Baby Skin Concern

Updated on February 18, 2010
K.L. asks from Wilmette, IL
11 answers

I have a 14 week old son who's a bit of a chunker. He's got those adorable deep chub creases in unusual places like the middle of his thigh, etc. The problem is that pretty much daily he develops a certain stink along his neck, in his elbow crease, behind his knee and in said thigh crease. Those areas are usually red and irritated, sometimes so much so that they crack or ooze a little(thus the stink I guess). I've been gently washing them with either just water or a little baby wash (Aveno) then making sure to dry them as well as I can, which sometimes helps. I've tried a couple other things at different times (a little hydrocortisone or Desitin) with inconsistent success. But I wonder if there's something else I should be doing to keep these areas clean and less irritated. Suggestions? In general he has TERRIBLE skin - it's dry and rough, so I slather on the Aquafor twice a day (usually skipping those areas that are irritated because it seems to make it worse). Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone!! We went to the doctor and she gave us Nystatin (an antifungal like Lotramin) for the yeast in all his creases (which was the stink for sure). So far it's still on the mend, but it's getting a better. And she gave us a referral to a dematologist for the rest of his skin since it's unusually rough and dry and the Aquaphor isn't clearing it up. I appreciate all the thoughts - I had forgotten about baby yeast infections, so your comments helped a lot and got me to the doctor quicker :-)

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C.P.

answers from Chicago on

I didn't have quite the same problem but my girls both have terrible skin too. We have used every cream, lotion and wash under the sun too. What has worked for us is California Baby wash- can get at Target and a lotion called Cerave - Walgreen's. The difference w/ this lotion is that it contains no lanolin, and while lanolin is great for a lot of people, some do much better without. I am able to keep them 90% blister free if I put it on everyday after bath and when i find a rough dry patch. Hope that helps and good luck!

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B.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

Both of my daughters have terrible skin. I have tried everything even prescriptions. What I have found that works the best is the big tub of equate dry skin cream. That helps tremendously with the daily rough skin.. On the stuff where he is cracking and bleeding other than keeping it clean and dry I really don't know other than ask the dr. .. I hope this helps

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L.Z.

answers from Chicago on

Without looking at his skin it is hard to determine exactly what it is. It could be yeast (thrush is yeast in the mouth). My son is four weeks old and had yeast in the folds of his legs and his groin area after we took him home from the hospital. Most likely from the guaze from his healing circ. Kept him warm and moist instead of wicking away his urine. His pediatrician recommended clotrimazole 1% basically lotromin la antifungal. He is too young for baby powder. It should never be used in children as they can inhale the particles. It could be ecemza but again without looking at it you really can't say. Yeast happens in moist dark areas which don't get air which is why I suggested it as it sounds like it is in all the folds of his skin. I would ask his pediatrician to look to make sure. Hope that helps. Good luck

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J.M.

answers from Chicago on

I used butt paste on my daughter and it would clear up the redness within a day.

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H.T.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter had that too several times as a baby. Same funky smell and sometimes a little white film. Try to keep the ares really dry, I had to use the hair dryer (on the cool setting) after the bath and during diaper changes on the affected areas. Also I used some baby powder (be careful around the face so they don't breath it in). My ped recommended Lotrimin (sp?) too - which cleared it up. Call your ped - mine didn't even require a visit, the nurse just recommended it over the phone.

When your baby is old enough - you might want to talk to your doctor about probiotics - baby yogurt. They seem to help with dry skin too.

Good luck,
H.

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N.O.

answers from Chicago on

It's possible he has some thrush there, which would account for the smell. My son had a little thrush in the creases of his thigh (red, little shiny, and a slight smell) and our ped recommended putting some Lotrimin on it which cleared it right up after a few days. I put it on once a day. My son is 6 months old though - I wouldn't try anything like that without consulting your pediatrician first. Your baby is very young and even at an older age, this is something you should call your ped about rather than just going with other moms' advice. :)

If it isn't thrush, then you might also try some Vaseline jelly after cleaning and drying, as that will be nice and soothing for his skin.

Then in general, between baths (we bath our son once or twice a week) every day I gently wipe all his little body creases, including underarms, with a baby wipe (sensitive), and behind his ears and in his neck with a warmed wet cotton wool puff. That takes care of any milk dribble/drool from the day. This too was recommended by our ped right from the start.

Good luck!

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds like eczema. Go see your Pediatrician and they will send you to a recommended dermatologist. Good luck!

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T.T.

answers from Chicago on

go to cosmeticsdatabase.com and look at the ingredients/rating of what you are putting on his skin. try to find soemthing less irritating

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N.D.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter had the same issue. I used lanolin cream on hers and it worked well. I also switched to using Cetaphil CREAM, because lotions tend to dry and irritate the skin more. You're doing the right thing by keeping it clean and dry, but I would try the lanolin. I would apply it a few times a day, and within a few days, the spots were gone. Unfortunately, it's not a cure, but until her little body started moving around enough to where those spots didn't flare up, this was a good treatment.

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C.T.

answers from New York on

For dry and rough skin, I usually use Cetaphil Moisturizing cream for the body. It's gentle and recommended by doctors. The area that's irritated, try to clean and dry as much as you can. If you are using Aquaphor this should help with the healing of crack skin. Good luck!

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M.F.

answers from Phoenix on

Since you want to keep those areas dry to prevent irritation, try rubbing a little baby powder in the creases after you clean them. That will absorb any extra moisture and should help. Good luck!

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