Rash with Exposure to Woodchips

My 17mth old got exactly the same rash you described the other day and I googled it and saw this feed. She also had eczema as an infant. The 1st time I saw it I went straight home (after a painful 30minute drive) and bathed her and within minutes the rash started to die down and she seemed less itchy. Today it started to welt up again so after we finished playing I gave her a wet towel wipe on uncovered areas before getting in the car to go hm.... Didn't get half as bad...... Bit of extra effort but beats her being uncomfortable. Just recently her eczema (dry red patches) has come back a little on her legs and usually after a couple of days at daycare.... No bark chip there, but sandpit.... Both dusty.... but different reactions...?

You and your doctor can both be right. Eczema is really just very dry skin, so it could be a reaction to the woodchips. Also, allergies (food or other) can cause the eczema to flare up, so the wood chips could be the catalyst for the rash. My daughter had eczema as an infant, mostly grew out of it and it flared up at age 7 when she ate a few nuts. It turned out that she is allergic to nuts, including peanuts, and the allergist told me that it is common for an allergic reaction to trigger eczema. She seldom has eczema now at almost 10 years old; the last time I remember it was that incident almost 3 years ago.

If you have an allergy test done and it shows she is allergic, the school might be able to have a section of wood chips taken out or send her to another area to play. Allergy tests are fairly painless (the needle is VERY short) and results are almost immediate. Even if nothing can be done with the school wood chips, you would know whether it is an allergy or not.

Can't help you with doctors; I am further south.

I've heard they're treated w/ formadehyde or some other kind of preservative to keep them from rotting.

I don't know about a doctor for you but I think you are right about the wood chips and an allergy. Years ago we put mulch around our yard and my husband's niece helped. She broke out in a bad rash on her arms. They put hydrocortizone on it and it did go away. Some wood chips are treated to either give a different color or to prevent bugs. Your daughter could have a reaction to this. You could try giving her Benedryl but it could be overkill doing that everyday. If your d only has this reaction around the wood chips, then your on the right track. have you tried seeing what her reaction is if she washes right after play? Maybe this will at least lessen the reaction. Also maybe a dermatolgist would help more than a ped.

You may have found a solution by now, but just in case you haven't I recommend the following resources...

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t082900.asp

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t082901.asp

Also, this group of Family Practice physicians, or the following group of homeopathy-using MDs, may be able to give you the kind of holistic care that you are looking for...

http://www.homefirst.com/

http://www.centerforintegralhealth.com/about.htm

Best wishes,
J.

Take her to an Allergist. Most other Dr.'s (including Dermatologists) think that every rash is eczema. She is having an allergic reation. The Allergist will be able to narrow down what it is she is reacting to. Find a Dr. that is familiar with holistic treatments. I'm sorry I don't have a recommendation for a good Allergist. That should be your next post.