Hi! I have dealt with diaper rashes with all my kids, but now this is one I haven't had before. My son is 4mos and had a rash all over his buttocks and in his folds, on scrotum, etc for the past 2mos. I've been to the Dr 2x and had tried all the creams, done baking soda soaks, use only water and cloth wipes, dry him well, blah blah blah....
Now the Dr is sending us to a dermatologist to r/o histiocytosis, which we are pretty sure he doesn't have. The Dr thinks he may just be one of those kids with extremely sensitive skin and we have to LOAD him up with Aquaphor or bag balm at ever diaper change until he is potty trained. The rash does start to look better until he poops, when if flares up bright red and then slowly goes almost away when he poops again....
Anyone ever had this problem or any advice? I've tried every cream, and usually use cloth diapers but they irritate him... unfortunate for me as I just reinvested in my stash for this baby! He's been using Huggies, and we don't think it is the diaper (tried several kinds and no luck). Also tried varying my diet but the Dr said if it was what I am eating then the rash would be in other areas as well....
Thanks in advance!
** oh, forgot to mention he has also used anti-fungals and nystatin from the dr.... they didn't do anything for it!
UPDATE: I had already done several things that people have suggested... I should have mentioned them instead of saying "blah blah blah"! I wash him with Cetaphil if he is poopy, and rinse with water, dry him with a cloth diaper and let him air dry for awhile... used to do the blow dryer but it wasn't helping. I've tried all but one of the creams mentioned.. and it is ordered. I'm thinking it may be dairy in my breast milk (he only nurses as I can't get him to take a bottle yet of anything). I'm going to try to cut out dairy while I wait for the dermatologist appt in March.
Thank you for all the replies!! I hope to figure this out soon!
Turns out, after a couple more months of seeing the Dr, a dermatologist, and more creams.... he had ezcema on his bottom. No one figured that out until it started to show up all over his torso, and behind his knees. I am a little disappointed that the Dermat. didn't know, and she even acted like I was over-reacting to a red bottom. (I don't think she has kids, though). So, we are now on a routine of aquaphor, hydrocortisone, and keeping him from getting too sweaty.
Thanks for all the help! I wish I hadn't spent money on more creams but at least now we have it figured out!!!
I would try the allergist to see if it is ezema. That's what it was for my son and we were able to identify what he was allergic to.
It's not necessarily true that the rash would be in other areas if the problem is your diet. My youngest was sensitive to dairy, and he only had a rash on the diaper area. Eating it didn't cause him digestive problems, but if it touched his skin, he would get a rash. So, diaper rash! When he was older and able to eat yogurt, he would get a rash on his face wherever the yogurt touched if we didn't wipe it off right away w/soap. My vote is food sensitivity.
Try Pampers Sensitive...they make them to size 3 (they JUST discontinued making size 4s my daughter was using them :( ) They keep my daughters bum from turing red. Good luck!
Just my two suggestions on items to try if you haven't already. I love the Boudreaux's Butt Paste for a cream. Over the years of taking care of other people's kids, I've seen many different disposable diapers and the ones that consistently seem to fit best and that I've seen the least rash problems with are the Kirkland brand that you can get at Costco.
Could it be a very rampant yeast infection? I'm so sorry, I think going to a derm is the best thing you can do, since he/she will have more specialized training in skin irritations and the Dr can't figure out what it is. Poor you, and poor little guy!
If you're nursing, I would try to think of what you might be consistantly eating every day...maybe yogurt, nuts???? Try eliminating whatever it might be. It could be a food sensitivity. The rash may clear up. Just a suggestion. :)
I would have said it sounds like an allergy to something. Is he exclusively breast fed or do you give him some formula? When a child starts solids one of the ways you can tell if he's allergic is if his anus is red and rashy after he eats something (usually there's a bright red ring around it). I would try cutting out dairy and then maybe wheat/gluten if possible... Otherwise I hope the dermatologist can figure it out. Poor little fella! Good luck!
I wanted to second Denise B's comment. My son tended to get diaper rash on his butt and sometimes scrotum after he's eaten oranges (including cuties), so he doesn't have them any more. He does not get a rash anywhere else. Urine gets wicked away but BM tends to stick to the skin, which I believe leads to the rash. So, I would not necessarily rule out something that you are eating.
You're doing everything I have done, but you didn't mention how you clean him after BMs.
If you're not using soap and water to clean him after BMs, you need to give it a try. Soap is the only thing that will remove bacteria and fungus from the skin.
Also, there's a bile-binding prescription that will help pull the acidic bile away from your son's skin when he has a BM. You said you've gone through lots of prescriptions, but check about this one. I mentioned it (in more detail - with name) in a previous answer. Check my answers for another diaper-rash related question from the past couple of days.
My daughter constantly fights diaper rash. We control it mainly with washing her diaper area with a soapy solution after EVERY BM, but if she has a day with a lot of BMs or they're especially loose for some reason, only the prescription bile binder helps.
Maybe you do this, but after a BM, or any time of day, really, try blow drying on low with blow dryer. And let him go naked for 10 minutes or so, a few times a day. This will help relieve it until you figure out the cause.
Not sure.....but a diaper cream I swear by is called Flanders Buttocks Ointment. You have to call your pharmacy to order it for you (usually takes a day) but you do not need a prescription for it. (It costs no more than 15 dollars) I still use it for my boys who are 6 and 9 when they are complaining about hurting from not wiping good. I would say try it and just lather it on. Even if it is not red. Try to sometimes leave him without a diaper...after the bath just in a towel to let it air dry. The dermatologist will help though. I think sometimes when it comes to rashes....pediatricians are a little out of their specialty. I am a firm believer in going to a specialist for a specific problem when a general doc cannot diagnose it. I had to take my son to a pediatric derm. when he was little because his peds prescribed a steroid cream that ended up causing more problems..ugh....finally it was resolved. Ever since then,,,,,if it has to do with the skin...I take them to a dermatologist. Good Luck!!!
You say you have tried all the cream, but I just have to ask...have you ever tried Arbonne Diaper Rash Cream? It is more expensive than most creams for its size (around $15) and you will need to order from an Arbonne consultant, but it's all natural and works like magic. My son will have a rash and literally from one change to the next, it's clear. Give it a shot!! Good luck!
