So, probably a month ago, Jane started getting these dry spots all over her body... on the outside of her thighs, on her shins, her belly, etc. She always had a little area on her forehead that was dry and would get red and a little irritated if she itched at it so I had switched her to fragrance free shampoo thinking "ok, it's only on her forehead, the only thing that could irritate her on her forehead is shampoo"... sometimes my common sense works awesome!
But, then, like I said, these little spots (varying in size) started springing up everywhere! One morning, she woke up with a rash all over her belly and back. So, being a internet-savvy Momma, I started researching and the only thing I came up with was eczema. I searched for images of eczema and it didn't look at all like what Jane had but it definitely seemed to be dry skin so I figured I'd treat it like a mild case until I saw the doc.
I bought Aveeno Baby Eczema cream (it was like $13 freakin' dollars), fragrance free body wash,
and everything-free laundry detergent as apparently fragrance is an irritant. I paid more attention to what she was sleeping in, depending on the temperature, as she was sleeping in fleece sleepers at night with a cotton sleep sac and apparently heat can be a trigger for eczema as well. I started using the Aveeno cream twice a day and I noticed a difference in her skin within a week. So, of course, I did a little happy dance for myself for being such a good Mommy-doctor.
Then, we had our docs appt, and I asked the real doctor what it was. Of course, as they always do, he basically glanced at it (and it was basically healed because of all my good work) and said "oh, I think it's milia" which can be caused by heat. So, I was like, "ok, so it's not eczema". So, I stopped the cream twice a day, started using the regular baby cream again and, to my surprise (not really) the spots came back. I looked up "milia" which I'm positive is what he called it because it was definitely an "m" word and that's the only "m" skin condition I found for babies and it turns out milia are those white looking pimples typically found on the face and cheeks... what the heck?
So, I don't know what caused this sudden change in Janer's skin sensitivity... my girlfriend said sometimes teething can cause sensitive skin? But I thought that was just around the neck area?!?! Anyways, I'm back to being a lotion lover and so far so good. I just wish there were alternatives to the Aveeno eczema cream as it's so expensive - anybody have any other suggestions? Perhaps something you have experience with that maybe I can buy online for cheaper? At this rate we'll be going through a bottle of this $13 lotion a month... :p
Moral of the story - stick to your instincts!
But, then, like I said, these little spots (varying in size) started springing up everywhere! One morning, she woke up with a rash all over her belly and back. So, being a internet-savvy Momma, I started researching and the only thing I came up with was eczema. I searched for images of eczema and it didn't look at all like what Jane had but it definitely seemed to be dry skin so I figured I'd treat it like a mild case until I saw the doc.
I bought Aveeno Baby Eczema cream (it was like $13 freakin' dollars), fragrance free body wash,
and everything-free laundry detergent as apparently fragrance is an irritant. I paid more attention to what she was sleeping in, depending on the temperature, as she was sleeping in fleece sleepers at night with a cotton sleep sac and apparently heat can be a trigger for eczema as well. I started using the Aveeno cream twice a day and I noticed a difference in her skin within a week. So, of course, I did a little happy dance for myself for being such a good Mommy-doctor.
Then, we had our docs appt, and I asked the real doctor what it was. Of course, as they always do, he basically glanced at it (and it was basically healed because of all my good work) and said "oh, I think it's milia" which can be caused by heat. So, I was like, "ok, so it's not eczema". So, I stopped the cream twice a day, started using the regular baby cream again and, to my surprise (not really) the spots came back. I looked up "milia" which I'm positive is what he called it because it was definitely an "m" word and that's the only "m" skin condition I found for babies and it turns out milia are those white looking pimples typically found on the face and cheeks... what the heck?
So, I don't know what caused this sudden change in Janer's skin sensitivity... my girlfriend said sometimes teething can cause sensitive skin? But I thought that was just around the neck area?!?! Anyways, I'm back to being a lotion lover and so far so good. I just wish there were alternatives to the Aveeno eczema cream as it's so expensive - anybody have any other suggestions? Perhaps something you have experience with that maybe I can buy online for cheaper? At this rate we'll be going through a bottle of this $13 lotion a month... :p
Moral of the story - stick to your instincts!
PS - The winner of the Holiday Hat Giveaway is posted (in the sidebar) and don't forget - only 4 more days to enter the Moody Mamas Maternity Wardrobe Giveaway!
9 comments:
I'm having a similar problem with my son, it started last week. I spoke to my health visitor (nurse type person) and she suggested added oilatum to the bath water, use aqueous cream to wash him with and use E45 cream (not the lotion) all over. I did the same thing you did about changing detergent and everything... it seems to be getting better. Anyway, I think E45 would be cheaper than the Aveeno?
I have the same problem with my 7month old daughter. Pink, dry areas on the outsides of her arms and on her back.
So, I am a mom but I am also a family medicine resident and am pretty sure hers is eczema - and it sounds like Jane's is too (although one can never be sure without seeing it)
And btw, milia definitely doesn't make much sense...
As for treatment/prevention - moisturizers is definitely the key. You can try "vaseline creamy" - it comes in a white tub and is pretty cheap and good! Use it 2/day and always put it on RIGHT after a bath when the babies' skin is still damp; this will help to lock in the moisture.
The nurse's suggestions are good too.
I am struggling with getting my little girl's skin back to that soft silkiness...
Good luck!
Great suggestions so far. I had this as a child. And my doctor just told us it would go away on its own. I waited & waited for years & years. It probably didn't really go away until high school or after. It caused some serious self-esteem issues with me. Wish I had these suggestions back then! But thanks for asking the question because I might need the answers with my first little one expected in June.
I am having the same problems with Andrew - almost exactly! I started using a sample of Spectro Kids Ecxema cream and it seems to be working well. Not sure but I bet it would be cheaper than Aveeno, Spectro is usually pretty cheap.
I forgot to leave this link in the previous post:
http://eczemahelp.ca/regimen.html
Its a great website.
Stop by my blog! I have something for you :)
Sam gets dry skin and sometimes chapped red looking skin in his baby fat. I started using vaseline on his face and the red areas and they clear up within a day! So cheap and easy, my mother in law recommended that. I was afraid I might be spending $13 on lotion soon too...
What about a simple food oil...ie sunflower seed oil or something like that....we used it in my infant massage class, and it helped with my son's dry skin issues...that sound similar (red patches). I know using a food oil sounds funny...but hey it is natural and edible...and cheep, and a little goes a long way...Im pretty sure I have organic sunflower seed to use for his massages. But I hear ya on the aveeno cost...we use the body wash/shampoo because he has no reaction to it, and he got a rash just from the johnsons bedtime bath stuff!
All the midwives tell us to use olive oil for the baby's scalps for cradle cap, or for baby massage. They smell like baked potatoes afterwards!
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