D.P. asks from Peoria, IL on January 06, 2008
Need Help with Itchy Dry Skin Rash
I get dry itchy skin every winter, and usually a little Cortisone cream helps, as well as using Dreft detergent, short showers, etc. Anyhow, this year it has spread to my breasts and I'm nursing my son. I don't want to put medication on for fear that it could spread to the area where he nurses but I am ready to SCRATCH MY CHEST OFF!!! Does anyone have any natural, maybe even food-based remedies, like olive oil or something??? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
From,
Itchy Mom :)
More Answers
S.C. answers from Fort Wayne on January 08, 2008
Lansinoh Lanolin is safe for babies. I don't really think you'd have to worry too much about your little one getting any unless you put it on your nipple. I would use a really good lotion on the rest of your chest and the Lanolin on your nipples. I too have dry skin, and I have yet to find a good "cure" for it. Keeping hydrated will help also.
V.C. answers from Chicago on January 07, 2008
On this website, www.vickiecolon.mionegroup.com there is a lot of information about natural and organic skin care, in fact they are all made with edible ingredients. They have great soaps and body washes which my whole family love and they also have some great lotions along with many other products. I have heard that people with skin conditions have really benefited by using these products. Good Luck!
M.R. answers from Chicago on January 08, 2008
I have dry skin all year long. What works best for me is drinking lots and lots and lots of water!!! I know this may sound strange but I use very little soap in the shower. Soap just makes the problem worst.I use Cetaphil lotion in the morning and at night and bioinfusion rosemary shampoo and conditioner for my hair.I switch to Purex for babies laundry detergent and it seems to be fine. Talk to your doctor maybe she can recommend something.
Cheryl
S.B. answers from Indianapolis on January 07, 2008
I have a problem with extra dry skin in my family and have a lil boy almost 2 that has it severe. We use cetaphil moisturizing cream and it works wonders the key is to not dry completey off after showers. The showers onlylukewarm for only 10 minutes and then pat to dry off.. Deft detergent has fragance in it, try a detergant that is fragrance free and dye free.
D.M. answers from Chicago on January 07, 2008
Hello D.,
Well first maybe talk with a dermatologist. My dermatologist said to use All Free and Clear for clothes and Celtyphil moisturizing lotion for the dry skin, since you are breast feeding ask the doctor if using a little bit of Lansinoh brand Lanolin would be OK to use on the entire breast area, since it is safe during breast feeding. I have only used that around the nipple area at the beginning of breast feeding. I do know that dry skin can be a sign of many things, it could be the body lacking good fats like Omega 3, find a nutritionist. For my horribly dry skin and loss of hair after my second baby, I added more good fats such as avocados, good fish, ate less sugar, and took a supplement of probiotics, along with my vitamins-all doctor approved. Along with moisturizing my skin. No more horrible itchy dry skin for me. Hope this helps. I just read some of the others responses and I do agree with going to a Chiropracter (finding a good one can be hard). I go to a wonderful chiropracter and I take my infant and 2 yr. old, we are as healthy as can be.
H.D. answers from San Francisco on January 07, 2008
I have tender skin too. When I was first married I bought Dreft and Ivory because it was "made for babies". My skin got worse and I got very discouraged. I called my dad who is a chemist. He actually came up with the formula for Downie. I asked him what I was doing wrong. He told me to get RID of the the Dreft and Ivory immediately, that chemically it was one of the worst things to put on your skin! (go figure) This was his recommendation:
A. Use a liquid detergent, not a powder, it washes out of your fabrics easier. Use less than what it calls for. Arm and Hammer is one of the better ones from a chemical standpoint. Use the ones with no dyes or fragrances too.
B. DO NOT use dryer sheets! Dryer sheets put a chemical on your clothes, that is why they smell, but it extremely irritating to the skin.
C. Change your soaps to liquid, Dove is the best. Palmolive is the best dish soap.
D. For your hair try Suave, as basic as you can get.
E. Curel or Jergens for your hands. Once again stay away from things that have too many fragrances and additives.
I hope that helps, worth a try anyway. =)
S.N. answers from Chicago on January 08, 2008
You could try some oatmeal baths in between feedings at night to calm the itching. For the rash. A Shea butter cream is safe enough to use. There is a product called 100% pure. They carry skin care that is made from 100% pure food grade oils and butters as well as fragrances made from fruit or chocolate extracts. I usually can find it online www.100percentpure.com/ or at C.G. Bigelow located at certain malls in place of Bath and Body Works. Its wonderful and perfectly safe for breastfeeding moms.
L.P. answers from Chicago on January 08, 2008
* drink burdock root tea
* "before you dry off, dry off soft" - johnson's baby or neutragena grape seed oil after the shower
* take a less warm shower for a shorter length of time
* have your thyroid checked - very dry skin is a symptom of low thyroid levels
* shower with soap every other day
* use gentle goat's milk soap
* extra virgin coconut oil - both consuming it as a spread like butter or to saute veggies / cook eggs and applying it directly your skin. it is said to work wonders.
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