What the hell is this? <wails> Please help... starting to lose the plot with baby's skin...

[EachPeachPearMum]

DS, 6mo, has had 'eczema' for 4 months or so. It started off as very dry skin, and has progressed to the classic little red dots type- ankles, backs of knees, sideburns, wrists, neck/jowls- we use diprobase or diprol and it keeps it at bay, but never goes away IYSWIM. It hasn't been bad enough for hydrocortisone in the last month, but we have used it before.

It's just when he's pooed...

So, after poo- even 1 minute after pooing - in nappy area the skin is bright livid red, and has tiny white blisters- pretty much like nettle rash. Today his penis was all blistered and swollen up- sorry tmi- it looked exactly like the very hungry caterpillar when he's fat and has tummyache and makes his cocoon (!!!).

He doesn't have nappy rash generally. He does however have dry cracked skin around his nappy/tummy area- we use diprobase every change on that bit, and until this afternoon his tummy looked like almost normal baby skin. He frequently has dry, cracked, bleeding skin on his penis. He also has dry, scaly patches on his buttocks, but they are more like scarring from previous poos.

He is exclusively breast fed, so I have altered my diet to try and help his skin. When he was tiny, his nappies were awful- runny, foamy, stinky -I cut out milk which improved them, leading me to think he is CMP intolerant. His skin was still bad though, so I have been dairy-free for 5 weeks or so, which I think has made a difference. I notice he has flare-ups when I've had soya and coconut. Possibly egg too, but I need to test it again.

He has just started solids at 26 weeks.
So far has had:
Carrot
Pear
Apple
Broccoli
Potato
Green Bean
Courgette
Porridge (not oats- Plum Baby stuff- quinoa, rice, millet, amaranth, made with ebm)

Last time he had a poo, before starting solids, this happened, and after a day or so (using badger baby balm- has calendula and chamomile in, covered over by a thin layer of sudocreme) it cleared up, and his bottom/penis is normalish again. He does have dry scaly skin around his nappy/tummy area- we use diprobase every change on that bit, and until this afternoon his tummy looked like almost normal baby skin. He also has dry, scaly patches on his buttocks, but it's more like scarring from previous poos.

He has some cradlecap, not loads though, and he has a livid red storkmark which gets very scaly and I have to diprobase all the time, as he scratches it like mad... thats where he had impetigo, and it took about 6 weeks to clear up, mainly I think because babies spend a fair amount of time on the back of their head (he sleeps about 15 hours in 24).

My problem is I do not know what to do now! Does he just have really really sensitive skin? Or does he have some intolerance that I just haven't narrowed down and am still ingesting?

Just running out of ideas really sorry this is so long...

Thanks puffylovett. I've had a look at the two websites but think that I'll have to wait till my DD is aged one before I give the Nutri Eskimo oil a go (only 3 months to go - and I'm pretty sure she won't be growing out of her eczema any time soon!). Also, it looks as though it has soy derived products in it and I haven't tried my DD on soy yet (assuming soy is the same as soya!?).

Hi EachPeachPearMum

That all sounds quite distressing. I know this is a long shot but have you tried adding essential fatty acids to his diet as a supplement. EFA''s can have quite an impact on improving skin conditions as most diets tend to be quite difficient in them.

When my DS was aroun6-8 months he started getting little spots or grops of spots in patches around his body I went out and bought some of boots 'Smart Oil' which he has had daily ever since. His scin cleared up in a metter of weeks and ther has been no sign of the problem re-surfacing.

I know it's a long shot, but it's natural and worth a try. If you flush and want to try the best EFA supplement (IMO) use 'UDO'S OIL' which you will measure out accoring to bodyweigh of your child.

I would love to know how you get on if you try it.

Warm regards

Hi EachPeachPearMum

I though I'd posted this, forgive me if it's a duplicate

That all sounds quite distressing. I know this is a long shot but have you tried adding essential fatty acids to his diet as a supplement. EFA''s can have quite an impact on improving skin conditions as most diets tend to be quite difficient in them.

When my DS was aroun6-8 months he started getting little spots or grops of spots in patches around his body I went out and bought some of boots 'Smart Oil' which he has had daily ever since. His scin cleared up in a metter of weeks and ther has been no sign of the problem re-surfacing.

I know it's a long shot, but it's natural and worth a try. If you flush and want to try the best EFA supplement (IMO) use 'UDO'S OIL' which you will measure out accoring to bodyweigh of your child.

I would love to know how you get on if you try it.

Warm regards

Thank you readbetweenthelines. Where would I get something like that from?

I am doubly down tonight- had him weighed today and he is not gaining enough weight- was specifically told he is not getting enough calories, because we have only introduced fruit and veg, nothing else yet, so of course no fats or protein.

Hi Sheilsie, yes soy and soya are the same thing, so prob best to wait if you're concerned. I jumped straight into giving it at 6 months under the advice of a naturopath & am glad I did. Most of the reasons for waiting tend to be as a result of the EU regulations on vits and minerals - there's a number of products I used to use on patients from birth that now are not recommended before 1 yr . Not safety issues just burocracy (sp!!) iyswim

Eachpeach have you been on the weaning section about his weight gain ? If he's only 6 months and still bfed, and still bfeeding loads as well as the slow introduction of foods, is there really an issue ? Are you happy with his growth and development ? and are they using the bfeeding charts or the formula charts ?

As for fats, you can try introducing avocado soon, it's very high in good fats and calories. There is protein in veg. And tons of fat and protein in breastmilk.

I think you are right to do what you are doing btw.

There is protein in veg? see... I know nothing!

Oh and if you want to feel a bit more relaxed about the weaning side, go on the Babyledweaning website. There's no rules and regulations about caloric intake when you baby led wean - you just let baby take the lead and keep bfeeding on demand. MUCH easier and far more relaxed than pureeing. I stopped going to the health visitor at that stage !

FWIW DS didn't properly wean until about 9 months