Toddler Has Dry Skin on Legs

Updated on March 14, 2008
A.P. asks from Sacramento, CA
25 answers

Hiya,

I have a 30 month old with "alligator skin" patches. Not as bad as psoriasis or eczema, but very dry. I use mustela and heavy creams on her legs (mostly the shin area)

However, there seems to be little change until she finishes a growth spurt. I'm pretty sure the skin issue and the spurts are related, the kid drinks plenty of watered down juice, so she's not dehydrated and all of her other skin appears normal/soft/pliable.

Anyone else have this problem? Another mom I met over the weekend said "oh yeah, my kid has dry skin" and I took a look/feel on her shins, and her daughter's skin was nothing like my own's. Beanie has little "goose pimple" type areas that can't be felt, only seen, and there are invisible dry patches as well.

If her other skin was reacting this way, I'd cut down on baths (about 4/week, most with bubbles, but the bubble baths are with very moisturizing stuff. No UTI issues at all --fingers xed---) She wears mostly jeans and stretchy pants, she doesn't appear to have any allergies.

Anyway, I just want to know how other moms deal with this stuff and what the best products are, and whether I should go to the pediatrician now, or wait until her skin is broken and/or otherwise compromised from the dryness.

Thank you so much, mamans!!!!

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So What Happened?

Okay, It's been a week and she's doing great with mild cetaphil baths, less frequent bathing and the slathering on of the Gold Bond. I guess we just needed a routine treatment?

Thanks for all the advice!!!

Featured Answers

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J.F.

answers from Fresno on

Try baby oil on the dry areas. You can also use shampoo with conditioner for her bbubble baths. the hair conditioner will also condition her skin.
J.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Spokane on

Hi,

My best friend gave me a product called "Renew Intensive Care Lotion", which doesn't have any medication or anything in it, but it beat out Eucerin in a double blind study with people using it for anything from mild dry skin to eczema and psoriasis. I had that lizard skin stuff on my shins for the longest time, I couldn't shave my legs it was so bad, and it would get from mild to very dry and cracked/bleeding, but once I started using renew, it has completely healed. I love it and recommend it to everyone I can get my hands on. She wouldn't mind me giving out her info., she loves to help people too. Her e-mail address is ____@____.com and her name is Jana, just tell her S. sent you to her.

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S.A.

answers from Fresno on

When my son was 6 months through age 3 he had horrible dry skin on his legs and chest. We limited his baths to one every other day (unless of course he was filthy :)) His doctor recommended Aquaphor - an over the counter ointment for severly dry skin. I rubbed it in every evening before bed and after bathtime. This way it had all night to soak in. If I kept that on him, he was fine. Hope this helps!!!

S.

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E.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Have you tried Arbonne baby lotion--it is the best. I sell it and could offer you a 25 % discount.
Good luck.
E.
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Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.V.

answers from Fresno on

You might dry "Bag Balm". This is what my children use on my grandchildren. And it works good for diaper rash as well.

Another problem could be, that the patches are caused by laundry detergent and softeners. I have this problem. I started using all unscented products and my skin has improved dramatically.

Good Luck,
Grandma/Mimi B.

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K.W.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi A.,
Have you tried tea tree oil? You can get it at walgreens and walmart. it comes in a little bottle cost about $3-$4. Whole foods also carries it

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from San Francisco on

A., there is nothing better than Renew from the catalog company Melaleuca. I will send you sample of it or have my friend in Sac get you some to try. That and all their other products have made such a difference in my life and especially for small children. Safer in so many ways. A great product for her skin. They also have a bath oil that helps too.

My elbows had what looked like psoriasis after my breaking my ankle, being in bed and using my elbows. It has been 6 weeks or longer and it is almost back to normal.

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H.P.

answers from Bakersfield on

I've found that Baby Aveno soaps and lotion works wonders. I know it sounds like such an easy solution but I swear by the stuff. Just the plain body wash and lotion, no lavender or special smells. Hope you find something! Good Luck.

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D.F.

answers from Redding on

Hi A.,

Have you talked with your doctor? It kind of sounds like a type of ringworm,possibly. Which is not really a worm but has dry patches on the skin with raised bumps. Check out a site and check if it looks similar to your childs dry skin issue. It easily treatable through the doctors office. Its just a thought to check into. What my doctor said was its similar to a type of jock itch or athlets foot. Hope you find what your looking for.

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C.S.

answers from San Francisco on

My son and daughter have this issue as well. I use Natures Baby products found at Whole Foods or online (cheaper on line). Bathing frequently is actually better for my children. But I have to be mindful of what I put in the bath because not all products do what they claim. California Baby makes a great bubble bath. I use Vaseline after every bath. It locks in the moisture and keeps my children soft. I used aquaphor at first but I realized it has the same ingredients that Vaseline does, only it costs way more. I occasionally use otc hydrocortisone ointment on my son when he complains of itching. Most soaps and many lotions dry out my little ones' skin but so does sunscreen. I have to buy pretty expensive product in order to keep their little bodies happy.
I also have to watch laundry detergents and fabric softeners. I use mainly soap, dye, and fragrance free everything for their clothes and bedding. Trader Joes and Whole Foods are the best places for these although Target is now carrying many of the products I use.

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M.D.

answers from Chico on

Hi A., My oldest daughter has dry skin. I ended up taking her to a Dermatologist, they gave her skin cream and I have tried alot of different stuff. But the best stuff is Hydrocortazone cream (SP) it works the fastest and helps the most. Good luck, M.

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L.K.

answers from Fresno on

J&J Soothing Naturals works great on my boys' eczema, even extreme chapped cheeks. Smells yummy, too :o)

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D.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi A.-
You have got to try Arbonne products. If you send me your mailing address I will send you some FREE samples to try. My email address is: ____@____.com

Arbonne is a Swiss company. The products are botanically based, hypoallergenic, PH correct, Pediatrician tested, no mineral oil and we have the vagan seal of approval (no animal products or by-products). I have many clients who have had much success with their little one's skin care issues by using these products. I would love to send you some FREE samples so you can see for yourself. I use all of them on my 4 year old son and love them for him. We also have great skin care products for adults so if you are interested I could send some samples for you to try too. (Great anti-aging!!)

You can check out my website at www.dianacurtin.myarbonne.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you!
D.

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W.M.

answers from Sacramento on

My kids have had issues like this, even as teenagers, mostly on their torso area. Cetaphil lotion helps them, and using a good moisturizing soap. Olay makes one called Ultra moisture, and then we use the cetaphil, or something of the like. They also get it worse when they swim in a chlorinated pool. It is so weird, that you cant feel the rash, but see it only when the light hits it just right.
Patches only on the legs, but full blown on the torso.
The dr. has never been able to give us an explanation for it other than a possible allergy. I would also try not doing the bubble bath for 10 days and see if that makes an
improvement, it might be to drying for her.

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M.N.

answers from Fresno on

This is going to sound crazy, but my pediatrician told me to use virgin olive oil and Palmers lotion and it is the ONLY thing that worked for my daughters extremely dry skin! The funny thing is that I only had to use it 2 or 3 times and never again!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.D.

answers from Bakersfield on

I have to agree with Stacy A. We absolutely swear by Aquaphor. We use it for the entire family, whether it be for dry arms, legs, hands, faces, diaper rashes - everything. Our pediatrician highly recommended it. We love the stuff. It is kind of gooey and sticky, though. You can find it at Rite Aid or Walmart. It seems to be on the kind of expensive side, but it's well worth the money spent. Good luck! I hope that you find something that helps.

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C.J.

answers from Fresno on

Go to NAET.com I have had treatments for things you would not believe. There's no pain involved in the treatments and you can be allergic to anything, my last treatment was for Sweet-n-Low, and my knees don't hurt anymore. A naet practitioner can tell you what is causing the rash. If you are in Fresno, I can give you the name and # of a great practitioner. C. ###-###-####

The litle white bumps are definitely an indication of an allergy, mine were caused from eating or even touching anything with wheat or gluten.

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J.V.

answers from Bakersfield on

Hi there, I've had the same problem with my 7 y/o since birth. His pediatrician said eczema and skin disorders are allergies. I monitored all his food intake and bathed him w/o bubbles and washed his hair before getting out of the bath so he wouldn't sit in the soapy water. Nothing seemed to work. Then I changed our laundry detergent and fabric softners to "free and clear", no dyes, no perfumes. This worked! Good luck. Oh and Aveeno products work great. I sprinkle the bathtime in his bath whenever he gets irriated skin and it's gone withing minutes.

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K.G.

answers from San Francisco on

Gentle Naturals makes an Excema Wash. It's in the baby aisle in a green bottle and has Winnie the Pooh on it. You just add some to the bath or directly to the spot. It is a miracle worker. We all use it in my family and it helps much more than just excema. I get really bad dry and itchy legs in the winter and it works wonders for my dry legs. My kids use it too when their skin is dry.

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G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

My son has a similar issue. The doctor said it was seborrhetic dermatitis (fancy term for dry skin patches.) We try to bathe our son no more than every other day (the doctor said as little as twice a week is fine.) Interestingly, the doctor said that a lot of the lotions, and heavy creams can actually worsen the problem, and to use Aquaphor instead. Aquaphor is similar to Vaseline and is sold over-the-counter in a big tub ($16.99 at Longs.) We grease our little guy up with Aquaphor at night and then put his pajamas on. When he wakes up in the morning his skin is much improved. We also have a prescription for Elocon which we use maybe every two months if the skin gets really bad. Elocon should be used sparingly because it is a cortisone and with prolonged use can thin out the skin.

Hope that helps.

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M.B.

answers from Fresno on

My doctor recommended Cetophil (I think that's how it's spelled).

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K.R.

answers from Fresno on

Both of my children have dealt with a similar problem. I have found that if you apply Cetiphil skin cleanser (Costco sells it in a 2 pack) all over them prior to bath time and then let them play for 15-20 minutes, then follow up with Eucerin lotion (not cream). I hope you see a difference.
K.

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E.L.

answers from San Francisco on

do not use tea tree oil. it is used as an antiseptic and actually dries out the skin. they use it in natural salves and rubs for athlete's foot, which kills bacteria. definitely stay away. using it at 100% concentration on the skin is also a huge no.

I found mixing aquaphor with aveeno creams has worked, but our son still has eczema issues. There are patches on his arms that just will not go away.

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P.G.

answers from Modesto on

My son has what you call atopical eczema- but I don't think that is what he has- I understand what your son has, Anjel he is 8 and he has like white pores like sand paper, when you touch it- I have tried everything from Hydro/dry skin cream like Olay cream for his face and body, and nothin has worked. His dr even prescribed a med called Tyrecol?? not sure if that is spelled rigth but this little 8oz bottle is suppose to be mixed with vaseline and costs like $20 or so- of course that only lasted about a month. So since it still did not help, it would flare up his skin even more- I got CETAPHIL and that works wonders- his skin is softer, the itching is gone and his self-esteem is high again- he loves to wear shorts and enjoys the pool again~ Good luck with all your options and make sure you stick with your instints, dr are not always right :)

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L.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi A.,
Even moisturizing bubble bath is still soap and can dry the skin. I would keep the bubble bath to once a week at the most. As soon as I take my daughter out of the bath, I slather her with lotion while her skin is still damp. I like Aveeno but also L. Weleda products I get from Whole Foods but they are a little pricey. Huggies make a moisturizing stick for the really dry spots. I use this on my daughter's cheeks when they are dry. Hope that helps.
L.

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