Redness in Skin Folds

My son used to get those under his neck...he still gets them behind his knees and in his armpits, he's 20 months. I find that a little ointment like neosporin helps. I put a little on there after a bath and it heals up pretty quick!

We usued to use lanoline (the stuff breastfeeding moms use for sore nipples). It worked really well. Other things may be the A+D ointment or vaseline.

Is her neck tight at all? Does she have a preference for turning one direction or tilting one direction? Is the redness all over or mostly in one spot/area/side. I am a pediatric PT and sometimes redness in the skin creases is a sign of some underlying tightness (in the neck it's called Torticollis--tight neck). If that is the case, it is VERY easily treatable with physical therapy--you want someone who specializes in pediatrics.

My daughter developed red folds in her neck when she was about 3 months old, too. I didn't think anything of it. Then her skin started to peel off, like a suntan, only in big layers. She happened to have a doctor check up, so I mentioned it to her Pediatrician. Turns out she was allergic to milk protein and had to go on a milk substitute.

Don't want to alarm you, but watch to make sure her skin isn't peeling. If it is, make sure she's seen by her pediatrician.

I found that Desitin worked great on my little boy. I thought of using Eucerin too but never tried it - I am sure it work just as well too.

My pediatrician recommended antifungal jock itch cream, it works!

Oh, the little roly poly olies!! My nephew actually had a yeast infection in his multiple chin rolls, so if it seems really red and inflamed, I'd take him in to the doctor to be sure.

I had the same issue with my 3 month old. What I did to help it was put some desitin diaper rash cream in between her skin folds, that seemed to clear up the redness. I hope this helps!

I had the same issue with all three of my kids, the black hole of food and drool. I did what you are doing, digging in there to clean out after feedings and at night, sometimes using the powder. I also occasionally used A&D when it was especially irritated. It never seemed to bother my kids but it drove me nuts. The good news is that the problem does go away. For my kids it was when they started sitting up around 6 months. Good luck!!

My baby was a rolly polly - and we used baby powder (bees Burt) in the folds. Good luck!

that happened with my first baby too. the doctor's office said that it was most likely a yeast infection, and to put anti-fungal cream on it. it cleared up really quick.

good luck

My daughter and my nephew have both had this. I had some "boo boo cream" from an online company called Northern Essence that I put on the skin creases. It clears them up generally within 24 hours. I believe it's a combination of the teatree oil (which should never be used undiluted on a child) and a moisture barrier in the product that does the trick.

wow that brings back memories. My now 6year old had that as a baby. The dr. recommended blow drying with cool air under each fold of skin. It really worked well.

just make sure it is really dry.

good luck to you!

We had the same thing too...and used the anti fungal which cleared it up. We used to keep a bib on him a lot to try to absorb it.

I would stop the baby powder; it can be an irritant, especially if she has sensitive skin. The others had good advice.

Hello,
If it is just the rolls causing the redness, then use the desitin after the bath to keep it from chapping. My daughter had the same thing under her arm rolls and under her chin. Hope this helps.

Probably a yeast infection. My son had this around that age-the ped. had me put Lotrimin on it and make sure it was always clean and dry. Went away super fast!

Hi C.
If it is a yeast infection. make sure the baby powder you are useing doesn't contain cornstarch. yeast thrives on sugar and corn has a lot. good luck T.

If its just in the skin folds, and its just redness, its just from her skin being pressed together. Babies skin will react to thing being on it, like how a wrinkle can leave a crease in your skin, a babys skin will turn red instead. So if her skin is sitting on top of it self as in folds, it will be red just from the contact. Nothing to worry about, just make sure she's clean and dry after a bath and she's just fine, nothing to worry about.

Hi C.!

My youngest DD had this problem HORRIBLE! They would get smelly and cheesy looking...I didn't know what to do I had tried keeping it dry, butt cream, baby powder, blowing on it...so finally at one check up I said I can't keep this from happening what do I do?!? I thought it might be yeast too but my doctor said just put some lotion in those spots after you clean them out and I was like I have tried everything BUT that and NOW you are going to tell me it is that easy?! I didn't believe him! BUT guess what?! It worked!! I just used something the hospital gave me...I think it was eucerin or something like that...anyway, just a little dab a few times a day and they weren't red or sore or smelly any more!!! Hope this helps you like it did me!

We had a similar problem when our daughter was about the same age. We tried the diaper cream and lotion but it did eventually turn into a yeast infection. Our doctor had us use a hydrocortizone cream and an anti-fungal cream and it cleared up almost right away. You just have to be careful to use a VERY small amount of both creams. Babies' skin is super sensitive to the ingrediants in both creams. I would ask your doctor for sure before using either one. I would stay away from the baby powder/corn starch. Both as very easy for babies to inhale and can cause choking.

Cornstarch! My husband's grandmother suggested it and it works like a charm.

I tried powder with my little tubbo and actually Desetin or other diaper rash cream worked better. His folds, especially at his neck, would actually get raw and bleed. But i am happy to say at 6 months, he still has lots of folds, but they don't get like that any more. I guess the skin is just so new that it has to get used to that. I would just wash it off every few days during his bath and reaaply if it was still red. Good luck!