Extremely Dry/Cracked Skin

My grandaughter has extremely dry skin. The doctor told us not to use lotions. Lotions have alcohol in them which will actually cause the skin to dry out more. Use creams.He told us to use Eucerin Cream. He works great.I also have use Desitin diaper ointment on my hands when they were very dry and cracked. It was soothing to my hands and it help them heal quickly.
L.

Aquaphor!!!! I put it on my 5 month olds face, feet, everywhere that is red and dry and it works great.

As many have already said Aquaphor by Eucerin is a great choice. It's rated on the Z-recs guide as very low risk for any hazardous ingredients and it worked wonders on my son's severely cracked lip. I use it on his lips when they are dry, for diaper rash, and on any dry skin that appears. It's been wonderful!!

Over the counter cortizone cream. It will work magic and is totally safe.

Hi S.! I have experienced this with my daughter. I found a cream that you can get at Target or Meijer. It is called BABY ECZEMA CREAM. It is by Gentle Naturals. I hope this works for your daughter like it did mine! N.

My 5-month old has dry scaly patches on her legs, and what worked for us was the Method brand baby lotion and you can get it at Target. It's like 99% natural and absorbs right away - no greasy feeling. I've found that the baby wash doesn't dry her out as badly, either. Plus, it smells like marshmallows - yum!

I would stay away from Johnsons and Huggies baby products and use something natural. We found one at Target called Method Baby (or something like that) that is Rice Milk and Mallow and it smells so good. That is a baby wash and shampoo.

For lotions Aveeno Baby for dry skin/eczema is what I use as an all over body lotion and for the really rough spots I have been using Gentle Naturals. That is great for those really bad areas. You can get all of these at Target. (The Gentle Naturals has Winnie the Pooh on it so it's easy to spot.) :)

S. -

Your sweet baby needs something for dry skin that will be nourishing. the baby oil is really mineral oil and that may not be the best thing -- it may just "feed" the condition. I highly recommend Arbonne's ABC Baby Products -- no mineral oil, no animal by-products, or fragrance. These products are botanically based and perfect for baby's sensitive skin.

Let me know if you would like more information or a sample.

L. L.

I have that Mary Kay satin hands kit thing, and the extra emollient night cream is awesome. It's very thick, but it works great. When I bought it off my cousin she said she's heard of many moms using it for their kids dry skin. It's very gentle. I use it about once or twice a week on my face to keep it very moisturized. 31...gotta try and keep those wrinkles away!

I would use Aquafor (by Eucerine)on the dry spots. My experience is with my son who broke out with a rash at 3 mos and was subsequently diagnosed with severe eczema. We were put on a strict skin care regimin of bathing only once weekly and using a 10% hydrocortisone ointment for the red/itchy spots, slathering him with Moisturel lotion and topping off the dry/cracked areas with Aquafor twice daily. It cleared up his skin tremendously and got the eczema under control. Moisturel is fantastic and prescribed for children because it has the least amount of preservatives in it and is very gentle on a baby's skin. It's light and doesn't clog the pores. (I used to work for the company that manufactures Curel lotion. I ran it past the formulators there and they concurred. Curel is also a good choice if your child isn't extremely sensitive.) Aquafor is great because it's thick and will hold the moisture in specific areas. Don't use it all over as it could cause overheating.

Eucerin Eucerin Eucerin....I skipped the baby lotions- and treated my daughter to my lotions- it is the best... If you have a costco membership (or maybe it is a sams club too), you can get 2 large bottles and a purse size for about 15 dollars...it can be close to that anywhere else for only one bottle. I believe our skin deserves the very best. After all, who wants to age prematurely?? You will never buy another- it is ust worth it!

Good Luck and God Bless!

A.

Aquaphor by Ucerin works wonders!! Its like $8 or so for a big tube and it goes a long way! My son used to have dry, chapped, red skin on his face and this cleared it up everytime it would flair up. This stuff also comes highly recommended by a lot of dermatologists/pediatrcians for other skin conditions! Give it a try!

So my daughter is 3 and has super dry skin i think everyone does now..lol it has been dry but i use on her is body butter. I use the bath and body works body butter but you can always use the palmers coco body butter. and i put it on her as soon and she get out of the bath because that is when your pours are most open and will take in the lotion.
well good luck!

Both my girls (now 20 & 25) had the same problem along with allergies. The best product for them is unscented lotion, and a humidifier in the house

aveeno oatmeal bath or soap.sounds like they have ecxema.see a dr.K.

You may want to try Eucerine Cream (in the tub not the tube). It is thick and will stay on and also seems to work absolute wonders for dry cracked skin.

My daughter had chapped lips...actually the area around her lips...that I could not get cleared up with anything and my pediatrician actually suggested that I try Eucerine cream in the tub (it is thicker than in the tube). Her skin was very raw and the cream did not seem to irritate it at all and within 3 days of regular usuage the skin was pretty much back to normal.

Good luck and if you try this I hope that it works for you.

M. N.

Try using Eucerin (the tub container). It is wonderful. It's thick and it won't burn her dry skin like other baby lotions will on dry skin. Use it right after bath time while she is still in the tub and wet and use it every night. I have two boys, ages 3 and 5, and I still use it on them every night, year round. I started using the Eucerin when my 5 year old was about six months at the advise of his physician because he had dry skin.

Although the below contains my suggestins, you should still check with your physician as any symptom could be indicative of a more serious problem.
**********************************************

It sounds like your children have ezcema (not sure on spelling, sorry). This is basically a dry skin condition, sometimes thought of as an allergy. The syptoms can look severe like the dry, cracked and broken skin; raw skin that may crack and bleed; small bumps that itch; swollen and red area; little bumps without swelling or redness when just beginning.

Contrary to J&J advertising, the regular baby lotions in the pink bottle are not really the best product to use for severe dry skin. You really need obtain a prescription cortizone or steriod creme from your pediatrician. Meds and lotions should be put on within 5min after a bath. Do not wipe off the water since it irritates and dries out the skin. Simply blot the children dry and place the meds and lotions right on slightly damp skin. The lotion helps to seal in the moisture.

Try using non-soap bars for bathing... without fragrances. I use Caress or Dove since they have extra moisturizers and they are very gentle to the skin. Lotions should be slathered on and left a bit wet to soak into the skin. I usually put my kids clothes on right over slightly damp or lotioned skin. For severe spots, you may consider putting on meds, heavy lotion over the top and applying a loose gauze bandage over the affected area overnight. This helps the meds and lotions sink in.

Put this topical creme on the affected areas immediately after the bath. Then immediately put a natural lotion on the entire body and affected areas. I suggest products with cocoa butter, shea butter, jojoba, oatmeal, etc. You might try a product with menthol or tea trea to give immediate cooling relief for itching and irritated skin.

I have used Aveeno with menthol, and my boys really like it (as do I for skin issues). Below is a website that tells a little about eczema. Eczema may be more noticable in the crook of the arms, knees, ankles, neck, arm pit. However, the affected areas may be all over the body. Right now my boys have small bumps all over their bellies and backs. The condition may seem worse when the air is very dry. Stress can make the condition worse. During the summer when people sweat more, the constant evaporation and sweating cycle can increase the likelihood of having affected areas. If the children sweat in their sleep, you may consider dressing them more lightly or using a fan to keep them cool. You may consider putting a humidifier in their room at night as well. I have found that windburn from the cold weather can make the eczema become more pronounced on the face, hands and any other area exposed to the cold and windy weather. I find that my cheeks and tops of my hands will be windburned after being outside if I do not cover all exposed areas. It burns terribly and almost looks like a chemical burn.

http://www.yourskindoctor.com/eczema.html

Hate to say it but try getting rid of anything sented. I have a boy with very sensitive skin and he gets the same way. I use a dye free/ fragrance free lotion everyday. You can get many different kinds at just about any store. good luck. Hope this helps.

Hi S.~

I'm a SAHM too, I also work from home with a wellness company. They have a lotion that is AMAZING! It even beats Eucerin (which I used before for my sons eczema). I'm one of those that use to be so embarassed during the winter because of my cracked and bleeding knuckles...not any more! My website is www.KidsNeedMomHome.com if you'd like to hear more. Just fill out the "get info" form and I'll call you to set up a phone appointment to give you all the details on how you can shop with them for safer/healthier household products. There is also a business opportunity available if you are interested. No pressure, just free info from a Christian SAHM mom of 4 who is so grateful to have been introduced to these products. My family is so much healthier now that we've removed our old products that had harmful ingredients in them that I wasn't aware of. Hope I can help. Take care! ~C.

Aquaphor is the best I've found. It is not only a great ointment for dry skin, but makes a great treatment for diaper rash as well as preventive care.

Instead of lotions, use a cream or emollient. A dermatologist told me that creams are 4x more effective than lotions and emollients are 4x more effective than creams. Also, he said not to use baby soap but to go with Dove instead. It's less drying to the skin.

Are you sure your daughter does not have Eczema? Both of my daughters had it and they are not able to use any Johnson's product outside of the shampoo. I use Eucerin on their skin and it cleared up instantly. My youngest daughter still has it and she is 10 months and I have been using Eucerin for about 6 months. You can buy it from any drug store or even Wal Mart or Target. Eucerin can run between $10-12 I like to use the body cream, the lotion did not seem like it lasted all day. Hope that helps.

Eucerin and Aquaphor have worked well for us. I like the eucerin better because it is not as greasy. Aquaphor worked well for the extremely dry areas. It reminds me of vaseline.

To be honest, there is no lotion for that cure, because of all th chemicals in them. The only thing that will help is 100% Shea Butter. Not Lotion with Shea Butter. The real deal. My family swears by it. We ran out and try to use the expensive lotion to compensate, but it did not work. You can find it at any natural store or cutural shops. Or vendors on the street/outside grocery stores. It comes in a tub and it looks like butter. Once you rub it in your hands, it soften up or you can zap it to melt it a little. You will not beleive the results.

38 yr old wife and mother of 4(3,6,8,&10).

I suffer from severe dry skin and eczema myself. I just discovered Aquaphor this winter. It is amazing! It softens the skin AND creates a barrier against wetness. It also seals in the skin's own moisture. My dermatologist apporves, too.

You can find it in the baby aisle and skin care aisle of almost any drugstore. It comes in tubes or tubs, just like Vaseline. It is much more expensive than vaseline, but it works better too!

Be aware, though, that is it greasy at 1st, just like petroleum jelly. It does sink into the skin eventually though, and won't stain clothes at that point.

If that does not clear up the rash/cracked skin, you might have to try just a little bit of over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment. Use a mild one, like Cortizone. THere could be a bit of eczema or dermatitis at the back of the knee too.

And if neither of those work you should show it to her pediatrician, as there might be a mild bacterial or fungal infection there too from the dampness. Chances are, though, that it can be managed with some Aquaphor.

When my daughter had chubby baby legs she would get rashy and cracked skin too. You are right, rinsing the saop well is essential. Maybe your husband could reduce the amount of soap he uses on her, since it is winter and the air is so dry now. In fact, I only bathed my daughter a couple of times a week when she was an infant - the rest of the time I just used a soft washcloth and water to gently "sponge bathe" her (I used baby wipes for the smelly parts!)

Finally, one more tip. Make sure the back of her legs are covered in pants or a sleep & play. I get itchy and rashy in the places where skin is held against skin. The moisture in the skin folds can cause a rash - I sleep in long pants even in the summer, or the backs of my kneed are a mess!

Oh, one more tip - avoid baby oil. It makes me itch too! THe Aquaphor should help your older child too. In general, keep it simple. Avoid lotions that are fragranced. Use products with dimethicone (like Aveeno with the green label) - it also acts as a skin barrier.

I know there's lots of info here - sorry! I have spent 40+ yrs struggling with dry, rashy skin. I hope this helps. K.

I haven't used Arbonne but hear wonderful things about their products. I personally use Burt's Bees on myself and my 4 month old twin boys. I think their products work wonderfully. They have a baby line as well that is worth checking out. It's called Baby Bee. I found a lot of Burt's Bees products on www.vitacost.com for a lot cheaper than you can get them in the stores. They also sell kits with trial size versions that are great for trying a lot of different products so you don't have to buy the whole big bottle if you don't end up liking it. I really like their products because they are natural and I don't have to worry about any harmful ingredients that potentially can make the skin more irritated. Hope this helps!

Aquaphor is wonderful and Mary Kay has something called Extra Emollient Night cream that is great too. My son has had terrible dry skin since he was a baby and I use those two things on him and it really helps. You want to avoid regular lotions because they have alot of water in them and sometimes do more harm than good - they are ok for everyday but not the severe dry skin,Good luck- this time of year is terrible for dry skin!!

S.,

I am in business with a wellness company that makes a lotion that is safe for children and it is excellent for this type of issue. We have many other products as well that are great for the home and your daughter. I have bad hands....and this lotion did wonders for me, I love it. Let me know if you want more information. All of the products are non poisonous and have no chemicals or toxins in them.
These products are really helpful for alot of issues.

The best baby products that I have found are from Arbonne International. Because they are botanical and contain no artificial dyes or fragrances, no mineral oil, and no animal byproducts, they are very gentle and ideal for children. My children use the wash, lotion, and sunscreen. I sometimes use the wash, too. Arbonne also has a baby oil that I have not used but a friend loves. I can help you get samples or buy the products, if you are interested. Good luck!

Hey S.~

First, let me say congradulations that your husband gives your son his bath...mine will only do it when I ask him to...never on his own.

But, we have a 3 month old that also have very dry skin (his ears especially). We use Aquaphor.
( http://www.eucerinus.com/products/hb_aho.html )

It makes him oily but it works! Baby oil may be good if you add it to your son during his bath. We use it on his cradle cap.

Good luck!!!

Hellp S.,

I was told by my pediatrician not to use Johnson's lotion because while it smells good it does not offer the moisturization (if that's a word) that traditional lotions do. I used Eucerine on my children and it works really well. If your children have really dry skin, try using Aquapor. It's thick like petroleum jelly but it works.

I didn't see anyone else mention Cetaphil, they make cleanser and cream for sesitive skin which seems to do a pretty good job on my daughter's dry skin, and you can get it at Costco for a lot less than in regular stores. Maybe only bathe her every other day--or less often, especially in the winter. Also a cool mist humidifier would help too. Good luck!

I use 'No Crack Cream', and it really works. I can't imagine it would be harmful for a baby, and I know it's fine for toddlers and older kids. Here is a website so you can find a retail outlet near you. http://www.nocrack.com/

My other favorite product is available at Kohls. It's a body cream called 'Indulge Yourself' from the 'Grassroots' line. It smells so good, and it keeps my skin moisturized for hours. Again, it's all natural, so I can't imagine it would be harmful for a baby.

I hope this helps!

Avon has some great products for keeping skin moisturied. They carry a skin so soft line, everything from bath oil, to body washes. It keeps me and my family soft all winter long.

Once the area is cracked I would use Aquafore ?sp?. Our doctor recommends that. If it's just dry skin you can still use the Aquafore or we use Aveno lotion after baths for my son who has eczema. Do not overbathe, we do baths every 3 days (2 night off, bath on the third).

I remember when our kids had dry skin - in their baby years... the dr. suggested to only bathe them every other day - that would help a little!

also try putting a humidifier on in the room they are in the most.

Stop using Johnson's products...they all have alchol in it which will dry the skin. Try dove (bar) soap for bath time and Eurcin (sp??) ointment twice a day on the skin. It really works! My daughter sees an allergiest who recommended this and it Works!!! good luck!

S.,

I rely on Baby Aveno for extremely dry skin on my one year old. We have tried several brands. Johnsons seems to dry out more than anything. Baby oil doesn't seem to do the job at all. I have found that Aveno helps with the dry skin and small cases of eczema too. Use the fragrance free one. Arbonne also sells a great baby product, but is a bit more expensive. Good luck

try Aveeno Oatmeal Lotion.

Couple of ideas:
1) do NOT use baby oil as it is straight mineral oil -- you can research it, but basically it is not a good moisturizer, but instead, draws moisture away from the skin.
2) you might try olive oil -- simple, natural, and I've heard that it's #1
3) Many times it's not the topical treatment that's needed, but internal. I'm with a company that develops, creates, and distributes patented products that have been able to help many people with dry skin & excema (along with just about every other issue, and prevention from any health issues.) If interested in seeing how this may be of health, message me.
Best wishes!

Hi S.! I would put Neosporin on any areas that are cracked open. After that, I would constantly put Aquaphor on it. It's going to be a pain to stay on top of it, but you could end up with a very cranky baby who is in pain if the cracks open up. Lansinoh (pure lanolin) is great for stuff like that too! Definitely check with your husband to be sure that all of the soap is off of her. I would keep bathing to every other or every two days with some quick wipe downs at night or something. I wouldn't use any lotions with perfumes in them, because that could cause burning and major irritation. If it continues, I would call a dermatologist as opposed to the pediatrician. Good luck!! Hopefully, they will be back to normal when this cold weather goes away!!

dont' bath her too much. Many children can not take a daily bath, just a wash cloth over the dirty parts.
Avon has a lot of nice products but since of her young age and possible sensitivity I think I would ask the doctor for suggestions.
I was thinking A & D ointment for the really bad stuff.

I saw that only one or two people mentioned Mary Kay. The Satin Hands set would be good for your older kids, but I would use just the Extra Emollient Night cream on the baby. It is very safe for babies and because it is more emollient, it will sort of lock the moisture in, thus, healing the dry skin. A tube of just the Night Cream is about $11 dollars and it lasts a long time!

Let me know if you have trouble finding an consultant near you!

Sounds like Eczema. Not dry skin. It usually happens behind the knees and in other folds (elbows, necks, behind ears, etc.) How many milk products do you give her? Milk is a big causer of Eczema. I would take her to the pediatrician. Best of luck. :)

-M.

Both my boys have had problems with dry skin and eczema and I've tried everything! I find a combo of baby oil gel and vaseline intensive care lotion (or their generic equivalents) work great after baths. In the winter dry air makes it hard for skin to retain moisture so the idea is to keep the moisture after a bath in the skin. Try putting these on right before the PJs and let them soak all night. Also Gentle Naturals Baby eczema cream works great but is a little pricey. I tend to rotate between these and the Johnsons cream and it keeps their skin nice all winter long!

Eucerine cream or Aquaphor Are both wonderful and safe. I began using them on my daughter when she was a newborn, after being given some for her at the hospital. I use these too on my psoriasis. Both are made by the same company and are available OTC. Hope that helps.

My daughter has some patches of eczema and my pediatrician recommended Aveeno on her twice a day...it has worked wonders for her skin. The patches are gone and her skin is smooth and soft, even in the winter. Good luck!

Ok I agree with some of the other post.. one it sounds like excema.. check to see if its because of milk! Second I use arbonne's baby line on my kids and myself. I have excema as do two of my kids.. you would never know it. I have used arbonne for 18yrs, its all I can use! lol I can get you a sample at www.passion4more.myarbonne.com There is even a before and after on there to of a friends little one. My kids use to check the bottles to make sure it was arbonne.. lol The products don't burn their eyes either.. where when it says no tear it has an ingredient that just numbs the tear duct.. Ok so that site has tons of info..
Good luck!! LOL

AQUAPHOR or UDDER CREAM

Also......make SURE she's adequately hydrated. See if you can figure out if certain laundry soaps, certain fabrics, etc might bring about the irritation. Sometimes, those things can create some problems, too; OR a combination of things.

try the aveeno oatmeal soak for both of your children's bath water. also, the aveeno oatmeal lotions and creams work wonders. both of my boys have excema and we use that in addition to the prescribed cream from the doctor. use the aveeno oatmeal cream and lotions often to rehydrate and also make sure they are drinking plenty of water and other liquids during the day. it does help and the dry skin will clear up. hope this helps!!!

aquaphor is good to use, it creates a barrier against wetness & also helps heal the skin.

Vitamin E cream. Aloe Vera lotion. A&D ointment. Those are the three best items I can think of to use. Make sure the lotions and creams you are using do not have alcohol in them. Alcohol will dry out the skin.

Skin that dry is not normal--it is likely she is lacking in essential fatty acids(the good fats that we need to consume in our diets). If you are nursing her you need to add it to your diet and if not make sure you get a formula with EFA's added(not all have them). Sadly, many people are fooled with the label of baby oil or lotion which are mineral oil based --petroleum is the same oil that is in your car--not good for the skin of anyone especially baby! Jojoba oil is a great oil for most anyone --of course there is always a possibiltiy of allergic reaction to anything so try a small area first with anything new you try. You might want to go to your health food store and look for baby products(lotions and soaps) that are vegetable oil based and with no fragrances and colors which can irritate sensitive skin. Also use only fragrance and dye free detergents for laundry--and use vinegar in the rinse cycle to remove any soap residue, of course do not use dryer sheets which can really mess up a sensitive persons skin. Hope this helps.