Eczema and 9 month old

[firsttimemum1]

Hi,

My 9 month old has been recently diagnosed with this. The nurse thought and it may have well been nappy rash and thrush. It did get better slightly with Daktarin. However it came back with revenge (after using the daktarin for at least 7 days) later. The paediatrican suggests its eczema.

We have been using huggies thick and soft baby wipes (unscented) however dr suggested using warm water with cotton balls or the squares you can get, which we have done. I am not sure for how long though and it is also a pain, esp when we go out. The wipes are easier if you know what I mean.

Has anyone got a child who has this in the bottom/vagina area and what do you use to wipe them with. I was thinking of getting the huggies sensitive skin baby wipes.

Otherwise can you suggest what I can use to wipe her bottom with, esp when going out if the sensitive wipes shouldn't be used.

Thanks
Shel

[Ana Gram]

DD had terrible thrush and eczema over her bum and up into her vagina. It took months to get control of. As much of a pain as it is, use cloth wipes rather than anything else. All the wipes you get on the supermarket shelf will have fragrance or perfume in them which will aggravate it.

We had to use canestan cream and sigmacort (which is the eczema cream for DD's face.

[loui999]

DS does not have a problem in the nappy area apart from sensitive skin. We were advised not to use any commercial wipes for the reasons chellgoth mentioned. I use wet no name cotton squares and have a bottle of water with me on hand when out to wet it. However most places have a tap nearby.

[Mamalicious]

At home I use a warm washcloth to wipe bums bum, and in the nappy bag for when we're out I have a pack of super soft unscented, plain, as simple as you can get baby wipes.

I only use them if I have to though because they seem to aggravate any nappy rash, or even cause it sometimes. :(

[Mamalicious]

DS does not have a problem in the nappy area apart from sensitive skin. We were advised not to use any commercial wipes for the reasons chellgoth mentioned. I use wet no name cotton squares and have a bottle of water with me on hand when out to wet it. However most places have a tap nearby.

That's a really good idea!

[youngones]

Try buying a small tube of Calmoseptine (there is a large and small size available in the first aid area of the pharmacy) and use that on the rash for a day at every nappy change. If it doesn't start to improve, it probably is eczema. Calmoseptine is zinc based, but goes on much, much thicker than most nappy creams. We only ever use this stuff when DD gets a rash and it is usually after she's been in sposies for a day because I'm too busy or slack to have her clothies ready for her.

If you're using disposable nappies, it might be worth buying a few MCNs and giving them a go for a day or two to see if it makes any difference. If DD is in disposables for more than a day, the chemicals and glues in them aggravate her terribly.

Also, see if you can give your bub some pants off time each day. Maybe during a play time outside where mess doesn't matter, or on a deck or patio where it is easy to clean up. Fresh air is the best thing in the world for that dark, damp little area.

The other thing is, if your baby is on solids now, keep an eye on what you feed her. Anything with a lot of sugars (including natural sugars like fruit or juice) will aggravate the problem. Try to stick to water and milk only to drink and avoid any processed foods including processed baby foods. Acid poos and wees can really cause a lot of irritation.

Good luck!

[AmyWinters]

I have had eczema and one of the best things I have tried is dead sea salt in a luke warm bath. I soak for 20 mins and do it every day while the flare up is at its worst. I then try and leave the area uncovered and get some natural sunlight on it - i dont mean sun bake, just go out in the sun for 5mins or so and not in the middle of the day. I have found this works wonders. Also make sure you have no wool products these are irritant. BTW I buy my salts over ebay, but make sure you get 100% natural ones not mixes.
hope this helps
...Amy

[Mamalicious]

One thing, give the zinc cream a go but keep an eye on it, zinc makes DS's eczema flare up really badly, and it did the same for me and my sister if we had nappy rash as babies. :)

[firsttimemum1]

Hi All

We have used and only used when absolutely necessary a steriod cream that the paediatrician prescribed. This so far seems to have done the trick.

I decided to buy the sensitive wipes from huggies and so far it hasn't been a problem. We do also have on hand the square cloth wipes and of course water.

At night we have been using the QV bath oil, which also seems to help. When we don't give her a bath for whatever reason, the redness etc gets worse.

Shel

[youngones]

Sounds like you're getting a handle on things, which is great!

Interesting about the bathing thing. I think I've bathed DD about twice in the last month. Generally, I top and tail her with a cloth wipe and warm water. If she's been at kindy and is sandy from the sand pit, I'm a little more careful about the top and tail and about once a week, she has a swim in our pH neutral spa with DH. More frequent bathing is supposed to make eczema much worse, as it is a dry skin condition it is important to trap moisture in the skin and keep it there with a barrier cream like QV intensive.

Has you doc mentioned the possibility of a fungal infection as well? There are some combination steroid/fungal creams that work wonders for some people also, as do some topical antibiotics like Bactroban for skin infections.

I'm sure your doc has warned you, but be careful with steroid use in an 'occluded' area, like the nappy area. Occlusive coverings (with any form of moisture resistant wrap, like a cloth nappy with cover, or a disposable) can increase the amount of steroid that is absorbed into the system.

Interestingly and on a related, but different topic, there is a topical steroid/antibacterial/antifungal cream available for animal use that is not systemically absorbed, but we do not have a human equivalent. I'm sorely tempted to give it a go on DD. My vet uses it on himself!