Skin Disease - Perioral Dermatitis

My daughter had perioral dermatitis last summer - it was a mild to moderate case. Her pediatrician advocated a wait and see approach as long as it was tolerable. We used some barrier cream in some areas (she was still using the paci, so under the shield was worst) and it cleared up without any abx or topical steroids. Took about 2 months to be completely gone.
Apparently abx do not always work, and steroids can actually make it worse... but it really depends on how bad it is. There are other topicals that can be tried, I would get a second opinion.

Hi Debbie - my son had this as well except that my doc didnt know what it was. I have a friend who is a pediatric dermatologist and she diagnosed it.

She said that it is a bacterial infection and is most often found in young women who are sensitive to fluoride and they get it from their toothpaste. This made sense because we were giving my son "baby water" with fluoride. She gave us some opthalmic grade erythromicin ointment, told us to not use any kind of steroid cream on it and to discontinue the baby water. If the cream didnt work, then we would have to go on some oral antibiotics. It sounds like your doc is doing pretty standard stuff.

I would get a second opinion from a pediatric dermatologist. My son has a skin condition (not the same as your daughter) which appeared around 2 months of age. At least four pediatiricians and one dermatologist (not pediatric) misdiagnosed it. We went to Children's Memorial to a pediatric dermatologist when he was around a year old, and they knew immediately what it was because it is something that is generally found in kids and not adults. I have found with children it is always best to talk to someone who specializes in children.

Debbie:

I would highly recommend you use some of the Melaleuca products. I would recommend you replace what you are using for bathing with the baby wash that they have. Use the Renew lotion and soap. They are very soft and soothng to the skin. They have a corti-care cream that I would use.

There are so many things in the home that fight against the others. I am not an Rx person, myself. Perhaps, try the kid vitamins. As you know rashes are a result of a glitch in the immune system.

Email me at ____@____.com and I will put you in touch with the company. The great thing is - all these products are 100% guaranteed. I would be happy to help you in any way that I can.

S. H.

i would first wonder why she even has the rash. the rash is the symptom of some other issue. antibiotics are not the solution, especially if the doc has no idea what the infection is. give her some good probiotics to help restore the friendly bacteria in her body. also look out for food issues that are causing this, my daughter has what looks like the same thing, but it has appeared in the last month and we figured out it was a new food she was eating.