Scaly Baby Skin

Updated on December 26, 2009
C.M. asks from Leonard, MI
31 answers

My daugther is five months and is getting pretty dry skin on her face and neck. I usually use Cetaphil lotion (that's what the doctor recommended), but it doesn't seem to be helping. Do you have any suggestions?

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B.A.

answers from Detroit on

I would recommend Arbonne products which are herbally and botanically based - specifically the ABC Hair & Body Wash and the ABC Baby Lotion. I would apply the Rejuvenating Cream in the areas where it is visibly dry. If you are interested, I would be happy to send you samples. These are remarkable products
Barb

C.D.

answers from Detroit on

C. -

I used Aquaphor on my infant son this past summer when his skin started showing signs of eczema. My husband also suffers from eczema occasionally, and he uses it as well. The Aquaphor worked wonderfully on my son, and I had no qualms about using it on him at all. It's kind of like medicated vaseline, but you can buy it off the shelf at any drugstore.

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R.G.

answers from Detroit on

Keri Oil works great and olive oil works great as well. :) You can put the oil on prior to washing her and then again after. It worked great on my daughter's cradle cap. Good luck!

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M.C.

answers from Detroit on

My 3 month old daughter gets dry skin on her cheeks so we only bath her every other day and use Aquaphor on her cheeks. Clears it up pretty fast.

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T.A.

answers from Detroit on

Vasoline works great. It is what my doc recommended and I use it for my son.

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C.L.

answers from Detroit on

Hi C.,

Got your email. My name is C. Laansoo, and I have two little ones (son-3yrs old and a daughter 20 months). All of us (and my husband) have very sensitive skin and found that the only products that worked for us is Arbonne products. After 11 years using them (my kids solely use Arbonne products, would never use anything else). My pediatrician has an account with me to offer Arbonne products to her patients. In a nutshell, the products are formulated in Switzerland- all plant-based, vegan, no alcohol, perfumes, artificial waxes, dyes, ph correct etc. All Arbonne products also have a 45 money back return policy (so, no risk shopping). I would personally refund your money, as those are the only products my kids use.

Cetaphil is one of the best available products at stores, so you are on the right track, Arbonne is just a bit more pure (no waxes, which are found in Cetaphil). I would also cut back on bathing your daughter. Not sure what your routine is, but try every other day (or every three days). Ok, I'm rambling. Let me know if any of this interests you, and I give you my website to check out the Arbonne products. Take care! Have a happy Thanksgiving! *C.

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B.T.

answers from Saginaw on

C.,
I saw that someone else suggested this also, but I thought I would say it again. I used Arbonne products. I use them for myself and they were the only product to take away my oral dermaitis when no other product or medication was effective. I also have my 10 year old and my 13 year old use the products for their acne. It does not have alcohol or pertroleum products in the ingredients. I also have had many, many friends who have used the baby care line with great success. The drawback is they are "slightly" expensive; however, the products last for a long time.
B.

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S.D.

answers from Detroit on

My son has very dry and sensitive skin as well, just like his mom. It helps if I bathe him infrequently. Like twice a week and no more. At that age they don't get very dirty anyway! I have noticed now that he is getting dirty because he can self-feed and walk, he also is having less problems with dry skin because they outgrow it to a certain extent. Hope that helps! Oh I also use all natural soaps and shampoos from the organic stores like Whole Foods as opposed to Johnson&Johnson products. All those chemicals can really dry them out as well whereas natural products tend to use natural oils that are moisturizing while cleansing.

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P.R.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hello,
My daughter also has very dry skin and it gets worse in the winter. Our Dr. suggested we use Euserin(spelling?)
creme, not lotion the creme is almost like a paste, it works great. Good luck :-)

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K.S.

answers from Lansing on

I use Aquaphor on my daughter's dry skin and face. It usually clears up the dry patches on her face over night.

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C.C.

answers from Detroit on

C.,

Good old fashioned Vaseline works great for my family. Just put a little on a bedtime and her skin will look better overnight. This especially works great when their little noses are sore from a cold.

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D.

answers from Detroit on

Are you nursing? if so, start eliminating wheat and milk (switch to rice milk) from your diet and see if it helps. Most likely your child has a food sensitivity or allergy. that is where my son started. The doctors just gave cream while they should have told me to eliminate things from my diet. long story short, i did not, the eczema went away but then game the ear infections and once he was one and went to milk, the worst started. so do yourself a favor and start figuring it out now.

if you are using a formula, try switching to a soy one and see if it helps.

the cream that worked best on my son was the Gentle Naturals with the disney picture on it. good luck!

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K.G.

answers from Detroit on

We use Aveno baby and it works really well!

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L.J.

answers from Detroit on

try giving her less baths maybe 2 times a week especially with it colder out dry skin apears more often.

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B.D.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Both my kids had this. I used Aquaphor advanced healing lotion, which is just like lotion and vasoline. You could also use chapstick, just get the unscented plain stuff. I found chapstick to be a lot easier because it wasn't as greasy. I usually put it on a couple times a day, just because I was always wipeing mouths after meals etc.

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H.K.

answers from Saginaw on

My little one was past his due date, and has very dry, flaky skin. The nurses used Olive Oil on him, and it has worked wonders. I also use Rosebud Salve on his hands, feet and neck.

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A.H.

answers from Detroit on

I use a little organic olive oil on my family's skin at night.
Good luck, A. H

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D.K.

answers from Detroit on

Use coconut oil. It is solid in a jar if the temps not to hot outside, then it turns to liquid. You can buy it at all health food stores, or the organic section of your grocery store. It actually heals the skin and feeds the collagen in the skin so it plumps up and gives you healthy smooth skin. Do reasearch on the benefits of coconut oil. You'll be amazed. That's all I use on my baby. I wouldn't think of putting regular baby lotions on her skin. The ingredients are all sythetic chemicals that are absorbed and enter the blood stream. Check it out. Coconut oil is all natural!!!!!

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J.F.

answers from Detroit on

CONGRADULATIONS C.!
My name is J.. In respones to your question, get the "Oatmeal Bath" product for babies. I can't remember the name of it. It's a light tan box in the baby bath section. ALSO, get their lotion. I used these on my grandson and IT WORKS!! Take Care, J.
AVEDA.....OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS!!

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B.J.

answers from Detroit on

Congradulations, have you changed laundry detergent? Do you use the same brand, everything with baby should be kept the same, same lotion, baby oil, soaps, wipes, ectra. at 5mo are you introducing foods to her? You must become a detective and see if there is any connection to her skin condition. If you can't find any reason for this, consult with a deremtoligist. I hope this is something simple for you, a baby's skin should look the best in our whole life, have it checked out.

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C.S.

answers from Detroit on

Hi!
I would try the oatmeal based lotions..aveno is really good but pricy. I really like the suave brand oatmeal lotion for myself and my kids. Also, if you are giving her a bath every day I'd stop that. It's not good for her skin and she just doesn't need one daily. When my kids were that age I gave them one every few days. Another thing I've noticed people doing is using baby wipes on the face after baby eats. The wipes usually have alcohol in them which is very drying to the skin. If you happen to be using wipes on her face after she eats switch to a wash cloth and just water. I hope this helps solve your baby's dry skin problem! Just remember the less you put on her face and neck, bath water and soaps, wipes, etc., the less dry it will be(lotion is ok). You have to let the natural oils in her skin do their jobs! Good luck!

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J.C.

answers from Detroit on

Hi C.! Aguaphor (by Eucerin) was recommended by my doc and it works really well for my babygirl.

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K.W.

answers from Detroit on

It sounds like she might have ezcema or similar symptoms. My daughter did too. My doctor recommended (and it worked for us) a bath everyday (I used aveeno baby wash only) and then for her body use Aquaphor by Eucerin after her bath. If you haven't used this before it's thick like vaselin so kind of messy, but at least it's winter so you can cover it up with sleepers. You can use the basic eucerin lotion for her face if you want something a little lighter there, but I sometimes still rub a little of the aquaphor on her face since it often looks chapped. Another doctor I had seen did recomend the Cetaphil but my other doctor said it has almond (or some other nut) oil in it that sometimes irritates there skin. Her kids had the same problem. Hopefully those things help, but if she get really bad spots the doctor can prescribe a higher strength hydrocortisone to be used sparingly (it thins the skin) and I know some people swith to 100% cotton clothing. It sounds like your case is mild so hopefully the simpler steps above will help. Additionally use "free" laundry detergent and no fabric sofenter and double rinse her clothes! Good luck!

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S.K.

answers from Detroit on

Hi C.,

She could have Dermititis or one of those skin problems that flare up in Winter. My daughter has/ had it, she's 5 now and has mostly grown out of it! Only bathe her 1 or 2 times a week, and make it quick in not very warm water. Baths dry the skin. And lotion right after, to keep moisture in. Don't use any kind of soap on her, she's just a baby, she doesn't need it anyway. I still don't use soap on Maddie, just in certain places if needed. Make sure her skin is always moist! Lotion, lotion, lotion! The Cetaphil is good, also Eucerin and if the flare ups are bad- Dermarest, Eczema Medicated Lotion, but you should probably ask Dr about the last one. Sunshine is actually good for their skin.

I hope that helps, and hopefully she grows out of it in a few years!

S. K

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M.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

This is what I've used on myself for years (NIVEA Intensive Moisturizing Lotion), its the only thing that keeps me moisturized for more then 30 minuets or so. My skin tends to be very flaky (I have a shower of dead skin each time I change clothing if I don't use it), and it keeps the flakes down.

It is a little bit oily, but that's what locks in moisture, so if it bothers you (putting it on your child) just wash your hands with soap and water.

My friends have used this on their children (infants) with no issues, but you might want to either run it by your pediatrician or do a small test patch to be sure it won't bother her skin.

http://www.nivea.com/products/show/151

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J.R.

answers from Detroit on

C.,

My girls both get really dry skin in the winter. My doctor recommended Aquaphor (oil based lotion) in the Eucerin (spelling??) family. I have used it on them since they were babies. I just used it w/my 4 year old last night! I really like the product and have always found that it works well w/them. Good luck!

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C.L.

answers from Detroit on

try Arbonne oil and lotion you'll have to get it from a rep, but it's the best I've found..

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

Hi C.,

My son has eczema and I use Aquaphor by Eucherin at night and Eucherin cream during the day. As long as he doesn't have any flare ups it all works real well. Hope this helps!!

Take care,
C. M

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P.P.

answers from Detroit on

AQUAPHOR!!!!!

It is a miracle ointment. We use it on our son when his cheeks get dry. We usually put it on overnight and in the morning his skin looks beautiful.
Good luck!!

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S.B.

answers from Detroit on

you could give Coconut Oil(food grade) a try. You can find it at health food stores and at Walmart(I was surprised to even see it there.) If it doesn't work on her, it is great with stir fry! :)

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L.N.

answers from Benton Harbor on

Creams with soy helped my son's skin. Arbonne has a great kids line and it works wonders...LOVE the ABC body oil! (I don't sell it but you can find some moms on here that do)

~L.

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