Hi, Moms:
My 17-month-old son has had a bit of skin-peeling on the bottoms of his feet for the last week or so. At first I thought it was from being in the tub too long. But his baths don't last very long, so doubting that's it. Wondering if it's eczema. It's only on the bottom of his feet--by the big and pinkie toes and a bit on one heel. Doesn't bother him at all, though. I've been putting slightly thicker socks on his feet instead of let him go bare in his little sandals and it's helping...I think! Any thoughts?
Thanks.
It might be a chemical used to make the sandals thats irritating his skin. I just threw out a pair of little flip flops that I bought for my daughter because she only wore them for a few days and they caused her feet to start peeling. I stopped putting them on her for a week and the peeling was gone! Into the trash they went.
my brothers had this problem from the time they were babies until they turned 13-14... my parents would put bag balm on their feet. good luck!
This happened to both of my children during infancy/toddlerhood (son almost 5yo and daughter just 2yo) and my pediatrician said it was a fungus and is because of the socks that it is happening, their feet were not getting enough air. I used an over the counter antifungal and stopped using socks every night (reserved them for cold nights only) and their skin cleared up very quickly. Silly thing was that I actually let it happen for my second child after I was fully aware of why it had happened the first time, oh well. Guess we never learn. Good luck.
Do you wash his feet with soap? If so, you might want to stop. I had this problem when I younger and discovered that it was due to soap drying out the skin. I now just let the water and shampoo run-off rinse them clean.
I have heard of changing bath and laundry products helping with this. I also know of a lotion in conjunction w/all this that will probably help. You do have to order online - contact me and I will give details - ____@____.com
Your son might try oil-pulling which is swishing semsame seed oil or sunflower oil around in his mouth and through his teeth. It not only helps skin condition (mine has totally changed) but helps mouth conditions, takes plaque off teeth and reportedly rids the body of bacteria/viruses. I had 4 5 warts on my arm for about 3 years and they began to disappear after only about 2 weeks of o/p. A friend had been highly allergic to yogurt where her neck would swell up for several days and after only a couple of weeks of o/p, she ate a yogurt and had no reaction at all. You can read about it online including how to do it. It's VERY simple, costs next to nothing. Might be worth a try.
Could it be athletes feet maybe? I get it sometimes and it doesn't bother me at all, just the peeling. You might try to put some lotromin on it and see if that helps.
My son did the same thing plus the palms of his hands and fingers also peeled. I asked my pediatrician, she said not to worry about it and in the winter to apply Aveeno lotion. If you are really concerned take your son to a dermatologist, we did and were told to do the same as what our pediatrician told us. My son is now 23 and still has the same problem. I have yet to get a definitive explanation so I assume it is just who he is, but also my husband's mother and siblings have the same thing so I suspect it runs in the family, you might want to check that out too.
My husband's hands did this. He told me that they did it all his life and his mom said it happened when he was a baby too. We found it to be nutritional. When he is eating right and taking his vitamins, it never happens. I know your son is young but check his diet. I removed everything processed and all fast food from my husband's diet and it went away completely.
M.
I suggest it's the warm weather drying out his skin. It's not eczema. Eczema starts with a raised rash that itches terribly. I doubt it's a fungus infection because he's been wearing sandals. If the peeling skin doesn't bother him, and the new skin that is showing from underneath looks healthy, I wouldn't be concerned.
If he acts like his feet are itchy, I'd spray them with some anti-fungal spray after drying them after bath time (and no more socks in warm weather). If they are not itchy, then during his bath rub his feet with a good wash cloth and help him shed the dead skin cells. Walking/playing barefoot on wet sand helps the dry skin shed, too (beach time!).
athelese foot buy overthecounter med they really work
Try putting something like Eurcerin CREAM not lotion on his feet at night. Then place socks on him. Hit the beach. If it is not a fungal infection and is actually just dry skin patches, then the sand is WONDERFUL for them. It will do a natural peel and get to the healthy skin. If it does not go away, I would then take him to see if it appears to be a fungal infection of the feet. Good Luck!
