Red Rash on My Son!!

Updated on November 04, 2009
S.D. asks from Orange, CA
28 answers

My son has had a persistent red "rash" on his upper arms, trunk, and upper thighs for a few months now. I put cortizone cream on him and eucerin as well, and it will sometimes go away and then comes back. I can't get it fully gone and don't know what to do! Doctor just says it is dry skin, but I am not so sure anymore...Any help?

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So What Happened?

Oh my gosh you guys, thank you so much for the overwhelming responses and help for my situation!! I will try the suggestions and also let you know what happens. You all have been sooooo helpful! Thank you!

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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

Sounds like it's on areas where he wears clothes? In an outline of Tee-shirt/Shorts? He might have developed a mild allergy to laundry detergent or dryer sheet.

1 mom found this helpful
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F.L.

answers from Reno on

It sounds like a food allergy. My daughter is allergic to latex, so things like bananas will cause her to get eczema. We worked with a dermatologist and an allergy specialist to find out the foods and other things she is allergic too. Good luck.

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S.H.

answers from Las Vegas on

There is a cream called Egyptian Magic (I know weird name) that you can get at Whole Foods or order on the internet. It works great and helps my sons eczema. If you lather it on good BEFORE bath time and don't use soap the warm water will help it sink into the skin and should help.

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M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try ShiKai's Borage Dry SkinTherapy - Children's Formula. It works wonders for troublesome dry skin. It was out cure for my son's eczema after almost a year of trying tons of other things. You can find it at Henry's Market or ShiKai.com

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C.K.

answers from San Diego on

Maybe he has an allergy to scents and perfumes. Try using scent free laundry detergent, lotions with no perfumes, cleaning products that are fragrance free. Also try using lotion like Eucerin and applying liberally several times a day.

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A.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi S.~
I'm sure others have given good advice. I think your son may have exzema, and though you use those creams on him, they will come back. I'm not a doctor, and I haven't experienced this, but many friends have, and they have found that using Melaleuca Melagel and Renew three times a day for a few days, it will clear it up.

I can help you get these great products if you are interested, check out my website: http://www.ACLiveLifeWell.com.

Best of luck!
A. C.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

It sounds like eczema. If it's anything like my son's (and many kids we know), it will keep coming back and nothing will make it go away completely. A few tips for helping keep the outbreaks to a minimum:

--Put aquaphor on him immediately after he comes out of the bath, while he's still damp (pat dry with a towel but don't full dry him off)
--Bathe him every day (twice if possible) in lukewarm water
--Wear 100% cotton clothing
--A lot of people really like Calendula lotion. I've never tried it on my son but keep hearing it works well

We also have prescription steroid creams/oils that we use when my son's flare-ups are particularly bad. You can discuss it with your doctor if you want to consider that, or see a dermatologist.

K.
http://oc.citymommy.com

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D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

u may need to put a filter on your shower and fill the bathtub w/ filtered water..also try Aloe Vera Gel 80 by Naturade...my son still gets it on his rear and back legs ..and that gel helps..i also get it on my arms..i use the gel and it goes away..i had eczema as a teen and it comes back so i put that on..also i only use Dove soap..its most likely a chemical in the water he baths in..so u can get a filter at Home Depot for $20..put it on the shower and fill his tub w/ that..see if that helps.

good luck

D.

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M.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Stay away from soy. It is in everything, mayonnaise. Use coconut oil raw, instead of petroleum products which make it worse in the long run. Good fat will help cortizone is does not cure just masks. Good food lik avacados. You can mask avo in foods, I put it in a smoothy and it is unnoticed but so healthy.

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi S.,
I agree with the other moms who said to make sure your laundry detergent is fragrance free. I'm allergic to perfume and fragrances so mine always has been but my husband loved those scented dryer sheets. I stopped using those as well and now use dryer balls to help prevent static.

For the dry skin, while your son is wet after bath put on Aveeno Bath Oil - it's in the bath section it's not with the regular Aveeno lotion - let it soak in and wipe him down. It saved my skin and my son's skin.

Hope this helps!

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J.J.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

I may be repeating some of the advice you have already received, but my daughter has the same thing and I believe it is eczema. What helped us is to not use soap. We switched to a Cetaphil cleansing bar. I also purchased some lotion specifically for eczema. Another thing that irritates it is clorine. So I make sure she gets a bath right after she gets out of the pool. And always use the eczema cream after any exposure to water to hold in her bodies natural moisture. Do not use anything with any scents or perfumes on her body or clothing. Good luck. It will most likely be a long battle ahead of you to keep it under control...I know it is for us.

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D.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son is 27 months old now and has had a rash for the past year. Sometimes it gets worse but right now it is doing pretty good. Last year I was told it was Molescum Contingiosum by an adult dermatologist. His pediatrician didn't agree as well as a oncologist/hemogolist doctors at UCLA. THey thought it was some sort of dermatitist.

I was given a perscription for a cream steriod that helped a little as well as another doctor said it might be a fungal rash and tried fungal creams. I tried bathing only twice a week, using perfume free laundry soap and natural bar soaps. Nothing helped.

I have pictures at his worst I could email you to see if it is similar.

Finally I went to a vitamin type store and talked to the owner who said try Primadophilus Children powder. The rash is almost gone definately the best it has looked in more than a year. It says you can use it on children 0-5. I put it in his milk once a day.
Good Luck,
D.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

i agree it sounds like eczema. i would get an allergy test especially if your son is young (2 and under). it could just be an environmetal allergy also. my daughter has eczema but every once in a while she breaks out in hives and we dont know what causes it.

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C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Take him to a pediatric dermatologist. It sounds like eczema which comes and goes based upon allergens and stress.
Some things you can do if this is the case: Buy laundry detergents without dyes or scents (the Free versions) and use plain soaps with out dyes or scents. One extra added step I took was to purchase a chlorine filter for my shower and bath. The chlorine in water is very drying on the skin and can lengthen the time of healing when an outbreak occurs.

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

It might be a contact dermatitus, which is an allergy to something that is coming in contact with the skin. I would try switching laundry detergent and bath soap. Try some Aveno oatmeal soap or something very mild without perfumes. I would also caution you about the over use of cortizone creams - especially with sun exposure. Hope this helps. LL

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R.M.

answers from San Diego on

Could be yeast. Does sunlight help? Maybe an allergy?

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F.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

Food allergy. I have been through this. Write everything you feed him and then skin results. You will figure it out. Maybe take him to an allergist to get tested. Dr, Epstein in Bev Hills is where I take my son. Good Luck.

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Some suggestions: avoid most soaps and lotions, esp ones with scents, etc. Cetaphil is the best soap and lotion to use; Walgreen's sells a pretty decent store brand of it for less. After bath, put aquaphor on. It will seal in the water and moisturize while he sleeps. Omega 3 fatty acids are a miracle cure for this - if he's not eating enough foods high in it - look for vitamin supplements that include it. If he'll take it, he can swallow a flax seed oil or fish oil capsule. It's great for the skin and membranes. It cleared up my sons dry scaly skin and solved all his sinus problems. Good luck.

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S.Z.

answers from Reno on

My son had the same thing. I was skeptical, too, but it really is just dry skin. I discovered that all the lotion in the world wouldn't help if I bathed him too frequently, so cut back on baths. Use moisturizing everything - soap, shampoo, etc. - and lots of lotion. Aveeno brand works well.

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D.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

These are some great ideas to try, depending on what is actually causing the rash. First, go to a pediatric dermatologist; Second, based on the drs opinion try one change at a time. If you change everything all at once you will never know exactly what worked. If it is a contact dermatitis, the sizing used in new clothing can cause a reaction -- wash the clothes before letting your son wear them.

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D.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son had a red rash, like eczema, on his face, arms and legs. The doctors told me to use Eucerin, but it never got any better,...it didn't get worse, but never better. A woman I know introduced me to a cream from California Baby, called Calendula Cream. It's in a small jar and is about $12ish. I purchased it a Target in Woodland Hills. I applied it very sparingly at first because I feared he might have a reaction to the new cream. He didn't have a reaction, and in fact the rash was gone in about 5-7 days. It was truly unbelievable!! Now, whenever he gets a little hot spot, I zap it with some Calendula cream, and it's gone almost overnight. And, it smells good to boot! I can't say enough about how fabulous the entire California baby line is and this cream in particular. Check it out, it's totally worth it!

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S.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

This happened with my daughter last year and is starting to happen again. It's the season right now for dry skin. The one lotion that took it away almost immediately was the baby lotion by Kiehl's. It's a bit pricey but you will notice the difference in one application. You can order it online or buy it at the Kiehl's store in South Coast Plaza. Eucerin works great for my daughter except this time of year.

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N.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

hi S.
it could be detergent, but i'm willing to bet its a food allergy. i went thru the same thing with my daughter and after many doctors appointments(allergist, GI, derm) we found out it was a food allergy- if you are still breast feeding, you should document everything you eat as well as the solids you are feeding the baby. Soy and Dairy are the main contibuters, but everyone is different. if you have good insurance request to see an allergist. we had a scracht test done on my daughter when she was 6mo and it was not invasive at all. it really helped us figure out the problem. aslo, a great way to treat dry skin- in a small baby bath add a 1/2 cup of Baking Soda and bathe them for no more than 15minutes everyday. being in water for too long can also dry the skin. with in 3 minutes of taking him out of the bath rub vaseline on him (not the lotion, only the ointment). also- he may be allergic to aquaphore, my baby was... anyhow, i have lots of info. email me if you have any questions

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E.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

Given where the rash is appearing, it sounds like it might be an allergy to laundry detergent or fabric softener. Good luck! If it is dry skin, Aveeno oatmeal lotion for babies is fantastic.

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A.N.

answers from Las Vegas on

My son had a bumpy rash on the same areas, but all over his legs and back as well for months. It started right after he started crawling, so we think it partly had to do with an allergy to our dog. We changed his bodywash/shampoo, and detergent to all natural alternatives, and he also wears pants or something on his legs when he's running around the house to protect that skin. It helped so much. I would say your son's rash is an allergy of some sort. Could be food like some people said, or environmental.

J.S.

answers from San Diego on

Try the Aveeno eczema moisturizing cream. It works wonders and use a Dove soap bar for cleansing.

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T.R.

answers from San Diego on

It does sound like dry skin or eczema. My son has it. I use Renew lotion and it has really helped as well as using more natural cleaners and shampoos. Even in this dry weather we have been having he has had no rash. I use only Melaleuca products. They are better for you and your pocket book!

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J.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Drives me crazy, it does. S., see another doctor for a second opinion. Doctors that do this just shouldn't be so lazy or busy to really want to find out what is going on. I agree with the other posts to change laundry detergent. We use Sensaria Natural Bodycare Citrus Cleaner for everything, including in the washing machine. It was developed by a scientist who couldn't use anything else because of sensitivities. Next, find out what foods he might be allergic to. Third, what vaccines has he had and how do they corrolate to his rashes. Rashes are a serious side effect of the shots.

Know that cortizone creme is not a good thing to use and should be only in extreme times. Eucerin has petroleum in it so it really doesn't do anything to help a rash or dry skin. We started using Sensaria's products because of my daughter's extreme eczema and allergies and the bath and body products have been great.

Don't stop here and accept the doctor's so called 'diagnosis'. Do your thing and do some changes in your childs everyday things. A simple blood test for checking for food allergies is what turned our lives around. It is an IgG which checks for antibodies that are abound with certain foods. Some of the labs will check for up to 90 something and some more. Just don't do the skin pricking test which is a sad thing to put a kid through. I did and hated it as an adult. My daugther did it and it only caught three foods whereas the blood test caught 21. When we removed all of the foods (on our own, doctor never suggested it, just more medications) all of her asthma problems went away.

I loved the Sensaria products so much and what they did for our family that I now have my own business, partnered with Sensaria. www.sensaria.com/J. I give a first time discount to everyone.
Good luck:o)

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