my 5 month old son, has bad eczema?

Question

We thought it was dry skin, than when we took him to the doc, she said it was eczema. She told us to get this cream ( hydrocrotisone cream). The eczema went away and came back,a couple of times now. We are unsure of what this is, or if the doc was right. I was wondering if anyone knew what to do about this, and do you think it could be an allergic reaction. ( I was told he was to young to have an allergy test. Thank you.

Answer 1

often times the laungry detergent you're using is too harsh on eczema skin. When washing your baby's clothing and bedding, use Dreft, which can be bought pretty much anywhere you do your grocery shopping. This was all that was ever needed when I worked in the nursery at a daycare center with babies who had eczema. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

If it is an allergy, the first thing I would do is look at the soap, shampoo, softeners, lotions, that you use on him. My son has eczema, I couldn't use Tide detergent and still can't and he is 7 now. I tried several until I started using a brand called XTRA. It is very inexpensive and he has not had any problems with it. I found it at walmart and k-mart. Try using Cetaphil soap and lotion. I tried this but it really didn't work. I use Ivory, plain white Ivory. It smells good and has no dyes or perfumes. As for lotions I use something called Skin Zinc. It has a spray that you spray on then, in an hour you rub some lotion on and the eczema patches just about disappear overnight. They have a website and it is really not that expensive considering I ordered mine about 2 years ago, ordered a 9 month supply and still have 2 whole bottles of lotion left. Also, while I was giving them baths at night, after washing them, I would put baby oil in the tub and let them soak for about 15 minutes gently splashing water up and over the shoulders and back and arms. Be careful not to get it in his mouth or nose though. I would use this every night plus they got in some good play time.

Here is some background on eczema. It is usually caused because of just regular seasonal allergies. If you notice, as time goes on, you will see that his patches get worse around certain times of the year. Also, along with allergies, it is also inflamed due to decreased amounts of zinc in the skin. That is why I use the Skin Zinc. It has a higher amount of zinc in it. I would imagine that there are other lotions out there that will have higher amounts of zinc in them. Right now, your doctor will say he is too young for allergy medicine. I have a nephew that took allergy medicine-Zyrtec- this young but he had allergies very bad along with a constantly runny nose. Before I put him on medicine all the time I would try other stuff first. At some point, the doctor will say that he/she will prescribe a cream for the patches. The options are Elidel, Desowen, Protopic. Those are the only ones I can think of now and the only ones we have used. I really like the Desowen. It is lotion like, and non steroidal. I would recommend this one first but if your doc wants you to try others, do it. A warning about Elidel, I have heard that it can cause cancer. I am not positive but that is why I quit using it. Better safe than sorry.

I hope this helps you. I have been fighting this battle for 7 years now. I always try to use creams and lotions that are non steroidal first. I just want my sons to feel normal. Eczema is a constant battle but as they get older, it will get easier. Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 3

If u are sure that it is eczema that your son has then, as a suggestion, from what i did with my oldest son..He's three now, but when he was a baby up until about he was 1 1/2 years old, he had eczema. I used only Dove soap (regular white one) when bathing him, and washed his clothes only with Dreft. As for lotion I only used Lubriderm, and also applied the hydrocortisone to the skin about 3-4 times daily. There were days he was actually clear. But just by using those items on a day-to-day basis he hasn't showed a sign of it returning since then, and its been two years since then.

Answer 4

Sorry to hear your son is suffering from eczema. I would recommend trying Skin Repair by Suuthe by Mari. The founder, Mari, had a baby with a biblical case of eczema and after trying countless creams that didn't work or worked for a limited amount of time, she began mixing all-natural, healing ingredients and came up with a cream that actually works. Anyway, a number of people who suffer from eczema swear by it. Hope this recommendation helps. best, Lauren

Answer 5

There's no one thing that causes eczema. For some people it is allergies to things, like scents in soaps, or to foods. For others it's just really dry skin. To help with the eczema, *don't* bathe your baby everyday, and when you do, cover him in a thick lotion like Eucerin Cream. Also, change all soaps in the house (like his shampoo or baby soap, the laundry detergent, etc.) to non-scented soaps. He might be having a reaction to one of them. Use hydrocortisone *sparingly* (only when the eczema is really bad) since it's a steroid and it can damage the skin if used too much. Also try your best to keep your baby from scratching it (if he does) by keeping his fingernails short, and even putting mittens on his hands. Scratching can lead to infection.

Answer 6

My little boy had eczema on his cheeks. I was not sure what method to use but I didn't want to make my boy go through any surgery treatments at this young age. Some suggested a plastic surgeon since it was in a very visible location but our family doctor recommend this natural guide.

Best Eczema Treatment?

Answer 7

Eczema can be a reoccurring problem. Try a baby wash with oatmeal in it. I know Aveno makes a realy good one. I had to use it on my son. If you think the rash may be due to an allergy, use All,s Free and Clear laundry soap on baby's clothes and don't use any fabric sofener or dryer sheets. My son's skin was super sensitive when he was a baby. Hope this helps ease yor mind and baby's rash.

Answer 8

Carrie, My baby suffered of eczema and was taken to various specialists, but nothing worked. I started using Arbonne's Baby Care Line on him after I took the product ingredients list to our pediatrician and dermatologist, and the eczema has faded almost completely in only 3 months. I could provide you samples if you are interested and also the product list so you present it to your babies specialist.

Answer 9

How frustrating.

First I have to tell you that you can only use that hydrocortisone once or twice. You can't keep using it, especially on a baby.

It is still too early to give her childrens benadryl liquid, and that can't be used too often either.

Have you tried giving him a hydrating bath...let him sit in the warm water (no soap in the water)....To actually cleanse him, use Aveeno baby wash&shampoo. After he has been sitting in the warm water for a while, use aveeno moisturizer for babies or use baby oil.

Dry skin can cause these problems, and sometimes you can use all the medicine in the world and it just won't work on a baby.

Do you have pets? I hate to say it, but some babies can't have pets around them.

Use laundry soap that has no perfumes or dyes.

Answer 10

I worked for a pediatrician and a dermatologist for over 11
years, and I would advise you to see a dermatologist, because
a skin specialist could have a different medication that could be
used for an infant. Also I noticed over the years that infants fared
better with hydrocrotisone in an oil base, rather than cream, because the oil base didn't dehydrate their skin like cream.

Whenever you wonder if a physician is correct in their diagnosis
seek an second opinion especially in the case of infants!