Unexplained Rash on 2.5 Year Old

I second that -- could be eczema. We use coconut oil (all over his whole body, every day, sometimes twice a day in the winter) and omega vitamins, in addition to free & clear detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, etc. Also make sure you are avoiding any type of "Oxy power" stuff in her clothes or bedding. Oxyclean and any detergent that contains Oxy boost type stuff gives my son an immediate reaction. There is even one free & clear detergent that has the oxy stuff -- still a problem in there.

Last year my son actually got a staph infection in one spot on his arm from the excema getting so bad. If you can, take your daughter to a different ped or even the urgent care to get another opinion. The coconut oil and omega vitamins won't hurt, so maybe try that. It's not an overnight fix -- takes a couple weeks to see results and you have to be consistent.

Good luck!

Hello, I am an R.N. but without seeing it, sounds like eczema. Being that she is so young, she is itching in her sleep it seems. It is very difficult to manage sometimes. We battled with our daughter over it, and our 17 month old currently has it as well. I've found that Curel eczema lotion works very well and it dosnt feel like vaseline, as other lotions will. Staying on top of it and lotioning often will be critical during the dry months. Also I would only use an Aveeno baby wash or Johnsons for hair washing and bathing. Sometimes kids react to shampoo products as well. Also, I'm not sure if you have used Hydrocortizone cream? It helps with itching very well and being over 2 yrs old, it would be fine to use. Good luck to you, its not easy. Everyone responds different when it comes to skin problems, however i've found the above mentioned extremely helpful on my own kids as well as patients. Hope this helps

I know she's young and it might be a pain but if you are willing to have them to a biopsy of it. My son has a very strange skin condition that makes him get a bad rash and it also makes his skin on hands and feet peal. The dr thought she knew what it was and when it didn't go away but got worst they sent up to a dermatologist that ended up doing the biopsy he has a strange skin condition that I have never heard of and does not get the rash much but heat including warm water makes it irritated when it's there. And the only think that helps in the ointment they gave him. It's call Pityriasis rubra pilaris.

Good luck and God Bless!!!

In addition to what to everyone else said, you may want to try a pediatric allergist for an opinion.

Does she have any other symptoms? Even things you don't think are related, might be related. I also thought eczema, but honestly, I would think the pediatrician and derm would be able to diagnose that fairly quickly. Have you asked if that is it or have they specifically said it isn't that?

A lot of times eczema can be caused by allergies to food and other things. My son had it bad when he was first born also accompanied by a seriously snotty nose and awful smelling gas. Turns out he was lactose intolerant and when I stopped the milk, the rash basically went away. He still gets flare ups every once in a while, but it's nothing compared to what it was!

Also scabies can be very, very easily diagnosed with a skin sample and peek under the microscope, so did that derm do that? If not then I'd find a new one.

I would keep using free and clean laundry soap and bath soap. You have some good remedies for it here. Olive oil also works, but then your baby smells like a roast. ;) I like Aquaphor and Cetaphil the best. Did the pediatrician give you a Rx for a steroid cream? If not, I'd get one, it will help. Use it between the OTC stuff.

This must be so frustrating for both of you!! I know you tried getting a second opinion, but you may need to find a new dermatologist, one who is more dedicated to finding an remedy/diagnosis that relieves some symptoms!

It could be eczema. Is the rash itchy? If it's not itchy then it's not eczema. My granddaughter was diagnosed with eczema when she was a baby. The doctor prescribed an ointment which helped to clear up the rash. We then smeared her with an emollient cream every day. This helped. She's now 12 and mostly only has the rash behind her knees and on her elbos. She does break out in hives from time to time in which case she takes Benadryl.

You might get more help from a pediatric allergist. She could have allergies to foods as well as trees, plants, mold, etc which may be causing continued break outs because you're not aware of them and therefore not limiting her exposure. An allergist will test her for allergies as well as tell you what is common when a child has this condition.

You label the rash as unexplained but I suggest that it has been explained by being caused by allergies. You just haven't found out yet everything to which she's allergic.