Is it possible for a toddler to get a yeast infection on her body? We have been to several skin doctors and pediatricians. They say it's viral or excema. We have been given several steroid creams and protopic and nothing has worked. I finally met with a nutritionist and she adviced me to give my daughter juice plus vitamins and powder probiotics. And to treat her rash with vaginal anti-fungal cream. She said my daughter had an yeast infection that spread to her legs and arms. I humored her and I am amazed at the improvement in her skin. Has anyone else come across this issue?
Thanks!
R.
You can get yeast anywhere. Yeast particularly likes warm, dark, and damp places, but can happen anywhere. Typically yeast has a very characteristic appearance, so I'm surprised the dermatologist didn't pick up on it.
I have a friend (she was 28 at the time) who had some sort of yeast infection on her chest and arms for almost a year She got rid of it by cutting out bread and related items from her diet. It could have something to do with your daughter's diet, maybe her body reacts to sugar and yeast. Try cutting out some of that stuff from her diet and see if it helps.
Also, if it is eczema instead, it could be something external. My son was sensitive to something as a baby, either his baby wash or clothing detergent, and the doctor said it was eczema (a raised rash on his arms, back and chest). I changed his bath stuff and detergent to something more natural and it cleared up and never resurfaced. Just something else to try if she still has problems in the future.
Yeast can happen anytime anywhere.
The anti-fungal cream is fine - Lotrimin is one (there are many).
The probiotics are ok.
I never heard of juice/vitamins helping to cure a yeast infection.
You can put 1 cup of plain yogurt in your daughters bath water - it's very soothing to the skin anytime.
I haven't seen it on a toddler, but I was horrified when I got a yeast infection across my stomach, clear down to my hips. EEEWWWWWWW!!!!! OTC spray cleared it right up. A girlfriend who lives in a much moister climate than mine says she gets 1 or 2 a year, usually starting under her bra strap.
My daughter has had a yeast infection but it has never spread to her legs. The nurse said to give her vinegar baths 2-3 times a day for a week or so . You take a cup of white vinegar and add it to a small foot soak size container of warm water . have your daughter soak in that (inside the tub) for about ten minutes . Rinse her off after . It works . Hope she feels better soon :)
It's possible. One reason to stick with one doctor and return when treatment doesn't work is this allows the doctor to rule out things and try a different treatment. The only way to be sure something on the skin is a yeast infection is to culture it. I had a persistent rash about which I asked the doctor and on the third visit he scraped off some cells. Not a yeast infection. Never did find out what it was. Went away on it's own.
A yeast infection tends to be raised and scaly. So does eczema. There is more to treating eczema than applying medication. So if it is eczema the steroid cream alone may not fix it.
If the yeast medication is working I'd continue to use it. But if the rash lingers I'd see a dermatologist or a pediatric allergist.
