To take my baby to the doctor again?

[Leonas]

Dd is 6 months and my pfb. She has very dry skin on her torso (family history of skin issues) and, having tried 2 different creams from the chemist, I took her to the doctor about 3 weeks ago for it and was given steroid and moisturising creams. Last week she had a bad cough at night and my DP was particularly worried so we took her to the doctor who was lovely and assured us she was absolutely fine( without making me feel like I was wasting his time).
Over the last couple of days, her skin has gotten much worse and she now has a rash all over her back and on to her tummy (she has had this rash for a wee while but it is spreading). So AIBU to take her to the doctor again for her skin?? Are they going to be annoyed that I'm there again so soon?

Is there any chance that she could be reacting to whatever you wash her clothes in?

Better safe than sorry. If it's a bad rash I'm sure they won't think you're being unreasonable and to be honest I wouldn't care if they thought that anyway. just important your dd is ok and it'll put your mind at ease!

I would keep taking her if you are worried, it took 18m of taking my pfb to the doctors every 6 weeks (or whenever the pots and potions ran out) for his skin condition to be properly diagnosed and to get the right treatment

My pfb has skin conditions too, she is 15m. Mine has a reaction to the moisturiser we were using, but prior to having the steroids was fine with it, now we have switched to another and she is ok at the moment. Took me ages to get the suncream right too. Skin conditions need a bit of trial and error. Went to the dr this week for a new cream, I said what if this doesnt work? He said then we keep trying until something does.
A rash is an important thing to get checked, and only a dr can do it.

Take her hun!!! My dd is 10 months and has awful eczema that has had me to the doctors about a dozen times trying different creams. Much better to be safe than sorry.

Just as an aside we have noticed dd's rash has got worse since we went backstop own brand non bio liquids and softener rather than fairy/comfort so will be switching back once we run out of the current bottles so worth looking at what you are washing her clothes in. Also could it be heat rash? Try less layers and see if it eases.

There are a couple of things you can try.

For dry skin, we used olive oil on DS. A bath, then olive oil.

If it could be the washing liquid/powder, use a non bio. Use an extra rinse (DH has sensitive skin and bio powder disagrees with him, but sometimes I need it to get the clothes clean. As long as I use a second rinse, he doesn't react)

Have you tried oats to soften the water?

Keep going to the doctor until you are happy.

Could it be that she is reacting to food? What food is she eating?

Does the rash feel slightly rough to the touch? Is she scratching it or showing other signs of discomfort with it?

If so, make some oat milk by placing a dessert spoonful of organic porage/porridge oats into a muslin square if you have one or if not an old popsock or the foot part of an old pair of tights. Tie a knot in the fabric leaving the oats a bit of space to expand.
Place the oats in the fabric in a bowl and add very warm water. Leave to soak for a few minutes til the oats soften, then squeeze the fabric a lot to extract the liquid from the oats, it's called oat milk and is thick and opaque.

You can patch-test an area of the rash by dabbing the oat milk on it and not rinsing it off, give it an hour and see if it's less red. If baby's showed no sign of irritation, tip the rest of the oat milk into the baby's bathwater, it feels lovely and silky, it may be slippery so take extra care. Again don't rinse off, pat dry and see if there's any difference in the rash in about an hour or two.
Oat milk has long been known as a home remedy for eczema, I have 21 years and counting experience of treating it and nothing takes the fire away like it can. I'm no fan of treating skin with steroids, it's up to you what you are comfortable using on your baby.

For dry skin in general, try using organic virgin coconut oil www.amazon.co.uk/Org-Raw-Virgin-Coconut-Oil/dp/B004JBVHVC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403379928&sr=8-2&keywords=coconut+oil+biona as a moisturiser, but not obviously anywhere the sun could catch it as the baby's skin may burn with any type of oil on it. 'Baby Oil' is petrochemical based so if you prefer a natural alternative, coconut is a good place to start. Incidentally, t's also been beneficial for a friend's DH's Psoriasis.

Please do check your washing powder and fabric softener, they can cause havoc on sensitive skin, I use the Eco Egg laundry egg, the fragrance free type. www.ecoegg.com/product/laundry-egg/
"Voted the top Gold Award for best Baby Skincare Product by Prima Baby & Pregnancy Magazine, our award-winning Fragrance Free Laundry Egg is perfect for a baby’s delicate skin. It’s supported by the National Eczema Society and is also great for adults with sensitive skin conditions."

Are you starting weaning? if so make a note of foods you introduce and any rash severity, they may be linked. Cows milk is often a culprit as are carrots but everyone has their own triggers for allergy or intolerance.

Do go to your GP as often as you need, especially with such a young baby, internet advice no matter how well-meaning can be unsuitable. It's important to have a correct diagnosis before you decide how to treat the condition and if you are happy with the steroids etc. then use them

Thank you so much for all of your advice!
I will try changing washing liquid and possibly nappies as on her back it seems to be worse lower down so could maybe be the nappies? I will also try to oatmilk in her bath as the oilatum we were given doesn't seem to help. The steroid cream hasn't made any difference either so I stopped using it - I have had it for myself in the past and I am very wary of using it on her.

No idea if this is useful or not but I have 2 friends with small children with bad dry skin/excema. They both use aveeno moisturiser and the results have been amazing.
Maybe worth a go.

Double Base cream is brilliant - and you can buy it over the counter or on prescription. Normal baby moisturising cream and olive oil was no good.

It really helped my 7 month old's eczema - I would go back to the doctors again if it's not getting better.

I've also heard good things about EpiDerm - but the GP was reluctant to prescribe it, I think because it was more expensive.

Do not accept aqueous cream!!

DS had rashes like those you describe early on. We changed to Persil non bio and changed nappy brand. It improved until I started work. I wear gloves at work and was still wearing latex gloves back then. I had been becoming more sensitive to latex and within a few months of returning to work had to stop using them. DS's rash disappeared soon after. It is likely he has a latex allergy, I suspect some nappy brand have latex in the elasticated areas since when it was warm he would develop a rash in these areas.

Yes I would take her to the dr again.
IMO and ime any decent dr is happy to see babies/children when parents are worried.

I would second double base. And beware aqueous cream, my ds1 got a rash from AC. Double base is amazing, I buy it for myself, it's the best body moisturiser IMO.