My son will be 2 years old at the beginning of August. I've noticed for a while now that his cheeks are covered in little bumps, some of which look like little whiteheads. Sometimes, his cheeks get very red, especially when he's overheated from being outside, from crying, or from a fever. However, I've noticed that his arms get the little bumps, too, sometimes. I'm not sure what could be causing the rash. I don't bathe him every day because his skin seems so dry to me sometimes. He hates to have his face washed after he eats, especially around his cheeks, so I wonder if the rash bothers him when water touches it. Just wondering if this is a continuation of the acne that babies can have after birth, or if it could be an allergy to something. I wash everything in Purex Free and Clear, which is perfume and dye free, and when I clean him up after eating, I usually just use a wet washcloth with no soap. Has anyone else dealt with this, and is there something I can use to clear it up, or will my son just have to live with it for a while?
Hey A.!
Look up keratosis pilaris. That will give you a lot of info.
Also, if you're bathing your little guy everyday. It will help to use a soap-free cleanser like CeraVe or Cetaphil.
Hope that helps!
A.
My 2 year old has the same thing. I've brought it up to the doctor twice. First she recommended Cetaphil lotion and body wash. It does not lather so it won't dry out the skin. I didn't notice an improvement though. I am probably going to switch her back to Arbonne products I used when she was a baby and had no skin problems, but it is expensive. Anyway the doc gave the "rash" a name but I can't remember. She said there isn't much you can do for it at this age besides a little hydrocortisone cream if it itches and maybe when they are older they can get a stronger cream.
Dear friend,
Could the "rash" actually be eczema? (Wikipedia says that Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin & symptoms may include dryness, redness and itching.) My daughter has some of this (mostly on the side of her arms like me) and is mildly allergic to eggs, peanuts & cats. We try to avoid these things as much as possible, but occasionally she will break out into a rash on her face or chest area if exposed to the foods (and a lot of sneezing/ runny nose to the cats!) This rash is only temporary and different than her eczema.
I noticed all of these conditions right around her first birthday, so we met with an allergist. After some testing he gave us a simple plan and medication to be used as needed. I'd reccomend the allergist for your needs--Dr. Basaran of Westerville (he's part of a group practice off of N. Cleveland Ave.--not far from you!)
I hope this helps!
PS. We are also moving from Columbus to our home town in about a month. We missed so many familiar things--though we've enjoyed it here. I'll miss having the support of other mom's and resources like this!
Dear A.,
Poor little guy! It sounds like the rash does bother him when you wash his face.
It's possible that a food allergy or sensitivity is causing the rash. If it's always present, and if it is a food sensitivity, it is probably to something that he eats regularly. My grandson is allergic to dairy products. His first reaction to dairy, at just a few months old, was violent nausea and a rash of welts that covered his body. The allergy was detected then, and all dairy was withheld from his diet. If he ate anything with even a trace of dairy (whey, milk solids, etc.), he would get a rash that was occasionally accompanied by sneezing, watery eyes, etc. Your son's rash sounds very similar to the one my grandson got at those times.
I have been seeing an M.D. who takes a homeopathic approach to her patients whenever possible. She practiced traditional pediatric medicine for years before beginning her homeopathic practice, so she has extensive training in both field. She got me started on using coconut oil for skin irritations, and it has done wonders for me. You can buy it at most grocery stores in the organic foods section, next to the other cooking oils. The one I buy, Spectrum Organic Coconut Oil, costs about 5.59 or 6.59 for 14 ounces. Just apply it to the affected areas. I have used it for so many things, and it has helped every time. I even use it on the ends of my hair at night before washing it in the morning.
Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid, and it has antibacterial and antibiotic properties when applied topically. Maybe it will help to relieve the irritation from your son's condition while you try to figure out what is causing it.
Good luck with the rash, and good luck to your husband in his medical career!
