Is It an Allergy Rash, Hypersensitivity or What???

Poor baby.. most of the ladies have excellent advice.. i used the 2-2 1/2% hydrocortisone and it helped immensely.. but also, instead of using wipes when you clean, use cotton balls and water.. it'll feel much better for the baby and lessen the irritation.

I would suggest using cloth diapers if you can't find a deodorant-free diaper. That sounds like alergy. I would wash everything he comes in contact with with a water softener first, then use half water softener and half the amount of soap you usually use. Rinse diapers especially a second time. I would use cloth diapers expecially at night, worth a try for that poor little one.

Could it be a yeast infection? My son had trouble with yeast infections it would bleed and he SCREAM at diaper changing time, it broke my heart and the doctor told me to put Lotrimin on it(or any anitfungal cream for athletes foot etc) and it cleared him up within a day, when I switched diapers from Pampers to Huggies it happened less often, now that he's potty trained he hasn't had it since. You need to change the diaper often because if its a yeast infection the wetness makes it worse and let him go diaperless for a bit (maybe out in the back yard because a diaperless boy is messy sometimes!!). After baths we'd let his bottom air dry for a bit. Hope this helps!!

We had something similar and ended up switching diapers and diaper creams. We had always used Pampers and A&D Gold with our first daughter and had no problems. Our second daughter got an extreme/blistering rash similar to yours when she grew out of Pampers Swaddlers and into Cruisers. The mesh on the Cruisers seemed to bother her so we tried Huggies diapers. The A&D seemed to make things worse too and we tried the Aveeno diaper cream. The combo of the Aveeno and Huggies seems to work. She hasn't had any problems since...

A.,

I am not sure what to tell you about your little one's rash. However, one of my daycare providers used to use a bed sore cream on severe diaper rashes that would clear it up in one to two days. I do not know the name of the cream, it is not prescription, but she purchased it at a medical supply store. Hope you can find some and get that rash cleared up.

--C.

Hi there. I am an acupuncturist and herbalist and I specialize in the treatment of children. Rashes like this are very common & unfortunately western medicine's only treatment are steroids and anti-fungals. Steroids have dangerous side effects and anti-fungals do nothing to prevent future episodes or treat the underlying condition, rather they are just suppressing a sign of internal disharmony back into the body.

It sounds like your baby has a yeast issue and/or possibly the beginnings of eczema which needs to be dealt with from the inside and outside. Holistic care actually has viable, safe, gentle, and effective treatment though many people don't realize this is an option. Homeopathic care and gentle anti-inflammatory and immune building supplements can be extraordinarily useful in cases like this. Stimulation of acupuncture points (with or without needles) and herbs can also be very useful in difficult cases. Lastly, holistic care works to bring things out of the body instead of suppressing them back in. This is extraordinarily important in the prevention of later episodes and other diseases (such as allergies & asthma) that began as suppressed skin conditions. I hope this helps & good luck.

J. Stevens, L.Ac.
www.yourwholefamilywellness.com

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I don't know if this could be it, but my friend just went through something similar. Her doctor thought it was a yeast infection (so I would look into that too) but it wasn't. Turns out that right before her sons really bad rash came on they had bought some gerber food that had dha in it. After researching it she found out that dha (in this food) was made from tuna oil. Fish is one of the foods you aren't supposed to feed babies cuz of allergies. She stopped that food and its starting to clear up. I don't know what you feed him, but maybe check the lables carefully. I'm sorry your son is in so much pain. I hope you guys figure this out soon! Good luck!

It's likely an allergy of some kind. Go back to the Dr and have them check again. When my 4 yo was in diapers, every time he ate strawberries we would suffer with at least a month of nasty rashies, to the point of creating blisters that burst into open sores.

With the current baby, we spent 6 weeks fighting a rash (from a single bowl of strawberries), finally we went to the dr and he suggested mixing diaper cream (the white kind), lotrimin and hydrocortizone in equal parts. We applied this for every diaper change and changed him every time he had a dirty diaper as quick as possible. It finally cleared up, but it took a long time.

Not sure what it is but it could be the food and the diaper combination. If it doesn't improve see the doctor again. Hydrocortisone temporarily treats symtoms if it is caused by food allergies and the products you are using. Sometimes the diapers contain perfumes that irritate the skin try using diapers without these products. And if you use cloth diapers you want to consider using laundry detergent that is not irritating to the skin. I have 5 children and my youngest are twin girls 6 who are sensitive to products and have allergies. I became involved with a company that has products that are safe for your home and non toxic. When I started using these their allergies and skin improved. Here are some sites for you to look at so you can get a better idea. And if you have any questions and are interested you can respond. www.melaleuca.com and www.saferforyourhome.com I hope this helps.

I've heard some mothers mention rashes from food allergies. Citris foods seem common. However, cortisone and the the anti-fungal treat to differnt things. For either try giving your son son time without diapers. Cortisones treat inflammation and can slow some healing processes and suppress some immune responses. If you start and stop an anti-fungal you can make the infection stronger if it is a fungus such as yeast. what you are describing sounds like a yeast diaper rash which thrives in moisture. Call your peditrician and ask what the stages of healing should look like. But I have had some moms report similar problems from diary and citrus (such as peaches) when they started them. Think back to any new foods in the days before the rash. Others moms have really liked the diaper rash cram...it is Beaudeaux (sp) butt paste. i've seen it at Longs and target.

It might have started out as a rash from the diaper or wipes then when you add acidic foods, it might have made it worse. You can try using a hairdryer on the lowest setting on cool to make sure he's dry before adding powder or cream. The hairdryer trick is far better than going commmando and cleaning mess after mess! Our first daughter had bleeding rashes until we used a hairdryer. She was intolerant to some fruits at the time and we didn't know this. For our second baby, we are using plain cornstarch, A&D diaper rash cream, Huggies natural care wipes (without fragrance) and have never had a rash problem (she's 15 mos). Also, ointment with petroleum may not allow for his bottom to breathe. It can make things worse too. I would stay away from fruits/juice to see if that would help due to the acidity. After his rash disappears, then reintroduce the fruits again. Good luck and I hope he'll be okay soon!

HI A.,
instead of using baby wipes try giving him a rinse off in the kitchen sink or bath tub for a few days to see if that helps and try to keep the diaper off of him it sounds like he does have a rash but you need fresh air I know its going to get messy but hey were moms mess is our game now I hope your son feels better God Bless and Good luck
Danielle
Stay at home mother of 4

He needs to see the doctor to determine what is causing this. Do you give him cow milk? My boy had irritation like that when he started on cow milk due to the lactose burning when he had a bowel movement. I rinsed his bottom with water, gently dried it with a cloth diaper, then put Maalox on the irritated skin. That cleared up the redness, but finding the cause is your first priority. So perhaps it is an allergy to something he is eating or drinking. If it is a yeast infection, be aware that cornstarch will contribute to a fungal infection so don't use it.

Sounds like a yeast infection to me. Nystatin was always prescribed for my son. The key is to keep the area dry, so make sure to only use wipes when necessary and pat the area dry with a cloth every time you change him. It may get worse before it gets better... keep applying the meds and it should clear up. Good luck. Hope that helps. Poor guy, sounds pretty bad. My sons never looked burnt (or cracked or bled like some do).

Oh My God! Your poor child.
Depending on what type of rash it it, its really difficult to say what to use. Since the hydrocortisone is not working (you're probably using 1%), I would suggest a stronger dosage like 2-1/2%.
I'm almost 40 and have had a lifelong history of skin rashes and skin allergies. I find that soaking in an oatmeal bath (it works for chickenpocks) really helps. Also, swab the rash area with hydrogen peroxide (its also an astringent/topical). It doesn't really sting, but will foam up on the infected area, and works well. This will dry up the rash. As will calamine (sp?) lotion. All these work well. If your child has a fungal infection, thes may not work, but will require antibiotics. Some antibiotics also cause rashes. If anything, see your doctor and insist (and be persistant) that he/she runs lab/blood work or a culture.

Best of luck to you!

my son would get a rash like this, with blistering on his bottom whenever he ate carrots or green beans. not so much the green beans anymore, but still a sensitivity to carrots if too much is eaten. and i'll also notice his bowel movement is a little on the hard side. he would also cry when he was pushing. at times like this, i would wash his bottom in the sink or bathtub, then gently pat it dry and let it airdry before putting his diaper back on. sometimes he'd pee when going commando, so i'd wash his but again, in case his urine would bother the area. use a diaper cream with zinc in it. for a desperate measure, i put a bunch of baby powder(with cornstarch, not talc) on my hand then apply to his butt for one of the diaper changes. using baby powder is not recommended as it is supposedly not good for their lungs, so i only did this a couple of times when his butt looked burned and blistered. i would also feed him prunes and give him apple prune juice until he seemed more comfortable while he was having a bm and it became softer. good luck. i know how horrible it feels to see them going through this. it takes a day or two for my son's butt to get better, depending on the severity.

Hi A., My experience is very old with daughter being 26 yo now but have 4 grandkids. When nothing else would work I would get a Boric acid ointment in a tube. It is very expensive but when used you see immediate improvement. It is an rx. It is obvious from what you say that you have tried the standard diaper rash stuff. And also let bsby go diaperless and air get to the irritated area. It does sound like hypersensitivity. And might also be a food allergy. Just don't give up ! Your baby is lucky that his Mom cares so much about his well being. Signed Teri

My #3 son has really sensitive skin, and had a rash like that. We tried everything, and finally our Ped. gave us a compounded prescription, it had nystatin, hydrocortosone, and liquid mylanta, I know it sounds strange, but he said the antacid lowers the ph on his bottom and helps. It took about 2 weeks but it finally went away. the only rx part of that is the nystatin,

Hello,

This happened to my daughter when she was 8 months old. Like you I tried everything. I had just tried a new diaper and someone told me to try and switch brands or types, and when you change his diaper wash his bottom with warm water and cetaphil soap. The diaper wipes sometimes make the rash worse. Plus if you wash his bottom gently you get the chance that you might not hurt him and he won't scream in pain. (That is the worst sound ever). There is also different kinds of antibiotic creams, because there are so many different types of rashes. The one that finally worked for my daughter had a slight steroid in it. I did all this and started to see an improvement the very next day. I hope this helps. Good Luck!

M.

Hi A.,
my initial thought as I read was that it may be yeast. Unfortunately it is difficult to tell without seeing it. There could be any number of causes.

My suggestion, see a pediatric dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis or at least to start a definitive plan of care while they narrow down the diagnosis if it is not obvious. You should schedule a follow up appointment as you leave from the first appointment so you know that you will have consistent care.

Your little boy should not have to suffer through this. Both of you deserve the attention of someone who specialises in this type of issue and can help you.

K. H.

It sounds like his bottom needs sun. Take your baby out in the morning sun with his bottom exposed (creamless) for twenty minutes. And his healing will be amazing. The sun is the best way to rid him from the fungal infection. Also, jojoba oil is an anti-fungal extremely mild oil that will help with any rash, you can google its healing properties. Also, you might want to do an elimination diet, take away a few foods for a few days at a time and see what is causing his allergy. good luck.

Wow - first: Take him back the the Ped - ask her if she knows what it is and tell her that the Hydrocortizone not only didn't work, but it sounds like it may have made it worse. If she is honest enough to admit she doesn't know what it is get an immediate referral for the SAME day to a pediatric dermatologist for an appropriate diagnosis.

This could be a few things: It could be eczema, yeast or allergic reaction - all of which after 2 months are on serious overdrive and seriously inflamed. Trying to figure out what it is now is up to a doctor - not us. :)

Air exposure is definitely the better idea, as is not using commercial wipes or powders. These tend to irritate even more. Trying to try one cream or another can make the situation even worse and I know you don't want to do that. What worked for one family may make your situation considerably worse.

Bottom line - this is no time for guess work: Get him back to the Doc NOW. If you must take him to the ER insist on talking the with the Pediatrician on call.

I wish you luck...I've been there in my own way with my boys many years ago...I know how hard it is...

Warmly,
J. Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM - MOM

At about 2 months my daughter had the worse diaper rash I had ever seen. It looked like she had welts all over her bottom. Doctor told us to try triple paste, cleared it up within 3 days. Now at the first sign of rash, we put a thick layer of triple paste on, never had a problem since. My daughter has really sensitive skin and was allergic to the diapers we were given, hence the horrible rash. She tends to get a rash now when she has too many acidic foods such as tomato products or citrus. We also made sure her bottom was completely dry before putting on a new diaper, and spread her out on a blanket and left her diaperless as much as possible. No other diaper cream worked for us, and we tried about 9 different kinds.

I would try an over-the-counter medicated powder like Caldesen or Gold Bond. Then I would ask your doctor for a prescription for a medicated powder. When we have had really bad burns like what you are describing, the powder has worked when creams have not.

Good luck!

I am so sorry to hear this. One thing you could try it to treat it like it is yeast. My sister-in-laws use a combo of diaper rash cream, hysrocorisone, and over the counter yeast cream. They figure that way it covers all possibilities. They mix the three together. Try to keep his diaper off as much as possible. I don't know if he is mobile or not, but if not you can lay him on a chucks pad and let him play without a diaper and fear of a mess. You can try a small amout of white vinegar in his bath. For a regular size bath tub you would only put about 1 cup of vinegar. You don't want it too strong or it will sting. Good luck and keep on trying. I do know of one woman you had the same situation and it was yeast.

Dear A.,
I'm so sorry to hear you are going through this with your little guy. It's terrible, and I know.
It could be fungal or excema...not sure.
But my daughter was allergic to disposable diapers. The poor child was just raw everywhere the diaper touched her and she would scream when she pottied. Can you imagine if YOUR rear end was in that shape? I cried and cried for her. I tried everything. I switched to cloth diapers and she cleared up right away. In fact, sometimes, I just put little cotton training panties on her when she was crawling around so she wouldn't whiz on the floor. I did the same with my son and they were SO easy to potty train.
Let your baby air out and go with nothing on his hiney as much as possible. Air is the best medicine. It really is.
You may be thinking that cloth diapers aren't very convenient, but it's torture for your baby to be miserable. The trade off is worth it. My daughter never had another rash after I switched. (Except when she was teething). Again, I just aired her out.
Also, use only warm water on wash rags to gently wipe your baby. NO baby wipes when he's inflamed. Rinse him off in the sink or tub or shower if that helps. I used to use a magazine and "fan" my daughter's hiney. She liked it. If you can help it, never put a diaper right back on your baby. Unless you're in public or something. Air, Air, Air.

Best of wishes.

isnt a food allergy. he would not have a rash on his bottom. I havent heard of anything so bad but my son when he gets a little red i use this spray made of all natural stuff including oatmeal. it is called rash Mist and has been the best. just google it and you can order it online, sometimes you may be able to find it in walgreens or walmart but it was more difficult for me to find.

It sounds like a yeast infection. You have to keep it clean and dry and apply the yeast infection cream often. The sun will help heal it if you can let the baby get some exposure without diapers on for a little while. After applying cream use baby powder also(cornstarch). Change diapers often. Do not use diaper wipes, instead use warm water and soap and dry well before applying cream. Hydrocreams are steroids so be careful using them. You need and antifungal.

For my little one's butt rash, the only thing that works is the original desitin that has the fish oil in it. One major question I have - Is he eating solids? If he is, this sounds like a food allergy. Food allergies show up on the but and face. The rash can then turn into a fungal infection but it sounds like you haven't gotten to the root of the real problem.

my 4yr old had that problem when she was younger...she would get so red and raw down there that sometimes it would bleed! oh man did we feel so bad because we didnt know what it was!we also just assumed she was really sensitve or just a reaction to something she ate but it happened quite often. so you know what worked for us..desitin!(the creamy kind works so much better than the regular)we called it the wonder cream!! we would slather her butt up at night and by the morning it would be so much better! not necessarily cleared up but definitely better! and we would just keep using it a little during the day but alot at night since that was when she was asleep longer.. it would still come and go but not as frequently as she got older..its been a good couple of years since it has happened. i really hope it helps!

A.,
I'm not a doctor, a I think doctors should always be consulted in situations such as yours. I also know that there many toxins in our homes that can aggravate problems such as the rash your son is experiencing.

If you are interested in getting more information about shopping with an environmentally friendly company, go to http://www.switchingstores.com/julieewing and request information. I have a lotion that works really well at treating eczema. Often, breakouts clear up in just days, and don't come back. I can help you get toxic products out of your home by introducing you to a company that can save you money, improve your health and protect the environment.

Did you know that a leading baby products manufacturer uses a chemical that releases formaldehyde into their products (you know, the stuff they use to preserve dead people)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternium-15. Check it out and decide if you want to switch stores for a healthier family, home and environment.
J.

Hi! My son suffers from terible eczema and I had tried EVERYTHING, including the prescription strength hydrocortizone. My girlfriend sent me Arbonne's skin conditioning oil. It was amazing and I now use only Arbonne baby care products...pure, safe, and beneficial with no chemical fragrances or dyes. I swear by it!!

My daughter had a few diaper rashes to when she was in diapers. What I usually did was use the Nystatin (spelling) cream, like someone else suggested too. And I would let her go diaper less as much as possible during the day. Your son may be allergic to the wipes too and if so, you can use just water and a dry cloth to clean him. IF you search on the web there is a homemade recipe for wipes that my mom used to use on me and my siblings when we were children. Poor baby! I hope you can find something to make you both feel better.

sounds awful.
if you are up for it...
i would look into some alternative medicine....
scarlet sage herd store on valencia in the mission....
a acupuncturist or homeopath...
western medicine does not seem to be working...

Hi A., I am a 30 year old mom of 3 children. My youngest is 12 months. She just had her birthday. All of my children have had very sensitive skin. Heres what I would do! Exzema can get like that, or it can be a type of yeast infection. Continue to use the cortizone cream. Change his diaper often for a couple of days, when you do that each time lather his bottom and area irritated with plain old vaseline. Then use corn startch over it. Kinda like you would use powder. Don't use baby powder w/constartch cause he has sensitive skin and the perfumes will irritate it more. Just plain corn startch from the baking area. Do this like every hour or two for two days. Then alternate using the cortizone inbetween. If this does not work make another doctor appointement. Also run his bottom under warm water when you change his diaper. Try to wipe it least as possible. That seems to irritate more. Hope this helps. I have been through it numerous times. :) Poor little guy!

Hello, it could actually be an allergy. allergies show up in all different ways. my son is allergic to eggs and his only response is a rash on his lower back right above his but. one we took him off of eggs that was gone. You only started him on solid foods a couple of months ago and is that when it started? try taking out the main allergies: wheat, eggs, soy and dairy see if that clears it up. You also have to know that if it is an allergy it may take a couple of days for it to respond when you stop feeding him. some things stay in our systems up to 10 days after
after being consumed.
This may sound silly but have you also tried lotromin(for athletes foot) it could be a very bad yeast infection, yes boy can get them too. Try it for a couple of days if it is a yeast infection it would considerablely clear up.

It could be hypersensitivity or something else. When you need to clean him put him in the shower with you and use the water to get him clean and a mild soap if absolutely necessary. Don't just wipe him because I am sure it would be super painful for him. I strongly suggest to get him to a dermatologist fast! This sounds really serious.

It may be a yeast infection. My girls used to get it. My doctor had me use gentin violet. If your pharmacy doesn't have it you should be able to find it at a vet supply store it is use to trest pink eye in catttle. I know sounds strange but it works with one application. However it will stain his bottom purple. It takes about a week for all the stain to disssappear and the bottom looks brusied so warn people when you change him that hte discoloration is from the gentin violet. We also used this on my grand daughter now age 7.

J. Grandmother of 7

My son had very bad diaper rash and my ped. said to wipe Malox on with a cotton ball and then use a blow dryer on low to dry it. Worked very well. Worth a try.

Do you nurse or does your baby have formula? If formula, sometimes the manufacturers change their "recipe." You baby's bottom sounds like my friend's baby when she drinks non-soy formula.