to the extent as your little guy. And like you I have lost count of all the stuff I have tried on him, My las tattempts to help him worked pretty goo, One was Vaseline, and the other was Bacitracin Ointment ( Walgreens) costs like $5.00 antibacterial cream in a tube who knew , but it worked best on him. Good Luck to you and your son I know it's awful not knowing what will work. It took a few days but I did see a difference.

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M.S.

answers from Phoenix on

I would suggest taking him to a naturopath. My son had exzema and constipation and they gave him a remedy that worked GREAT! We have seen Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Barral at:
Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center
8010 E. McDowell Rd., Suite 111
Scottsdale, AZ 85257
###-###-####

They are fantastic! Not covered by insurance, but you can get a sliding scale if you go on a teaching day, where your child will be seen by a medical student and supervised by the doctor (we did this on many occassions). Definitely worth checking out! Good luck!

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M.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi Kristine,

My name is M. Burton and I am a licensed acupuncturist. I am skilled in Pediatric Tuina, which is a type of massage used in chinese medicine to help resolve childhood ailments of any kind. I know several techniques that would help clear up the excema and rash. I also use a chinese herb called Huang Lian Su, which you dissolve a tablet in warm water and then place it on the irritated areas and it works wonders. I would be happy to talk to more if you are interested.

Sincerely,
M. Burton, L.Ac

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N.J.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi, my grandson had Excema also but not as bad, You need to Pray, Trust God, and Believe God can and will heal your son, take him to a church that believe in Divine Healing, have the pastor to anoint his head with oil and pray for him. The bible says whatever you ask in my name it shall be done. His name is Jesus and he can do all thing through Christ which strengthen him. Our God has all power to do all thing, he also gives us power. Just remember it is your faith and belief and trust that can bring you through this. Be blessed in Jesus name.

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M.J.

answers from Tucson on

My daughter used to get very bad diaper rash too. We realized it happened when she had fruit juice (apple,pear, white grape) even though it was diluted, or if she was on an antiboiotic (chronic ear infections). We used Nystatin for flare ups and Balmex diaper cream (all the others made it worse, esp. if it had a high amount of petroleum jelly in it). The doctor thought it was yeast infection so we limited sweets and gave her lots of yogurt. She still takes a probiotic tablet since she doesn't eat as much yogurt. She has now developed eczema on her back and right foot. We used a steroid ointment that stings so bad she won't let me put it on without a fight. We had her tested for allergies (blood test) and found she is allergic to corn, eggs, tomatoes, chocolate and strawberries. We have to be strict with her diet but it seems to have helped calm things down. We can immediately tell if she's eaten something containing one of her triggers. My mom also suggested spraying a 50/50 peroxide/water solution on her back and foot to help eliminate any fungal infection that may be present on the top of her skin and to help prevent infection from any open rash - this has been wonderful in clearing it up but she doesn't like the tingling sensation it gives when first applied. We also use pure aloe vera(straight from the plant - cut a chunk from the leaf, slice it open and spread 'gel' on the rash) this helps heal any open areas - from scratching - much faster. We have an appointment with the dermatologist next week to make sure it really is just eczema, though since she does still get flare ups.
The most success we had when she was a baby was Nystatin and Balmex.
The best solutions now seem to be eliminating allergens, peroxide/water mix and aloe vera.
Hope this helps.
M.
mom to 7 yr. old daughter.

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M.L.

answers from Phoenix on

I have always had good luck with A&D ointment with zinc. good luck.

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J.P.

answers from Phoenix on

It sounds like you're doing everything right with the cloth diapers and the naked time. However, I think you may need to seriously consider food allergies!!! See if you can find anyone who tests for genetic allergies. It is not a normal allergy rast test. They test the whole food, not just the protein part. They also test for allergies that are for a multiple item. For instance, my daughter is not allergic to eggs however, she is allergic to the combination of eggs and grains together. Both of my kids get horrible rashes on their bottoms and private areas from food allergies. They turn into open sores and yes even bleeding. The doctors kept telling me to try this cream or that cream or this powder etc..... well, it turned out they wrong. It was a food allergy!!! Your child could be allergic to anything.... so don't listen to the doctors who will tell you that your child could not possibly be allergic to an item, "because no one is allergic to that". The doctors at first tried telling me there is no way my son could be allergic to rice, because no one is allergic to rice. My son is extremely allergic to rice!!! If you don't want to have to go through the allergy testing process, you could always try the elimination diet. However, if you're breastfeeding, you too need to be on the same elimination diet as he is. And if you feed formula, that could cause a problem too.

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T.W.

answers from Phoenix on

My son has excema and we have to give him baths everyday to keep his skin hydrated. The doctors gave us Cetaphil to use instead of soap. You can use it with or without water. When my son's skin would weep, that's when clear fluid would come from his skin, I would put anti-biotic oitment on it until it stopped and then used the cetaphil. I really hope this helps.

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N.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi Kristine,
I can make you a special salve. I have a small all natural organic soap making business. I have a special recipe for just that. It's a salve made with emu oil , slippery elm bark and a few little special ingredients. There's nothing harsh and it's completly chemical free. I'd be happy to make you some, but I would need to be able to see the rash. I wouldn't charge you anything except the cost of the ingredients. I am thinking 5 or 10 dollars nothing more.
So far, I have never failed anyone and I hear stories like yours all the time. It sounds like his baby skin has been through the ringer so, at least some advice would be, don't put any thing else on it for a couple of days in case he has a chemical sensitivity disorder. If you want to come over to my studio I'd be happy to help you. You can even watch me make it.;)
N.
www.aromaticbotanicals.com

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C.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Two things I suggest.. My daughter cried ALOT as well, a friend suggested I eliminate Corn Syrup from my diet which I did adn it helped within 3 days I had a new kid.

My business sells alot of nontoxic products that have a great effect on kids with eczema, you can call me at ###-###-####
I do not want to push it as you have tried so much already, but it has been a great help to us.

--C. W
www.myHomeCottageBiz.com

Also make sure his fingernails are trimmed so he cannot scratch so much.

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T.M.

answers from Flagstaff on

I feel really bad for your baby! I can't offer any advice to fix the problem other that hound your doctor. Just apply an A&D type of ointment as a barrier. My youngest son never had a rash that severe but it got pretty bad and his doc told me to use Vagasil for the pain and then A&D/desitan for a barrier and cut out all juice and dairy -for myself as I was still nursing. The vagasil made him scream for a few moments but the lidocaine made his bum numb and him happy for a while. I would think that the doc would have prescribed an antifungal cream or something? I hope this helps...the vagasil was a life saver for my sons pain on his bum.

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M.M.

answers from Albuquerque on

My daughter was the same way. i used only cloth diapers and no plastic pants since I changed all three of my children (all in diapers at the same time...don't have triplets!) as soon as they were wet and/or had had a bowel movement. One time she would be fine, skin smooth and lovely, the next she would be bright red and the next time!!!!!!!! her little bottom and genital area was a mass of huge bleeding blisters. Oh my gosh! Then...lucky for me, my pediatrician, who was as confused as I came and told me he had mentioned this problem to a colleague at a convention. It turned out she was an allergist and she said, Robyn had sensitivities, if not actual allergies and they were probably food based. He sent us to an allergist and low and behold it was so. I eliminated those products from her diet (peaches, dairy and white potatoes) No more rash! Thank you God! She still cannot eat peaches or shell fish and has a slight burning sensation when urinating if she eats certain foods with artificial colors, preservatives and additives. She is quite old enough to be careful of herself, with children of her own but she had the same trouble with her son but not her daughter. Odd. Hope this helps.

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S.C.

answers from Phoenix on

Wow. That's....terrible. Isn't it trendy now to potty-train infants as young as six WEEKS old? I would normally scoff at that (mainly because it sounds like WAY too much work) but it might be your only option.

Here's some brief info that I just snagged from Google:

http://babyparenting.about.com/cs/pottytraining/f/infantp...

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A.S.

answers from Flagstaff on

oh, poor baby, have you tried changing his formula, or do you breastfeed? My nephew had severe excezma and they found out he had a peanut allergy and a strawberry allergy. Also, they used something called Udder cream on him, as soon as he'd get out of the bath they'd put the cream all over him, it's pretty greasy stuff, but it seemed to really work. You should be able to find it over in the lotion department of your store. Good luck!

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K.P.

answers from Phoenix on

A very inexpensive and natural treatment is burnt flour. Simply put plain white flour in a frying pan - a cast iron skillet works best if you have one but any pan will do. Turn your stove on to medium heat and use a wooden spoon to move the flour around the pan a little until it turns brown. I suggest you make one cup of it to try it out. If it works, you can make a larger batch and keep it in a canister on the changing table. I had to do this with my son after trying all sorts of OTC stuff and spending alot of money. This came from my mother in law. Good Luck!

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D.D.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi Kristine. I dont know if you have had him tested for food allergies but my daughter had bad rashes (nowhere near your sons) when she was little.They were on her butt and face.Then one day we had a scare because of peanut butter.She went to an allergist and was tested for most common food allergies.She was allergic to milk and eggs.Once I switched her to soy the rashes cleared up.

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P.K.

answers from Phoenix on

Excema is a diet issue. Even though my kids never struggled with it, my sister's three children all have it or have had it. Check the diet. It you are still nursing, it may be something you are eating, or if not, something your son is eating. My sister's kids have many food allergies and food sensitivities and it always shows itself through the skin. Excema is one of the most common ways your body shows there is something toxic in your system. Dairy is a big culprit, also eggs, wheat and corn. Good luck!

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S.M.

answers from Phoenix on

HAve you taken him to a dermatligist (spelling)?

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A.B.

answers from Phoenix on

I don't know if this will help your son with him being so young but I asked my little sis(she is 12) what helps with with clearing up excema since nothing seemed to work on my 6yr or me since nothing seems to do it.(Not even baby lotion.) My sis said to try anti itch cream...even if it does not itch my mom told us that there is something in it that clears it up and stops irritation. I have not tried it yet since we have not experienced break outs but and mom always seems to know. It might be worth looking into? Hope that helps!!!

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K.R.

answers from Phoenix on

We've been dealing with some pretty bad rashes here. I just tried Triple Paste and it seems to be helping as well as a prescription. Whenever he eats dairy, soy, or egg he gets an incredibly awful and painful rash, doesn't sleep, screams in pain, etc (when I was nursing I couldn't eat them either). We went to an allergist and none came back allergies, just intolerances. Try putting him on an avoidance diet (check out Dr. Sears website) and see if that helps. Bathe him in lukewarm water with a little baking soda or Aveeno for eczema wash. Maybe cut back on bathing if you're doing it everyday so you don't dry out his skin. Blow dry his butt (on low or no heat if you can) at diaper changes. It could also be the heat causing him to sweat making it worse. I guess just try to keep him cool and dry. Good luck!

ETA We've been using a prescription antibiotic/anti-fungal (yeast) cream three times a day and Triple Paste at the other changes and his diaper rash is almost gone.

Never mind, we are in the same boat as you now!

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A.S.

answers from Phoenix on

Hey Kristine,

Just wanted to affirm the person who suggested the avoidance diet. It sounds very much like he is allergic to something. I am sorry that you are going through this. Nothing is worse than seeing your child in pain. My friend had the same problem with her little boy, and when she took him to the allergist she found out that he was allergic to almost everything she ate! After she started cutting those things out, he improved dramatically. She also enlisted the aid of a naturopath, and she felt like this helped her tremendously.

Hang in there,

A.

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L.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Yikes!!! My son had severe Excema when he was that same age. I was blessed in that his was on his legs from his knees down and I could put footed pj's on him to minimize the scratcing. But he had a bad flare up at a playgroup one day. Like you pointed out he was fine when we left home. He was in the floor playing with a couple of other babies and started crying for no reason. I picked him up and his knees and shins were flaked, bumpy and bleeding. I had no warning it was coming. One of the veteran moms in the group gave me a lotion called Renew that she purchased through a wellness company. I ad been using Aveeno and Olive Oil for the past month. When I applied the Renew I could see a change in my son's skin right away. I loved it so much I coverted my entire home to green products and started marketing their products. Unfortunately, I never found out of my son was sensative to the dyes, chemicals or if the other products were just not providing enough usable moisture to his skin. You should try it.

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M.C.

answers from Phoenix on

I would suggest a dermatologist or even an allergist. He may have some allergies that are causing all of this. Good Luck. I hope you find him some relief soon.

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K.B.

answers from Spartanburg on

In emergencies use baby Oragel "yes the stuff for teething" it numbs the skin and gives instant relief. For large areas I have even used spray Chloraseptic. Yes the throught numbing medicine. Hey if both are OK for the baby to swallow, they are OK for open itches. My 2 year old has about the same symptoms as yours. Take him to an alergist. They dont like to see him till 2yrs, but at 2yrs mine found to be allergic to tons of stuff. Dog was the big problem. Anyway, for instant relief, Oragel or Chloraseptic.

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