2 Year Old W/ Rash

HI M.,
If your child is licking and causing the chapped skin, the best thing is just plain cocoa butter, available in a stick at the pharmacy. I was in dentistry for over 30 years and this was what we recommended to our patients. It is harmless if he swallows some, but it is better than chapstick or similar petroleum based remedy.
Good Luck,
M.

I don't have any suggestions, but I was also told that using hydrocortisone on the face is not recommended.

See a dermatologist.

Try chapstick - one with no flavor or else he might lick it more. I'm thinking it is also better because there are no side effects from it (At least , that I am aware of)

My son is 3 `/2 and he's had the same problem since he was a baby. He's got asthma and allergies and sensitive skin. He also tends to lick his face, especially when he's got a runny nose or a dry mouth from coughing alot. I have found Triple Cream works the best. It is kind of expensive, but you don't need much and it clears it up real fast. I've seen it at Target, I'm sure you could find it about anywhere. It's usually by the baby lotions/ diaper rash creams. I've also heard that shortening, believe it or not, is what some people us on eczema, and it is cheap!

I would try a product called "Renew". It is product that helps with things like eczema, psoriasis, without using steroids.

S.

Hi M.,

I LOVE Smith's Rosebud Salve. It's great as a lip balm, rash ointment, chapped skin healer and more! I found something similar to it at Bath and Bodyworks. It's C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve. I use it on my daughter whenever she gets her little face rashes...goes away almost the same day...if it's mild. You need to re-apply throughout the day but a little goes a long way. Can't say enough good things about it. Try it, won't dissapoint! I even put it on her before going into the cold weather and that cuts back on chapped skin. I have even used it for diaper rashes...works like a dream. Seriously...I don't usually get this excited about stuff. =) Also, being that he's only two he'll probably lick his mouth, since this is natural it won't make him sick!

Vaselene works too.

Good Luck!

My granddaughter has gotten a lot of help from Aquaphor and so have I for chapped lips/mouth area. It's in a blue and white tube, made by Eucerine and usually near that at the drug store, a bit pricy but goes a long, long way.

Hi M. ~
At nap time and bed time I would put a little vaseline on it...you might have to wait until he's asleep to put it on. But while he's sleeping, it will stay on the area longer. I would probably also try a flavored chapstick during the day when he's awake.
D.

My kids get the same thing. I know this is going to sound odd, but diaper cream works really well for us. I do it mainly at bed time. Aquaphor also works well during the day to maintain that protective barrier - esp. if they are going to be outside.

J.

Somewhat like Jennifer, I use A&D ointment on rashes due to chafing. My son typically has at least one episode a year where he licks all around his mouth.....A&D at night is great for it.

Have you tried just plain olive oil at bedtime? I make a home-made balm (you can find recipes in books at the library or online) and when I do this for my son, it clears up within a day or two. I have never had to resort to anything so expensive for my son's drool rash.

Currently, I find that he has been licking his lower lip or sucking it out of frustration so it has been very bad - and this still has worked wonders for us.

No tricks, no gimmicks and no website selling. Best of all, it's natural and there are no side effects to worry about if he does ingest some of it.

Hi M.!

I have an almost 2 year old boy with the same rash going on. Haven't asked my ped about it yet. I think it might have something to do with the cold he is just getting over. The rash certainly seems to get worse when I wipe it after eating, but better when I put Aquaphor on it (and yes, he gets some in his mouth/licks it, etc) - I do that mainly at night or naptime.

If the rash hurts or itches your son, then I would continue to pursue treatment for it (dermatologist), but otherwise - it could have to do with the cold weather and dry air inside places too.

Good luck!

i would try chapstick. I had a friend who did this growing up, and they told her chapstick. So she used it all the time on her lips, and under her lip where she constantly licked.

Try bag balm. You can get it at CVS, and it really works well. My daughter has a friend that used to lick all the way around her mouth and would be raw from it, when she would visit my house, I would put bag balm on it. By the time seh went home on sunday, it was cleared up every time. It works 2 ways, to heal it, and also the taste keeps them from licking again. Good luck!!

what about a little vaseline?

Here is another vote for Aquaphor. It works overnight and is safe to use on the face. The generic brands work just as well. You can find it by the baby items at most stores.

My son does exactly the same thing, licking around his mouth, and he has the same spot. I use baby Aquaphor. It helps to heal the skin whilst also acting as a barrier, and it hydrates the area. My son gets he same patch when the weather gets colder and it works every time. I also use it to prevent chapping on my sons chin and cheeks during really cold weather.
This ointment is wonder cream. I use it on my own hands also as I get terribly cracked skin when the weather changes. My hands show a huge improvement with just one application.
With my son I apply before school and before he goes to bed whenever he gats a "flare up". It heals it really quick.

I would go to Better Health or Whole Foods, if I walked in your shoes. Look for some Calendula ointment. (Calendula is essentially Marigolds---the flower)
I would suggest talking with an employee who knows their natural products and explain about the rash. It might be as simple as a few drops of colloidal silver to combat any bug or virus causing the rash.

Aquafor. I have coupons and I few samples I can mail you. send me your address if you want.

Hi M.:

It sounds like to me that your son has a little chapping on his face. My son used to get it all the time, this time of year. He would lick around his lips which would cause a chapping around his lips. We used a lotion called Eucerin and it worked great. It also helps with Excema (sp). Give it a try, you can use it as often as you would like and within a couple of days, his face should be back to normal. Good Luck.
A.

Hello -

My son did the same thing...and he did have a pacifier - not sure if your son does or not but it was partly that and licking. I would use the hydrocortisone for 1-2 days 3x a day and then use Aquafor by Eucerin(spelling)- It is like a thick lotion(clear like pet. jelly) and it really helps the dried out skin - especially in the winter! I started to use it again on my 6 month old that has ezema on his cheeks after and in between the hydrocortisone. Hope this helps!

The Aquafor lotion keeps it moist even if it is licked...it stays on!!!

Kim -
SAHM - mother of 2 boys(2.5 and 7 months)