My 2 1/2 year old son has extremely sensitive skin?

Question

and he will scratch himself bloody on his arms, legs and back. I use perfume/dye free laundry soap, bath wash/shampoo for sensitive skin, have tried cortizone cream (Recommended by his doctor) and nothing seems to help. He has extremely dry skin also. I put lotion for sensitive skin on with every diaper change, use hypo-allergenic wipes (For sensitive skin) and nothing is helping. I can take him back to the doc until after the 1st because that's when hubby's new insurance kicks in and we are completely broke. Any ideas on what else I can try to help my poor little guy?

We only give him a bath 2-3 times per week during the winter...doctor's recommendation also for the dry skin. I hate getting after him for scratching. I'm about ready to tape socks on his hands.

Answer 1

I use Eucerine Calming Creme and Eucerin Moisturizing Creme in the little round plastic can which you dip out with your hand, and is very thick and doesn't soak in fast. My daughter has very sensitive skin as well... not to the extremes of your child... but she gets so dry her skin cracks and gets very red almost like a sunburn. Putting these moisturizers on her everyday and sometimes 2-3 times a day helps alot.... if it's itching... your might ask your doctor about a skin condition called Eczema.

Answer 2

Hi!
There can be several reasons behind his sensitive skin. Here are a few ideas and suggestions. What you describe in your question as actions already taken is fantastic! I would suggest that you try Doctor Bronners soaps, and / or Burts Bee's soaps. My daughter had dry skin - not so much sensitive - and I was directed to Aveeno for Baby's. Worked great!
Instead of cortizone cream I used Aloe jell. This is a natural plant and really works well on diaper rash. I read that cortizone creams often discourage skin cells from multiplying.
When you do go to the doctor have him tested for acidic levels. If they are too high this can be a factor as well.

His sensitivity might be due to the fact that his skin cells are growing quickly and there is something lacking in his diet to promote healthy skin growth. Read up on fatty acids, Vitamin C, D, E, and Zinc for toddlers.
Below are some resources for you.

Answer 3

My son has extremely dry skin in winter, which he inherited from me. My doctor recommended Eucerin Cream, it costs about $14 for the tub. However, it is so rich and thick you do not use alot. My doctor said it is really the only over the coutner product that holds moisture in. When I first got the cream, I put it on in the morning followed by the hydorcortisone. I also ordered a tub of hydrocortisone from the pharmicist insead of buying a tube every other day. Using both products has essentually elminated his dry itchy skin. Now that the skin is under control, I use the Euceryin after each bath and hydrocortisone at least once daily. The tub of hydrocortisone costs about $15 but again, it will take a while to go through it. I have had both for several weeks and I have made a small dent in each product.

I asked my doctor about to much hydrocortisone, and he said it is perfectly safe.

Answer 4

I am in Australia so I don't know what products you have where you are but my son has eczema that sounds just like your sons problem. I use Pinetarsol bath oil in his baths...Which is basically made of pine tar. Smells funny but works a treat. Also we moisturise him after every bath or shower he has...we don't allow him to go into chlorinated pools (which really sux for the poor chap), He is not allowed to eat dairy or too many sugary things as it flares him up straight away. Ask your pharmacist what is good for eczema or psoriasis as they often know what works better than the doctors do as they have feedback from people all the time. Also, be careful of using too much cortisone as it thins the skin and while it sometimes works at the time of use...it can make the problem worsen down the track. Another thing....my husband suffers from eczema as well and finds that some products made for sensitive skin actually make it worse. We use products made for eczema suffers and the best we have found are made by Ego Products. Again, I don't know if you have this where you are from. Hope this is some help to you. I know what you are going through. Good luck!

Answer 5

The other answers have given a lot of advice re. upping fiber, water and juice, cutting dairy etc. But, we've done miralax, prunes, etc., and I wanted to add that green grapes were the magic "cure" for us, a half cup to a cup a day really helped soften up my son's stools and helped him get on a more regular bathroom plan, versus going only once a week etc. Apple juice (100% juice) also helps some and is much more palatable than prune juice, if your son is picky like mine. Anyway, after 3 years of constipation, the grapes truly made a difference and now since his stool is softer, he's not afraid to go, so he goes every day or two and it doesn't build up and dry out as much. We've even been able to taper off the grapes as a daily thing and not have an issue anymore. Hope your son feels better soon.

Answer 6

If he scratches once, with any pressure does he get a red mark that stays there?

He sounds like he could have dermagraphatitis.... I have this as well.

Basically what happens is that any mild abrasion will trigger an allergic reaction in the skin. For me, when it is bad, just rubbing my skin can do this. If I scratch it once its irritated I'll break out into a rash.

I constantly have broken blood vessels in my skin and scratch until I bleed.

It can be subdated a bit with the use of allergy medication, soft gloves... and that's about it.

It not "common" and "commonly overlooked". This is how it was discribed to me.

I was only diagnosed in my mid 20's while sitting in the ER waiting for the doc to come back to discharge me.

He came in, looked at the red marks on my chest and said OH! How FUN! He grabbed my arm and started drawing and writing with his nail. Looked at my SO and said "Don't let her touch that until I come back".

He came back with about every intern in the building. He wanted to make sure that people didn't dismiss the condition as a regular allergy or sensitivity.

The condition usually comes with rosacea, eczema, skin allergies or sensitivities as well.

If this is what he has, sadly you can't do anything for him but the allergy meds (I take reactin, any will do) and soft gloves.

Good Luck! I hope for both of you its something easier to fix that dermagraphitits.

For the sensitive skin these are things I do...

Use Baby soap, scent free
Put clothes through the rinse twice, I also bought a "laundry disk" a detergent free way to clean clothes - reusuable for life.
Use natural fibers of clothing.
Don't use fabrics with heavy dyes
make sure no inside seams are rough
keep contact with carpet minimal
avoid foods with a lot of additives
Don't bath with very hot water
Pure mineral or olive oil while skin is wet for moisturizer and pat dry with soft towel.

Answer 7

Try some glycerin soap. It can be found in bar form at Bath & Body works. Also you might want to try Aveno Oatmeal bath & lotions which you can find just about anywhere, but Wal*Mart seems to have the best prices on this stuff. Giving your child water to drink to keep his skin hydrated should help as well as using a humidifier in his bedroom at night. You might want to consider taking him to a specialist as soon as your insurance changes over as well. It could be a sign of an allergery in his enviroment or food or drinks.

I did that to myself after having some tests at the hospital. I had to have some serious antihistmines with using the Aveno to get rid of the toxins and itch. It was quiet simply hell. Good luck!!

Answer 8

Does he have excezma? You can try putting Aquaphor on him religiously-maybe during every diaper change and especially after a bath. I would maybe limit his bath to every other day, too so it won't dry out his skin too much. Aquaphor is pretty thick stuff..almost like vaseline, but it works! Just lather it on and his skin will just soak it up. It helps with my son. Hope this helps!

Answer 9

As far as the dry skin goes, try massaging him with olive oil after a bath. It is totally safe (even if he gets it in his mouth) and hydrates the skin. Let it soak in for a few minutes, and then towel off the excess. Any lotions you use should be applied immediately after he gets out of the bath for maximum absorption.

Answer 10

I was recomended to use aveeno oatmeal baths. It really seemed to help and sooth. Then follow that up with a lotion that is for sensitive skin. on really stubborn dry spots I would use eucerin.