12 Month Old with Rash

Updated on May 19, 2008
H.J. asks from Henderson, NV
24 answers

My 12 month old son occasionally gets a rash on his legs and arms. We thought it was just a little eczema at first, but now it has spread to his back, neck, and belly. It doesn't bother him at all, but it freaks me out! They are oval shaped red splotches, the worst ones are in his knee pits and elbow pits. Any one know if this could have something to do with teething? It comes and goes, I've changed his bath soap and laundry detergents to "free" so it isn't a fragrance thing. Thanks!

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So What Happened?

He had his 1 year old checkup today, the doctor says it IS excema, gave us an RX for hydrocortisone 2.5% cream, and told me to try soy milk instead of whole milk (I'm lactose as well). Thank you all for the support! :)

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you talked to you ped? My daughter has circular patches of redness on her legs too. The doctor told me it was a form of eczema. I can't remember the technical name for it, but he did say it was eczema that forms in a circle. Almost looks like ringworm (in the begining stages)He told me to use hydrcortizone 2 times a day. It comes and goes, I don't worry about it anymore now that I know it's nothing major. Oh, it doesn't bother my daughter either.
Hope this helps!

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D.B.

answers from Honolulu on

A while back I saw an Internet warning passed by email about letting kids play with the "magic erase" sponges (these are used in the kithen, to remove marks from walls, etc.). There is a chemical on them that caused a serious rash all over a two year old who was enjoying helping his Mommy clean. That's probably not it, but just a thought.

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T.

answers from Las Vegas on

H.,

Have you recently started giving whole milk or anything like that? It sounds like a food allergy to me. My 18 month old is allergic to both dairy and soy proteins. So he mainly eats meat, potatoes, rice, veggies, fruits and drinks hypoallergenic formula (similac allimentum), juice and water.

T.

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D.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi H. - I understand your worry. It sounds to me like what I have...check out "granuloma anulare" (I think that's the right spelling). I have around my ankle and elbow. It only comes up around joints and other than that it's pretty symptom free (no itching or flaking). Supposedly it just goes away after time and is more prevelant in children. I got it during pregnancy. The spot on my ankle did spread a little, but has remained the same size now for months, and the dermatologist just prescribe an ointment that really hasn't had much of an effect. I've been taking some colloidal silver orally (safe for children, too) and that seems to have lightened the appearance. Anyway, there are some articles to research about it - just google granuloma anulare. best of luck!!!

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi H.,

There are many reasons for rashes, some from jsut having sensitive skin to more serious problems. I would suggest to take your child to the doctor to have the check-out the rash to be on the safe side. My 18 month ol daughter had the something similar and it ended up to be a fungal rash which needed topical ointment for. It is now all cleared up and she is fine but I am certainly glad I took the precaution to take her. I always feel it is better to be safe than sorry. Good luck!

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J.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Sounds Identical to my son's rash - the dr confirmed it is eczema - I have switched detergents, and only use a little aveeno to bathe him and just keep him lubed up with aquaphor, aveeno lotion and when its really bad, cortizone ointment (which I have been told to not overuse)...it never goes away, but waxes and wanes if that makes sense... my first son had it too but never this bad...and he outgrew it by about 2 1/2... good luck.

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L.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

My now 9 month old had that same problem a few months ago. Same thing a little eczema here and there then it spread to his back and belly. I was already using eczema baby wash and the "free" detergents. We talked to our pediatrician and he told us to start using "Eucerin" lotion on him daily. It worked great. It took about a week for the splotches to go away completely but no problems since then, even when we don't slather him in the stuff every single day.

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I.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Eczema can spread like that and often goes hand in hand with allergies (foods, pets, pollens, etc). If it's bad, you can try Benedryl. You could also try Cortisone cream if you think it may be itchy....
Definitely ask the Dr as it could be SO many things.

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L.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi,
Had the same problem with my daughter. My doctor suggested that I use aquaphor, aveeno, cortizone and hypoalergenic diapers; not many out there -Walmart Brand are the only ones I found. They work very well, absorbert and no more rash. I had been using Swaddlers/Pampers.

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S.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

it could be a food allergy. My son had the same thing happen when he was only 6 months old and we thought the same thing with the soap and the laundry detergent. But come to find out he was allergic to his formula. Have you introduced any new food lately?

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K.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

You should definitely take him to the doctor especially since it's spreading. Rashes are tricky and it can be so many different things, some minor, some more serious so better to play it safe and get it checked. Plus the Pediatrician can help you determine the best treatment. Congrats on your pregnancy!

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J.B.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

My niece had many types of skin irritations as well and my sister in law tried several products to minimize the irritation but found the only product line that has helped her was the ABC baby products. Nancy is 5 years old now and when she runs out of the products, the skin irritation returns almost immediately. If you'd like more information, you can email me @ ____@____.com and I will forward to her.

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K.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Congrats with baby #2!!!! The rash could possibly be a heat rash my son has been getting little rashes like that recently and i've been putting a little desitin on it and it goes away within a day or so. Check with his ped. To make sure everything is going ok. Hope all turns out well. Take it easy!

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N.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yeah, a friend of mine thought she had a basic rash that wouldn't go away, turned out to be a staph infection.
I would try to stay safe in this case and have the doctor check it out.

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M.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am not sure about the teething. I know that I have had something called Pictosis Rocio before. It was a oval looking rash that can appear on the trunk of the body and arms and legs...I think it does not go above the neck. I had it several years ago on my arm and thought it was ring worm. A doctor told me it was Pictosis Rocio and really nothing could be done but wait for it to go away. It did not hurt or scratch and I have not had another outbreak in several years. I noticed it happened when i was stressed however the doctor said no correlation. I hope that helps, you may want to look into pictosis rocio. Take care

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T.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Sounds like hives which a Dr would ask you to pinpoint new things in his life...ultimately, without knowing what is the cause, an antihistamine is the only thing they would have you do (over the counter Benadryl liquid). It can make kids a little sleepy though. If it persists after the antihistamine for a couple of days, the Dr can prescribe a topical cream that will clear it up as well. Look into anything he has newly been exposed to such as lawn fertilizer, a new park, new toys, new juice, a new house you have visited, etc...something is the cause and if you can pinpoint it..you can make sure it doesn't happen again. My son (11yo) just had this. We went to a soccer tournament in Pasadena and it happened within 4 hours. It persisted through the Benadryl so we opted for the Dr., and got cream. It has been a week and no more bumps or itchyness. My daughter a few yrs ago had hives from a new drink she had (she was 11) & for four days she took the Benadryl, and it finally subsided (from drinking one drink shake!). Good luck & God Bless!

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J.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Not sure what's causing the rash, but for relief of the rash symptoms use pure cornstarch. Not sure if you know, but it's in the baking aisle. I used to live by it ... still do. It will relieve the irritation. If there's redness at all then there is irritation. I used to keep a little in a small tupperware, and a cotton ball inside ready to work.

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M.S.

answers from San Diego on

Hi H.,
You might want to take him in to his pediatrician. You just don't want to miss somthing potentially serious. My son had a peanut allergy and presented like you say your son is.
Good luck!

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D.Z.

answers from San Diego on

my son has had a rash since he was two weeks old. he is nine years old now. he was diagnosed with eczema at two weeks. it was just on his cheeks. by the time he was two it was on his cheeks, chin, and elbows. now he has a rash covering his whole body. he gets it really bad on his elbow bends, knee bends, and on his tummy. we have special non soap cleanser for his showers and then prescription lotion as well.

C.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi H.,
I would also be monitoring what you're feeding him, it could be an allergic reaction to some food. Also, it's great to hear you have switched out your soap & detergent. I would ask you to take a look at this video and consider that some of your household cleaners and bath-n-body products may contain toxic chemicals that may be affecting your family. I'd be happy to send you additional information via e-mail if you're interested.

http://www.toxicfreefamily.net

C.~

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C.K.

answers from San Diego on

My son would get rashes like that all the time (he's four now and still gets them occasionally). 1% hydrocortisone didn't do enough, so I received a prescription for desonide. It completely cleared up the rash and when I see just the earliest signs of a reappearance, I immediately reapply it, after a bath. I also use lotions/creams that are for sensitive skin after the application of desonide.
We haven't had a problem since then.
I use regular detergents and there doesn't seem to be an issue with them.
good luck

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S.F.

answers from Las Vegas on

My son had a similar rash. Deffinatly take him to see the doctor. Mikeys was a harmless viral rash and went away in about a week. But it could be a food allergy as well. Also Im sure you already know this but I forgot one time and he got a rash because of it. Always wash new cloths before he wears them. When Mikey had the rash my doctor recomended childrens benadryl if he was becoming uncomfortable. But check with your doctor first

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E.L.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

Dear H.:

Stop all soaps on your sons skin. This is a first. This may help- but it is definitely necessary. NO ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP at all. He will be okay. Just do this for a few days and see if this helps. Often the fragrance in soap can be extremely irritating to baby skin (and others). Also- soap takes all the oils off of skin...and someone who might naturally have less oil will rash.

Feed him bananas and avocadoes. These are good for natural oils in skin.

Call an allergy specialist (not a regular doctor) for a consultation. Look in your telephone book. Sometimes these things can be managed by telephone.

Good Luck.

Think about allergies. What do you feed him? Try eliminating something from his diet and see if it helps. Start with things like (nuts) P-nut butter and processed foods.

Next, perhaps you could

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C.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Definitely see Pediatrician or Dematologist first. We had a similar issue, just a bit of cortizone did the trick when he was a baby. It came back bad on his forearms when he was 5-6 yrs old. Two Dr.'s and two dermatologists, and several products later I tried FreeDerm that I found online. It worked so well and quick for us. Everyone's skin/level of severity is different, but if nothing else seems to work give it a try.

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