Mysterious Rash - Gainesboro,TN

I would say to skip the nurse and go in to the see pediatrician. It sounds like the rash needs to be diagnosed. It does sound a bit like eczema, but the doctor really needs to take a look. If he's running a temp or acting different than normal, insist on a appointment asap.

Without having it positively identified, and a cause determined, making changes like the formula won't help, and may just make the problem more confused.... That being said, switching to a laundry detergent that is free of dyes and perfumes (we use Charlies Soap), as well as using an unscented/dye-free baby soap (Aveeno was recommended by our ped.) is generally a good idea all around for anyone who has sensitive skin, including babies.

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J.-

My first thought was eczema. But, I'm not a dermatologist and have no training in identifying rashes - especially not via a posting. Even our pediatrician prefers to refer to a dermatologist for most skin disorders because they're so hard to diagnose.

I'd recommend making an appointment with the pediatrician instead of speaking with the nurse. Many physician offices can no longer afford LPNs or RNs, so they have Medical Assistants who simply may not have the proper training (I should add that I have several friends who are MA's and are super bright, intelligent people).

Since it's spreading and not improving (did the nurse recommend Benadryl to see if it was an allergic reaction?), I'd demand an appointment. Something isn't right.

Good luck. I hope he's better soon.

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Call your doctor and insist that he comes in and has a strep test. sounds odd i know but working in day care i saw strep present in a rash no fever or anything else. worth a shot!

It does sound a bit like eczema. I agree with trying to switch detergents and soap that you bathe him with. And get to a dermatologist. If creams/lotions don't help and switching soap doesn't help I'd see if the doctor would write you a script for Nystatin. It's an antifungal. When my daughter was about 3 mo. old she had a wierd rash and we happened to put her on Nystatin for possible yeast infection (often its used for thrush). After 2 days her rash was totally gone! We used Nystatin about 3 times her first year of life to keep the rash away and finally it didn't come back again. Just something to consider if you have trouble finding a solution. A "yeasty" gut can cause skin problems and since my daughter was on antibiotics right after birth, I believe she had some extra yeast in her system from the antibiotics killing the normal, healthy gut flora. Good luck!

J., there are pediatric dermatologists. The ones that are good are hard to get in to see and can take many months to get a new patient appointment.

I would get to the pediatrician, just like Amber advises, and ask for a referral to a good ped dermatologist. What you hope for is help from your ped right now to stem to tide, so to speak, and a relationship with a good ped dermatologist for the long run in case you have to deal with this condition longer term. That covers your bases. Keep good records to show what you have changed and for how long, and what medications you have used. That will really help your dermatologist.

Good luck!
D.

Hi J.,

I don't know what it specifically is but it could be an environmental reaction to something such as the formula or the laundry detergent. What your nurse failed to tell you, because she probably has no clue, is that chemical intolerances don't necessarily show up immediately. The chemicals in the formula and the laundry detergent build up in the system, so does fluoride from the water. They are either digested or absorbed through the skin and then they get into the bloodstream. There is no telling what is contraindicating with what. Contact allergies are rare. The visible symptom of a contact allergy is just contact with a stimuli already there and it's making it worse. Eczema is simply an outward symptom of what is going on in the body.

Switching to soy is not going to help...even if he wasn't throwing up. The problems with most formulas are the corn syrups and the synthetic chemicals that they are processed with. Goat's milk is an option to substitute if you want to try. It's the closest thing to breast milk out there. Almond milk has also been a substitute for breast milk for centuries as well. Iwould also suggest a detox of your home as well as his little body and see if that helps. It definitely won't hurt.

Let me know if you're interested in more information. I'd love to help.

Regards,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

I always used bottled water but I don't think that is what it is. Have you only called the nurse and asked? You might want to bring him in for the doctor to see. It could be something simple but it could also be serious. staph looks like small red pimples, etc It could be an allergic reaction to something but maybe not. Do you use the free and clear detergent? I always used the Dreft while they were babies but was told I could use any free and clear type. If that formula you were using did not mess with him in the first few weeks I would not imagine it would all of a sudden bother him. I suggest taking him in to see the doc.

Trying going to a dermatologist.

If there is a new chemical or something in the tap water, then he's being exposed to it during bath time too. That would explain the spreading to the whole body.

What about his bath time. Are you using a new baby wash? New towels? New shampoo?

When you went to the dr. did they run any tests?

My kids both had eczema (dry bumpy patches) from the tap water and the Johnsons & Johnsons baby wash. We got a whole house water softner and switched to Aveeno baby wash.

What I would do is buy a ton of bottled spring water. Use that water for bathing him/sponge baths and his bottles. This will help rule out the water in the house. Use that for at least a week to see an improvement. For my kids, an outbreak takes 3 days to clear up.

M.

We had a similar instance with my oldest son when he was about 4 or 5 months old. It took a long time to figure out the problem and we tried everything our pediatrician reccommended. The Ped said eczema, which means he has a rash, what a diagnosis... I even breast fed, so it wasn't in the water or formula. We struggled for years with his itchy bumpy scaley and eventually, cracked open and bleeding skin, until I found some products that really helped. I guess he was particularly sensative to chemicals, fragrances and dyes. It didn't appear right away, like I said, not til he was at least 4 months. But you should see a doctor. It could be a wide range of things.

Don't keep him on the soy if he can't keep it down, but do switch to bottled distilled water, (not spring) to see if that makes a difference. Use it for at least 2 weeks to a month. (I used tap water, we have very clean water here, I took some grief about it from "Nursery Water" moms, but it is ok as long as you know the contents of your water.) I would switch his soap and the laundry detergent. Start with a "Free and Clear" detergent. We tried Aveeno as well as Cetephil and a few other store brands that were "dermatologist recommened" but it didn't help. I finally found Melaleuca products, which are free from chemicals and stuff, and that all I use anymore. It made such a big difference for both my kids (the youngest also has eczema, though not as severe.)

There are lots of things that could be causing this, though, so go see your ped doc. And let him know what you have removed from the senario and for how long (aka, switched soap, ect...) Good Luck!