Rash on child's face - please help!

[Nome11]

Posting for traffic as I had no replies in children's health...

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this, as I can't find anything on Google. On and off my son, age 7, gets a terrible rash on his face. I don't think it is eczema (which he has had in the past.) It flairs up very quickly over a couple of days, and looks like small angry pustules. He says it isn't itchy, but does feel tickly if i gently run my finger over it and is painful if it's rubbed e.g when washing his face. It scabs over after a few days but can take weeks or months to fully disappear. And when it does, it goes very quickly. He had a gastro appointment earlier in the year who linked it to dairy intolerance; it cleared up when we removed dairy from his diet until last week when it came back with a vengeance. It's just on one side of his face now, but in previous flair ups has been on both. I will be taking him to the GP but it flaired whilst we we driving away on holiday.

Thank you if you've read this far, hoping for some good ideas.

I’d start with his pillowcase and wash it in Surcare, and don’t use fabric conditioner.

Thanks for your reply; we don't use fabric softener and have used the same powder for the past 5 years since he first started with eczema (which is now well controlled). I'll look into Surcare.

Looks like acne doesn't it? He'll probably need antibiotics.

I'm not sure about acne, he's had this rash on and off for years and is definitely not pre-pubescent. It flairs up so quickly, then disappears after days/weeks so fast as well, and luckily never scars.

The fact it flared up while on holiday suggests it might be a reaction to washing detergent on pillow cases. I second Surcare and stop using your normal detergent,just because you have used it for years doesn't mean it's still ok now, manufacturers change quantities of the ingredients all the time/ people become allergic to things they were previously ok with.

I've just had a look at Surcare and it looks great, I'll definitely be giving it a try. His skin has been brilliant since he gave up dairy but maybe something has changed in our usual washing powder to cause a flair up.

I had a rash when I was young, I had a special face wash that smelt like rotten bananas. It was so bad that I remember it. However it did work.

Might be worth trying a bit of CeraVe moisturiser too in case the skin barrier has been damaged.

I use Surcare because of my contact dermatitis (which is what this looks like). I find the powder leaves the fabric quite rough. Ironing helps soften the fabric. Surcare also do a liquid detergent, which is not as harsh, and a fabric conditioner. Ecover have a fragrance free fabric conditioner which is as good as Surcare's.

If you trial Surcare, use just the powder for a few weeks until all previous residues have been washed out. Iron pillows, or all bedding if necessary, to prevent further irritation on skin that is already sensitive. Only after that try the liquid detergent or the fabric conditioners.

When I get a reaction I find pure coconut oil, the sort you find on the food shelves, very soothing. Just the tiniest scraping covers my whole face. Keeping my face moisturised with it reduces scabbing.

I use white vinegar as a softener now,it's fantastic.

Thanks everyone, glad to have some new things to try 😀