I need help with something involving my five month son.?

Question

My son is five months old and is breaking out with little fine red bumps. When I took him to the doctor about two months ago they said that he has Eczema. I was wondering how do I get the little fine red bumps to go away.

Answer 1

My son also has eczema. In his case, the first breakout was caused by a reaction to the baby soap we were using (Huggies brand, I think). I stopped using all other soaps and lotions on him. I only used Dr Bronner's baby soap which is pure castile soap.

Sometimes food allergies can cause a break out too. Be very careful to watch for reactions when introducing new foods. Be aware of your own diet if you are breastfeeding. It's not necessary to go on a restrictive diet or stop bf'ing at all. You just want to be on the lookout for anything which may give your little one trouble.

I've found that my son tends to react to most regular soaps and chemical products. Be careful of exposures to lotions, perfumes, household cleaners, etc. Make sure you watch out for laundry detergent too. I used the Dr Bronner's plain soap in my son's laundry (and our sheets since he cosleeps) for a long time. I switched to a natural detergent after a trial period and had no problems. One week, I forgot and used a scented regular detergent to wash the sheets....he broke out all over his body!

If my son's skin gets dry, he can sometimes have a breakout too. I tend to keep his skin moisturized w/ pure virgin coconut oil. It absorbs easily and is safe enough to eat. It doesn't occlude the pores like mineral oil products either.

Lanolin (the kind for nursing moms to put on their nipples) works wonders for my us! If he's getting a flare up, I put lanolin on it and it tends to go away very quickly.

Times of illness can cause flare ups too. When my son gets sick, he's much more likely to break out. Coconut oil all over and lanolin on the really tough spots generally keeps things in line.

All in all, since I started taking care of my son's eczema this way (NOT using hydrocortisone or anything like that), he's had very few problems. I have to be more alert w/ him b/c he's more likely to be sensitive to chemicals that wouldn't bother us. I also have to remember to keep his skin moisturized w/ the coconut oil so he doesn't dry out. He hasn't had a really bad flare up since then.

One really important note! Some kids w/ exczema can be ESPECIALLY prone to allergies to nuts and seeds. I didn't discover until after the fact that you should avoid introducing the most allergenic nuts and seeds until 3 in a child w/ eczema. Even my doc didn't know! I read it on a site for children w/ eczema. Sesame and peanuts can be especially allergenic for kids w/ eczema. I had already introduced peanutbutter (somewhat by accident) w/o a problem, but he had a serious allergy to sesame (and we were a family that loved humus, teriyaki, and chinese, and japanese food). B/c of the seriousness of the first reaction and how it escalated w/ the next exposures, we now must carry an Epi pen. He also reacted to cashews w/ a flare up (though not a serious allergic reaction). I wish I'd known as soon as he was diagnosed that I should take extra care in waiting to introduce nuts and seeds.

Hang in there! You can manage eczema naturally, though sometimes it takes a little detective work. The Mothering.com boards has a whole discussion group dedicated to eczema.

A note on hydrocortisone creams...they only SUPRESS the autoimmune reaction in the area. They do NOT address the underlying cause. They may be useful in getting a really severe flare up down to a managable level, but they SHOULD NOT be used to "manage" eczema in general. Eczema does NOT exist in a vacuum. There is always a trigger, even if that trigger is very difficult to find or if there are multiple triggers. I think it's really important to discover the individual causes of the eczema rather than rely on prescriptions or hydrocortisone creams which only mask symptoms.

Answer 2

Eczema is a rash that starts as an itchy red area on the cheeks. It may develop into small sores or blisters. Eczema is a sign of an allergic reaction. Foods, or exposure to some fabrics, rugs, soaps, or laundry detergents can cause eczema. If your baby develops a rash on his face, wash the area with cool water and mild, non-perfumed soap such as Ivory or Dove.

Keep the baby’s nails clipped to prevent damage from scratching. Consult your healthcare provider for treatment and help in identifying allergy-producing substances.

try buying products with all-natural Ingredients, no Chemical Detergents (including sulfates), eat preservative-Free Products, no harmful petroleum products or byproducts, no Artificial Colors or Dyes in clothing. J&J has great Eczema creams

here is a great site on this http://www.kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=virtuahealth&lic=55&cat_id=132&article_set=21940

Answer 3

The red bumps could be a rash or pimples. First use Desitin on it for a day or two just in case it is a rash. If that doesn't work, rinse the area off every day with a warm, wet washcloth. If he has eczema, you should be only bathing him twice a week and using a little baby oil in the water instead of any soap.

Answer 4

There is a product for kid's called little doc's. It's made by circle of friends and I think you can get it at target. Get the try me kit, which has a shampoo/body wash, lotion and cooling spray. see if it works before you buy the larger bottles. Circle of friends had a web site. Check it out. I have client's that have used it and love it. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Is it the same type of rash when they said he had eczema? If so did they give you any suggestions or perscriptions on what to use? If not you can always try aquaphor or something that has no perfumes, dyes, etc. If that doesn't help give his doctor a call. He may need a perscription.

Answer 6

My son has Ezcema. We have to apply cream to him when he breaks out. I don't think it actually ever goes away on him. My son has it on his ankles, knees, back of legs. Not above the waist. Try keeping the sunlight away from him. It worked for my son. However, my neighbor's son does better in the sun. Just a thought.

Good luck!

Answer 7

In Melbourne, Australia you can get a product called DermEze (not sure of the spelling). It works wonders.

Answer 8

use 3 things one being hydrocortisone cream and baby eczema treatment and wash, my daughter has it too, i hated it more than anything, i just knew it was bugging her. Make sure you rub this stuff on him after the bath.

Answer 9

oatmeal bath, medicated powder, or triple antibiotic cream

Answer 10

lotions or go to the doc again and ask for medicinal lotions