Baby Oil Causing a Rash

Updated on July 16, 2007
C.C. asks from La Junta, CO
20 answers

Hi all, Monday night when my two oldest daughters, 7yrs and 5yrs, took their shower they put Baby Oil in their hair, alot of it. Since they went to bed right after we didn't notice until the next day. Figuring the oil should soften their hair and be safe we left it in until Tuesday night when my 5yr old starting crying because her neck hurt. The baby oil had given her a rash so bad it looks like poison ivy, red and blotchy with little hives all over her neck, shoulders, chest and scalp! So we put her in the shower right away along with our 7yr old. The next day their hair still looked like it had some oil left so last night I gave them another shower and the rash was still there on both girls so I used straight bar soap and gently scrubbed the rash thinking that the oil has clogged their pores. Today the rash is still there and both girls are still complaining about it being really itchy. I don't know what else to do. They both have exzima so I can't keep giving them showers like this or they'll break out with that all over their bodies. Is there any cream that would work at clearing that up or a better soap or scrub. I'm thinking maybe a facial scrub but I don't want to hurt them. What should I use??

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So What Happened?

First of all let me thank all of you for your responses. It was very clear what I should do as it seemed that everyone pretty much said the same thing LOL! I used some hydrocortisone(sp?) on their necks and shoulders to relieve the itching until I could get some Aveeno Oatmeal stuff and that worked really good. Then I got some Aveeno Oatmeal baby bath stuff, I wanted it to be gentle yet effective. I the washed their whole bodies including their hair with it and kinda let it soak in for a while letting them just play in the tub. After about 5 mins I rinsed them off and even though the rash wasn't gone immediately it was much better looking. So they dried and went to bed. But the next morning the rash was gone! Thank you so much for all your advice and now I will keep the baby oil put away so they can't get to it anymore, even though I think they've learned their lesson.

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D.L.

answers from Denver on

C.,
We ran into the same issue. Plain Dove soap worked wonders for my daughter and Cetaphil for my son. They both had eczema as well. My daughter uses Aquaphor and son Cetaphil lotion. The soap alone should keep her hair soft or try a gentle conditioner like baby Paul Mitchell.

All the best,
D.

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K.K.

answers from Denver on

I would try giving them benadryl before they go to sleep. Not the topical, the liquid medicine. Benadryl is a histamine blocker and should reduce itching, redness and swelling. Also I use aveeno oatmeal baths on my daughter, she is 2 1/2 yrs and gets pretty bad outbreaks of excema.
K.

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L.P.

answers from Pueblo on

Hi C.,

Your poor girls! It sounds like their skin is already terribly irritated so I would stay away from more 'scrubbing' and try something very very gentle/soothing and completely natural, like maybe 100% aloe vera gel. Perhaps you could also Google a recipe for an oatmeal bath for them to soak in. Hope this helps - let us all know!

L. P

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K.D.

answers from Denver on

We've dealt with eczema and hives as long as we've had children. I can recommend several things, but you don't want to be using any more harsh cleansers. In the baby isle of King Soopers they sell a product by Gentle Naturals called baby eczema bath wash, which you just let them soak in or use as soap. They also have a baby eczema lotion. It would be hard to work in to their scalp, but both our kids love it because it cures the hives and eczema immediately and it doesn't burn like some other products can. I also have something that cured the eczema and allergies for us. I don't want to solicit. If you're interested, you can let me know, but it worked better than the things mentioned above -- I tried them all. We have been cured with this.

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K.D.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I suggest an oatmeal bath which is good for eczema, too. And maybe a topical antihistimine/anti-itch cream. Just be careful to read the label, as some you can't use if you're also using an ingestible antihistimine like Benedryl.

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M.M.

answers from Reno on

Get some Children's Benadryl and give them tablets according to the dosage on the package for their age.

I always have that stuff on hand because my daughter always gets odd skin rashes and has weird allergic reactions. The Benadryl should stop the itching and reduce the rash.

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C.W.

answers from Denver on

I can help you - email me at ____@____.com - I use all non - toxic products in my home and would be happy to share with you where I shop and how you can shop with them too.

They are amazing products!

Blessngs,
C.

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C.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

C.,

Sorry to hear about this oily situation! My BF had a terrible rash on the fronts of his legs and his chest/ stomach. Eventaully i convinced him to visit the Dr. and the Dr told him to start with some Benadryl. Also Benadryl makes some awesome anti-itch lotion (Target also has a great one thats cheaper) The Benadryl totally worked for him. Good Luck!

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K.K.

answers from Grand Junction on

If it is an excema rash, washing it everyday will just make it last longer and make it worse. I would use hydrocortisone, that is what I use on my son when he gets a rash somewhere, and he has bad excema as well. It will help with the rash, as well as get rid of some of the itch. My pediatrician also gave me a lotion to use for rashes that were really bad, I cant remember the name of it, but she told me not to use it everyday, since it has steroids in it. If you do feel like you need to wash it, use Cetaphil instead of soap.

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N.W.

answers from Denver on

you might try some cortizone ??

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K.M.

answers from Denver on

It sounds like an allergic reaction. I would recommend getting hydrocortisone cream from the store and rubbing it in. Calamine lotion might help with the itching, too. Another thing than can soothe the itching is a cool bath in water mixed with cornstarch.

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M.C.

answers from Grand Junction on

I would try to use a lil' bit of Dawn liquid soap....just enough to have a lil' bit of suds...but of course, be extra careful with the eyes.....should help cut the grease of the baby oil....or call a pediatric doctor.....hopefully ya get it out soon.....M.

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J.M.

answers from Provo on

Hi C.! Both my son and I suffer from eczema, so we can relate to what your girls are going through. You might try a cool oatmeal bath to soothe the irritation and itch, or a cool bath with a very gentle cleanser. Either way, try following it up with a water based hypoallergenic cream. My pediatrician recommends Cetaphil, and we've also had good luck with Aveeno.You definitely don't want to scrub with anything abrasive that might break open the skin, as eczema can become easily infected when broken open, (and in my experience is itchier and more painful.) If that doesn't work, you could try putting cortizone cream on the area, but might just want to call the doctor first to be sure.

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S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I know that you would like to avoid giving them a bath again, but the only thing that I can think of would to do an oatmeal or bakeing soda bath--something to help neutralize the pH of their skin.

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A.C.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Hi C., my name is A., it seems that baby oil keeps coming up as not to be a good product for our kiddos. I use several different products that are safe, non toxic for my family. My daughter also has eczema. Our household products are through a company called oxyfresh, their products can get the oil out and help relieve the stress on the skin via rash. i can get you in contact with a representative if you'd like. Also, there is a company called melaluca (sp?), the have a lotion called Renew that works great on skin with eczema as well. I can also get you in contact with a rep from that company. You can get free samples and try them to see if they work for you and your family. If you are local, I'm sure you can get those pretty quickly. Let me know if I can help.. The Best for you and your family.. A.; ____@____.com

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T.H.

answers from Denver on

Hi C.,
Sorry to hear about your girls- that must hurt! I sell melalueca and we have a "gold bar" soap that works wonders for children (and adults) with excema and or dry skin. I have a lot of friends that use it on their children.
Peace, T.

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A.O.

answers from Denver on

C.,
You might want to avoid the soap for now. And please visit the dermatologist, as they might need something to help their skin heal.
Good luck!

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G.M.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Hi C.,

What an oily mess! :o)

I do not have a clinical solution. I do know that my son used to develop rashes and soars from standard bar soap. I then started selling Mia Bella's Gourmet candles and body products and in that line there is a soy and tea exract soap that he started using. He has no had a rash in two 1/2 years when using that soap. It is very gentle on the skin. It also last a very long time.

I would not have "solicited" you like this if you had not mentioned the exzima issue. I just know how much it helped my son so I thought I'd pass it on. You can check them out at www.IwantAMiaBella.com. I have a number of bars on hand if you decide you would like to try one.

People use this soap on their dogs with dry, itchy skin. Men use it on their hair and women who do not color their hair. We have one in all three of our bathrooms as it really helps with this dry mountain air. It is a wonderful soap that comes in 5 different scents; Sweet Orange & Chili Pepper, Slate & Stone, Mystic Melon, Grapefruit & Lavendar and Juniper Breeze.

Hollar if you want to give them a try.

Blessings in this oily journey! :o)

G.

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B.V.

answers from Provo on

I have heard that washing your hair with Dawn helps strip things out of hair.

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E.V.

answers from Colorado Springs on

C.,
Since the rash has lasted more than a few days its time to make a dr's appt. There could be a sevre allergic reaction to the oil. Washing it may seem like the simple solution, but like you said the showers would make more of a breakout. You can try benedryl cream and see how that works. I hope the girls feel better.
E.

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