My 3 Month Old Skin

M.,
someone else mentioned it might be an allergic reaction. Eczema is actually a symptom of a food allergy. Is baby breast fed or bottle fed? Many babies are allergic to cows milk or soy. If you breastfeed, it could be a number of things, and the process of elimination is long and grueling. That's where I'm at now. My baby is almost 3 months, and allergic to milk. Now that we've eliminated that, we've solved the sinus issues, but still are working on the eczema and the spitting up. I myself have developed the eczema, and I think I've discovered mine is from Tomatoes! Anyone can develop a food allergy at any time.

in the meantime, my doctor prescribed my little one a cream that has minimal steriods in it, to help heal the skin.

I also recommend Arbonne Baby Care. It is mineral oil free, not petroleum based and does NOT have lanolin. These 3 things are the most common ingredients in skin care products like Eucerin and Aquaphor. They can actually make the problem worse. Mineral oil can block oxygen and other nutrients from getting into the body so it can help it heal. Petroleum (Vaseline) is a by product of oil refining. Yes, the process in which gasoline comes from. Lanolin, is an oil excreted from sheep skin. Basically sheep sweat. I don't know about you, but I don't even like my own sweat, much less an animal's! My mother has eczema and psoriasis and the Arbnonne products really do help. If you have trouble finding a sample of this, you can contact me @ ____@____.com or call ###-###-####. Good luck!
C.

Years and Years ago a physician at Children's Hospital advised me to use some "Crisco" for my son's diaper rash and dry skin. I thought it was strange but I did try and it cleared up his diaper rash by the 2nd diaper change and the dry skin problem was cleared in a few days. That was 29 yrs ago I don't know if they've changed the ingredients in Crisco or not.

sounds like youe son might have eczema both my boys suffer from it i really like the aveno brands and aquaphor there is also cetaphil those tree products have help my boys and good ol plain
vasoline

Sometimes young babies get what I call "one-month zits". They usually last 3 weeks or so and then disappear and the usual baby-soft beautiful skin prevails. However if I were concerned as you seem to be about this particular condition, I would NOT put any vaseline or petroleum-based products on the baby's skin. Petroleum products are detrimental to the skin and body. Olive oil is very rich in nutrients and excellent for skin. Further, the skin absorbs the nutrients and the rest of the body systems benefit from vitamins and minerals. Get the best quality olive oil you can for this purpose. I don't know that it is specifically good for "zits" but do know that it is great for skin moisture and nutrition. I wish you the best, Z.

When my daughter was an infant, she drooled so much she had to wear a bib all the time, which caused a thick, bumpy rash all over her neck. Nothing worked until my neighbor brought over a tube of A&D Ointment. I have sworn by that remedy ever since...

Our daughter had many skin issues as a little one. For the dry spots, I used Weleda baby cream and made sure to keep the layer closest to her skin cotton. Fleece and ploy-blends seemed to make it worse.
I don't know about the rash around the neck. But I would definitely not use Vaseline or any other petroleum-based product . In my experience, they make rashes worse because they prevent the skin from breathing. I would just try to keep it dry and clean.

Hi M.. My name is R.. I too am a SAHM. We have a 4 yr old daughter & 6 yr old son. I also work under contract with a Wellness Company out of ID, and I help them build their customer base. We have an amazing product that helps reduce or eliminate eczema, severe dry skin, and diaper rash. It completely eliminated our daughters eczema when she was a baby. If you are interested in hearing more you can checkout my website at www.MomsOfferingMore.com, however my website markets by business, but that is optional and not required for you to try our products. I hope to chat with you soon and help you and your baby. Hang in there. Have a Great Weekend!!!

~R.~
The M.O.M. Team
www.MomsOfferingMore.com

I second the Aveeno Baby. My son has exema also and nothing else seemed to work.

All 3 of my children have the same problem. The breakouts usually happen during the winter time. I have started using Aveno baby and it really helps. The doctor also gave me Aquaphor and Cetaphil. I didn't like the Cetaphil because it smelled funny, but the Aveno baby has worked great especially on my 16 month old and it lasts 24 hours, so you only have to put it on once a day. I usually put it on after bathtime.

My 7-month-old has awful skin problems and we took her to a pediatric dermatologist at OHSU. She recommended 1% hydrocortison ointment (not cream) once or twice a day, as needed. We use Cortaid, but I'm sure there are other brands to choose from. You might want to check with your pediatrician though, because my daughter was almost 5 months old when we started using the cortisone.

We also have to use cetaphil wash instead of soap and we have to slather her with cortisone or vaseline within 3 minutes of getting her out of the bath. Good luck!

Hi M.,

I would ditto the possibility of a food sensitivity, if you are nursing. Also, you may want to get a gentler (more natural, no perfume) laundry detergent. She may be sensitive to that as well. If you nurse, you can take fish oil capsules. This will probably help the dryness of his skin and yours! BTW, does wonders for emotional stability too.

Have you figured out what the rash is exactly? It could be an allergic reaction to something like the laundry detergent-fabric softener, or soap/shampoo you are using...even if it is the natural type-for babies specifically.

I would use the process of elimination to figure out what is causing the rash first. Change the "soaps", change the laudry soaps, or keep track of what fibers baby's shirts ar made of, and try something different for a week and see what happens.

I have 4 children, and I would often get differing opinions from doctors regarding rashes they had as babies. I tried everything but to no avail. I finally found a doctor who recognized it, or listened, and I just had to make simple adjustments in our daily routines to heal the rash-and no creams or ointments were required.

Best of luck!

The same thing happened to my son when he was about 3 months. He was born in the winter, so the doctor said that it is common for babies to have dry skin, especially during the dry winter. I thought the rash around the neck was dry skin, but my doctor also recommended letting him sleep with less clothes on, because it was most likely due to us bundling him up at night in a onsie, pj's and swaddling blanket. We felt bad, but the dr. said that babies can keep warm in just onsies, so we tried that for a while and the rash went away within a week (it was just a heat rash). As for the dryness on the back, eucerine has worked for us. It is thicker and stays on at night. Hope that helps.

Hi M.,

I am the Mom of 7, grandmother to 9 and great grandmother to 2½.

I would suggest you use regular Desitin. The same stuff we use for diaper rash. Vaseline does not have the zinc in it that will help the skin to heal.

We and most like me have used good old Desitin for decades with no harm, and with marvelous results.

Good luck,

N. Nell

Both of my girls have had dry spots that can't ever seem to get better. I finally found a brand called Noodle & Boo. It really seems to work the best. They have a few different kinds of lotions. I like the Ultimate Baby Ointment. I have used it for Cradle Cap & the dry Eczema like spots on their skin.

I have 3 girls. I like DESITIN -- plain, simple, and old, but it works on just about any rash... If you see bumps or rashes, put Desitin on the area (make sure it's DRY), and you'll see a difference soon. I know, I sound like a Desitin ad, but seriously, it works!!

Sounds like Eczema, my son gets it in the winter. The Eczema creams and ointments worked most of the time but at one point I actualy had to go to the doc and get a prescription because I just couldn't get it under control with the over the counter stuff. I don't know if you have ever had Eczema but it itches like crazy. I use the same stuff you are using but first I use the Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort lotion all over then spot treat the really dry areas with the Gental Natures. Hope this helps, if you have any questions feel free to ask. I have been dealing with Eczema for years since I have it myself.

Try Aveeno baby soothing relief moisture cream. Its the only thing that works for my babies dry patches

I have three kids and my second had this issue at the same age. Hers was eczema. Vaseline makes it worse, but doctors don't seem to get that. I have eczema, too, and any petroleum based products make it worse. The most effective thing we found was, if you breastfeed, for you to take flax oil, or another oil that is high in the omega-3 fatty acids. If you bottle feed, you can add some flax oil to the formula. On her neck, is it weepy? My baby's neck creases would sometimes bleed and be all weepy. A naturapathic doctor had us put some kind of powder on her neck to absorb the moisture and that finally allowed it to heal. This was 10 years ago, however, and I don't remember what the powder was. And you have to be careful about the powders you put near a baby's face (or on their skin). Sorry I don't have more specific information. There are different opinions on the use of steroid creams for eczema. I use them for my own eczema but I did avoid it successfully with my baby. It will thin the skin after prolonged use. But, sometimes, especially if your baby is uncomfortable, I think there is a place for them.

Hi M.,

I would recommend keeping the areas clean and dry. Then put some olive oil on it. If you want more of a salve, try Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm. It's all natural and organic and packed full of healing herbs. It's worked wonders on my baby and my husband carries it in his pocket as a first aid salve. I would definitely stay away from the Vaseline with sensitive skin.

Hi M.,

You might want to try Bella Bar soap - it is vegetable based and there are many testimonials by people who say it has really helped with their skin problems.

Form more information visit:
http://www.bellamiacandle.scent-team.com/bellabars.php

You can also find a number of testimonials in the middle of the company's January 2006 newsletter

Hope something you try will work!

Best wishes,

V.

Baby Bee from Burts Bees worked well for my granddaughter. With regular, daily use it helped a lot. The winter seems to be the worst time for that dry skin problem, the Baby Bee worked better than the OTC lotions that have no alcohol or cetyl esters (which encourage drying). My son had a similar condition as a baby. His doctor recommended short baths (less than 10 minutes) and application of the lotion or cream right after lightly patting dry. My son's cleared up with a few treatements of steroid cream. My granddaughter, also, was just prescribed the steroid treatment and is IMMEDIATELY relieved of the dry, flaky skin around her wrists and ankles. My son's never returned.

My son had the same problem at about the same age...corn starch worked wonders for the neck rash (it was totally gone in 2 days) - just put some on your finger and rub it right on. Lanisnoh (the nipple ointment) works great for the dry spots and is totally safe.

Good luck!

My daughter has very sensitive skin and also had "rash-like" skin though hers was on her legs. Her doctor told me to use Eucerin CREAM (not lotion) and her "rash" was gone in less than two days. Nothing else had worked on her. Also try A&D diaper ointment (the original, which looks like vaseline) or the lanoline ointment that you use for sore nipples. Babies and children almost never react to these and they are great for multiple uses. Hope that helps.

M.,

We use a cream by Gentle Naturals Disney Baby - called Baby Eczema Cream. My daughter did have eczema as an infant and this really helped with the redness and itching. Now she will on occasion have a dry spot or a rash under her chin from drool, this cream seams to work for that also. Even works on my dry hands. It has calendula, jojoba, aloe, vitamins A,D,E and chamomile. It's fragrance free.

You might try some diaper rash cream. I used that on my daughter's back when she broke out in a rash and it really helped. Just make sure your son won't be putting his hands in it so it won't get in his eyes or mouth. Good luck.
~J.

lotion called aquaphor-you can get it at any drugstore. safe to use from the cradle to the grave.

My daughter had the same problem and the dr said the same thing. Never worked though. I used bag balm at night after her bath and put her in her pj's after. It went away in 2 days!! If that doesn't work you could try some coconut oil... Vaseline is petroleum and it is very bad for your skin (totally clogs the pores and the skin cannot breathe) and it soaks up the fat soluble vitamins once it soaks into your skin.

You may have found a perfect solution to your problem, but I did want to tell you that our baby had dry skin when he was about that age and we used different creams on his skin, but one thing that really helped A LOT was putting baby oil in the bath with the warm running water. It's safe and helps the skin to keep it's moisture. It's important to put it directly in the water. If you put it on your baby's skin after being dried off, it'll just be too oily. Good luck!
J. S

Hello M., I would recommend the gentlest cream or salve you can find...is there a health food store around you? There are baby creams with calendula cream..avoid all petroleum products, what you put on your babies skin is absorbed through their skin into their delicate systems. Waleda, Earth Friendly Baby, and other such companies make gentle baby products. Try the internet if you cannot find natural products around. Good luck. I also like plain coconut oil (natural)or olive oil.

Hi! One thing you may try would be a 1% cortizone cream. Aveeno brand is the best but check on the back to make sure it only has 1 percent of cortizone, or it will be to strong. That should work. If not...your guess is as good as mine! Good luck!

I use a lotion from a wellness store on my kids' dry skin patches and it does wonders. It has blown all the other lotions away (I used to love aquafor). Believe me I tried them all. It also helps kids with eczema. Check the ingredients of the lotions and soaps you are using and if Quaternium 13 in in them, stop using them because that is a Formaldahyde releaser. Go to my website www.livetotalwellness.com/mindywc and I will be able to give you more information. My first son always had dry skin and dry patches that I was constantly trying to figure out ways to heal. Now that I use the lotion from this store my first son and my baby have not had any issues with dry skin. Since my baby has been born I have been using it on him and he has not had on single skin issue, not even diaper rash! He is now a year old. The store also has hair and body washes for kids with no toxic ingredients. M. C. Mother of two boys, 3 and 1

Hi M.,

Isn't amazing what doctors will tell people? Vaseline? Maybe the doc is a bit older? I would not recommend petroleum products for anyone's skin, especially not a little baby, even though I also used Vaseline when I was a teenager and my mom used it on me as a baby.

What an oil, even a natural olive oil alone, will do is simply coat the skin-and keep any moisture from evaporating and drying off. It will not actually ADD moisture to the skin, so you need to provide something that will.

There are many salves available from health food stores and natural groceries. I would choose one with comfrey-which is naturally moisturizing and healing to the skin, calendula-which has antiseptic properties and also is healing to skin, Vitamin E-the vitamin we all need for healthy skin, and is made with a beeswax and olive oil base-both have healing properties and together, will make the salve nicely smooth so it absorbs well into the skin.

The real key is comfrey. I have grown herbs and made my own products for many years for moms and babies, and if there were to be only one herb left on the planet, I would choose comfrey.

Hi M.,
My name is C. and I am a mother of 2 also (7yrs and 11 mos) my 11 mo old boy has the same problem and my 7 yr old suffers from eczema. My docter kept telling me to put heavy cream on all of his dry spots but nothing seem to work. Then I discovered Arbonne. I don't know if you've heard of it but all of the products are botanically based and when I began using the baby line I was convinced of how great they are and became a consultant. My whole family including myself use the products and I am especially grateful of what the products are doing for my childrens skin. My little one no longer gets dry spots or soars and my 7yr old eczema is under control. If you are interested give me a call or e-mail me and I would be glad to send you some more info and some samples.

Wish you well,
C. R.
###-###-####
____@____.com

Both of my sons had problems with dry skin. My pediatrician suggested Cetaphil CREAM, not the lotion. Put it on right after the babys bath and it will lock moisture in. I still use on them and they are 6 and 3. I use on myself as well, it is super gentle on sensitive skin. Hope this helps!
J.
P.S. You can get it at wal-mart. Target might carry it too.

I actually make a skin care product that may help you. It's called Adaptskin. It's all natural and safe. You could eat it and not be harmed although that's not recommended and it may do the trick. We market it to amputees because they have serious rash/chaffing issues. It has a petrolatum base and medical grade lanolin (which is lanolin with the impurities taken out)beeswax and cocconut oil which have natural healing properties and little lemon oil and some silicone oil to make it non-greasy. You can order a free sample at www.adaptlabs.com. I would also double check with your doctor about it before you use to be on the vary safest side.

M.,

It sounds like Eczema. My four year old son just spent 2 weeks at a hospital in Denver for Eczema and allergy treatment. My advice would be to get on top of it now. It can be so difficult to deal with. I have found that the doctors here don't have a clue about how to care for it. Keeping it dry is not good for it, it just makes it itchier and worse. It needs to me moistened. At the hospital we did a wet bath treatment. It was very intense, but my son's was further advanced. At your stage I would suggest a daily 15-20 minute bath (that's how long it takes for your skin to obtain the most water - after that it begins to loose it.) During the bath, you need to keep the affected areas covered by water the whole time. Since your baby has it on the neck, you would drape a hand towel over his shoulders and keep it wet. Then immediately moisterize him head to toe (I use Vanicream, which the hospital uses, I ordered it online from Amazon.com, but think eucerin or aquaphor would also work) and put him into his pajamas. Do this each day and see if it gets better. At the hospital they treat severe cases so at the start we did three of these baths a day and put him in wet pajamas with dry overtop with hands and feet covered too (FYI, at this level, we also used short term sterioid ointment). It sounds extreme, but all I can say is, IT WORKS. My son's skin is so soft and he doesn't dig and itch and wake at night anymore! Good luck, it's great that you are trying to find out what to do now, before it gets out of control. I know it sounds like alot of work, but trust me, you will get used to it and it's so worth it.

J. D

Try lukewarm olive oil. It works great, but be careful, it's slippery!

Best to use after a bath.

My daughter had the same problem at the same age. Cetaphyl works well. I also love Burt's Bees baby lotion or Arbonne ABC lotion, but Cetaphyl is easy to find and is not harsh on the baby's skin. Vaseline is petroleum based and can sometimes make the rash worse. Try to stay away from harsh chemicals, petroleum, etc. on his skin and be patient! It'll clear up in a few months!
Enjoy your little one!

Hi M., I hear ya. I had issues like this when my daughter was an infant. I asked my doctor about the Vaseline application and she said that Vaseline actually clogs the pores of the skin and prevents it from breathing and healing. Also, that it's a petroleum product, in which such things as gasoline and plastic are made. So...her suggestion was SHEA BUTTER. It's amazing stuff! My daughter's skin cleared up right away and every now and then she has some irritation, but I apply the butter and it clears up. Nature's Gate sells a Shea Butter Stick (like deodorant), and there's other natural brands available. You may have sticker shock, but so little is needed and it is very effective.

Good luck and congratulations with your new addition!

My little one has exema too. I help him with hydrocortizone 1%
when he starts to scratch. Avon's silicone glove or intensive care is good.

jem

mom to seven, 37 yrs old

I had to take my 3 mo. old to the dermatologist. She had eczema. Nothing I put on it helped and it seemed to be worse. She prescribed a cream and with use it went away never to return. My daughter is now 9.

hi,
dont know what all you have tried, or what the dr. suggest, but from the old school the first thing i would try is Bag Balm. it is a cream (heavy), that all dairy farmers use on the teats of their milk cows, when they crack and bleed. it is very safe and i use it for any number of skin problems and rashes. it even stops the itch.
its cheap and can be purchased at any pharmacy or feed store/ace hardware or tool store. a very common product.
good luck
gramdma B.

Are you nursing? if so, it might be something that you are eating that is having him get this reaction. I know that dairy can be a culprit for many a baby as well as wheat. If you are nursing, try omitting dairy from your diet for a week and see what happens. Then try wheat.
If you aren't nursing, you might talk to your doctor about changing the formula that he is on.
Debie-mom of two young adults and worked with infants and moms for 15 years,

Its probably psoriasis, very common in babies. Try some Aveno lotion, it worked for my daughter.

M.,
I would bring her to go see a dermatologist and find out the problem. Maybe see has food allergies?
Good Luck

The lanolin cream used for breastfeeding mothers (like Lansinoh) might work nicely! It's really thick, so only a little dab would be needed, but it's so safe that babies can even nurse when their mothers have this cream on without worries! I have heard of people using this to treat diaper rash, so it might work well for what you're dealing with. Again, I would just use it sparingly since it's so concentrated/thick. (Try smoothing it out on your fingers first before applying it to baby's skin.)

Aquaphor by Eucerne is AMAZING. You can buy it almost anywhere. It comes in a little tube or you can buy it in a tub/jar. I still carry it in my purse and my girls are 4yr and 5yrs. You can use it for diaper rash, chapped cheeks, lips, hands, behind ears, under necks "the place where all that milk gets trapped" and anywhere else. I even use it for little scraps but never on an open wound/puncture wound. I swear by this stuff. It never stings and my kids even ask for it now. Hope it helps. A.

I have always used Calendula cream for all skin irritations like the ones you are describing, including in the diaper area, and none of my kids ever had an issue that would not clear up. And I provided childcare for dozens of babies over the years. You may not be able to find this in your local grocery it depends where you live. You could try a natural food or health store or other stores that carry natural baby products, because the product is plant derived (vaseline is a protrolium product and does not allow the skin to breath as well). I perfer the Weleda brand of calendula cream.
If you can't find it write to me and I will send you a tube. This stuff is that good I give it to all expectant mother friends. It's like one of those miracle products all mothers should have access to.

M.,

My son had a similar skin issue, finally the doctor diagnosed it as eczema. However, because he had heart problems and multiple surgeries at birth, the last thing I wanted was a steriod cream. My cousin introduced me to Arbonne skin care. As a nurse I researched it before trying it and have found it is all natural botanical products. They have an amazing baby line that I use. I only use the lotion and it has kept him from breaking out at all. His skin is smooth and healthy finally! If you would like to try a sample I would be more than happy to get one for you. You can give me a call or email ###-###-#### or ____@____.com