What’s wrong with my son’s skin - just nappy rash? (Pics included)

[SinkGirl]

My twins are almost 3, still in nappies (both autistic and non verbal, don’t understand that they wee, let alone have any way to tell me or use a potty).

A few days ago he got a rash. He’s had bad eczema and nappy rash in the past before we eliminated dairy as a baby. But this looks totally different.

Took him to the pharmacist yesterday who agreed it looks like an allergic reaction and advised antihistamines and to try canestan cream in case it’s fungal.

But it’s just getting worse. We haven’t changed anything (same nappies, wipes, cream etc).

I don’t know what to do next. Can’t get in to see a doctor until Monday.

Any ideas? Sorry for the blurry image, he won’t stay still, but you get the idea - bright red and swollen with what look like spots / hives around the top

It looks fungal so definitely use canestan and a good barrier cream such as the yellow metanium.

I think canesten anti-fungal cream

Thanks, will crack on then, was just worried I was doing the wrong thing. It’s obviously really sore. Metanium is what we always use but I was worried that could be the source of an allergy as we just got a new tube

My son had something similar when he was 3.. Turned out to be thrush- although 1st GP didn't think so.
It cleared up really quickly once we had the right cream and lots of nappy free time...

Thanks all - just looked up fungal nappy rash and it does seem to be that so slathering on the canestan now.

@SinkGirl when I had a skin issue on my foot, it took a good few days of twice daily steroid cream to sort it out. Just make sure you don’t use more cream than is advised on the box if it’s got hydrocortisone in because it can cause overdose

Thanks - we are just using canesten at the moment although I do have hydrocortisone cream to hand too. It does look very slightly better than it did earlier so hopefully another day of the cream and it will be much improved, if not I’ll have to get him to a doctor as he’s really struggling.

As soon as I saw the thread title I guessed what it was!

Poor little scrap, it should clear up quite quickly.

Could you leave the area free of a nappy for a few hours , that helps a lot.

Don't use hydrocortisone until you have tried the anti-fungal for at least a few days. Steroids can make fungal infections mutate and make them harder to treat (have learned this to my coat).

*cost

Thanks all. Don’t worry, no steroid cream being used - just meant I have it if we need it (thanks to their skin issues when younger we have a giant box full of every cream in existence I think!).

It’s definitely a little better this morning - less inflamed and the redness is a little less. Hopefully he’s on the mend. Unfortunately nappy free time and sensory seeking non-verbal child aren’t very compatible, as I learned when he had infected chicken pox on the top of his leg a little while ago. It wasn’t pretty!

poor thing bless him. I agree it looks fungal but you need to use the cream for a week, even if the rash has gone. Just use a thin layer. Hope it soon mends