My poor baby's skin :-(

[Flatwhite32]

I posted before, but didn't get much traffic. My 7 week old DD has a horrible rash on her face, and every day it gets worse. I keel getting told it's 'normal' baby acne, but she keeps scratching at her face repeatedly, and I'm now wondering if it's bothering her. I have stopped eating dairy (I'm BF'ing) but only for the past few days. Up until just shy of 6 weeks, she had lovely skin, and it started really suddenly. It's also on the other side of her face, on her ears and has started to spread to her neck. We haven't changed anything, and don't use products on her skin. It is just getting worse every day, and I'm not sure what to do. She also has digestive and reflux issues. I'm finding it really hard that I can't make it better for her. Would I be unreasonable to get if looked at, or would that be a waste of a GP's time?

Highly recommend bathing in oat water (chuck a handful of oats in a pair of tights). Completely natural and the only thing that worked with bad skin conditions here..

If she is also refluxy and has stringy mucous poo, I would say CMPA is even more likely. DOnt feel guilty about your milk making her poorly, it is also helping to heal her and give her comfort! Going dairy free is difficult at first, but it does become easier.

Go to your GP and discuss. Usually it is suggested to cut dairy for 6 weeks and then challenge to test for a reaction.

Be gentle with yourself.

@Nearlyhaveahouse that's definitely worth a try. Thank you.

@speakout Thank you! I just love her so much. I'm dealing with the usual newborn stuff (sleep deprivation etc) absolutely fine, but I'm finding it so hard that I can't make her feel better, no matter how hard I try!

@moanymandy It's good to know there are antibiotics out there that'll help if this is bad baby acne. How long did it take for your DS's skin to clear?

@DuckAndPancakes She's on ranitidine for reflux, which has definitely helped. Her poo yesterday was oily (gross I know!) and watery. She also usually goes once every 2-3 days, but has been going way more the past few days.

Flatwhite32

Don't beat yourself up- we have all been here!

I am glad you are seeing a GP.

Please don't try any of the remedies here until you have a diagnosis.

Some of the remedies could make the situation worse.

Putting oatmeal on a fungal rash can actually feed the organism.
Putting breastmilk on eczema can make it worse.

None of us are qualified here, so please don't try until you have spoken to your GP.

Definitely go to your GP. They can prescribe emollient and appropriate moisturising cream. There is some kind of protocol they follow... prescribe this one, then proceed to that one if it doesn't help etc. The creams have different consistency too, so it's definitely something that needs to be trialled for your LO. We found Childs Farm shampoo to be very gentle and effective.

DD had eczema starting from about 8 weeks and it was CMPA. I went completely dairy free and it was perfectly fine. But if you do go dairy free, you need to take supplements to ensure your own calcium intake is appropriate. The dietician told me to continue with the pregnancy vitamins I had been taking as they were sufficient.

Please don't be tempted to give up BF purely as a result if this. If it is CMPA, your LO will need a prescribed formula as regular fomula will make it much worse for her. Eczema, runny nappies and congestion were all CMPA side effects that my DD had.

Definitely good advice @speakout! Am waiting for a phone call from the duty doctor, so watch this space.

@zoobaby thank you. It's on her scalp too, so once I've spoken to the GP about what it is, I'll consider getting some of the Child's Farm range. How long did it take from you going dairy free to your DD's symptoms improving? My poor wee soul just seems miserable today. She's not crying much really, but she's not herself and her lovely smiles have gone.

I remember my daughter had a rash like that and my sister recommended a cream. It worked wonders, within days. I will ask her what it was called and let you know.

Thank you @Bigmomma88

Bigmomma88
I remember my daughter had a rash like that and my sister recommended a cream. It worked wonders, within days. I will ask her what it was called and let you know.

I'm sorry, and I know you mean well, but I really don;t think it is appropriate to be suggesting medication/creams/ointments etc to the OP.

Just because your DD had a rash does not make you a dermatologist.

I am glad that remedy worked for you but there are dozens of different reasons for a rash, and some suggestions may make things worse.

My daughter developed a 'strawberry rash' all over her gorgeous little face at around 8 weeks old. I was breastfeeding and had over indulged in some fresh juicy strawberries so felt very guilty.

Still dont know what caused the rash which took about 4 weeks to clear up. Doctor and HV said it wouldn't have been the strawberries but I stil felt incredibly guilty. Didn't use any cream or anything as didn't want to make it worse. Put scratch mitts on her so she didn't cause an infection .

I would take her to see the GP it looks sore and red personally I think it needs a combined hydrocortisone/antibiotic cream. Also keep it very moisturised to the point it looks greasy. Diprobase was the best for my sons skin not e45

Also don’t stop dairy with out speaking to a dr first

Hope dr is helpful.

From my DS experience - Switch to Surcare washing powder and stop using fabric softener on baby's bed sheets and clothes.

How did you get on with the doctor today? Hope you get it sorted! X

Maldives why should OP not stop dairy until she’s spoken to her GP?

Can see a bit better on your 2nd pic that it doesn't actually look like baby acne, there's like patches of redness if that makes sense? Whereas , IME , baby acne would be separated spots or clusters of bumps / spots.

Hope you get some answers, poor baby

Hi everyone! Well the GP said it's not baby acne. He has advised me to cut out dairy for 2 weeks (which I'm doing anyway) to see if it makes a difference. He also prescribed a cream called Oilatum. He said if there is no improvement in a fortnight to come back. He was really nice thankfully.

Well that's very good news from the doctor. At least you have started cutting out dairy. Hopefully it clears it up.

I really hope so @Want2bSupermum. She can't stop scratching tonight, and it just looks awful poor thing. We are having to hold her arms down (she's not a fan of being swaddled).

Can you maybe use calamine lotion to soothe the itching? Check with a pharmacist as may not be available for that age but a possibility. Poor thing

I’m sorry it’s horrible when you have to watch your baby uncomfortable. I would go back to GP and ask for a hydrocortisone cream that’s what will take away the itch along with a couple of nights of prescribed pirition

Calamine lotion is incredibly drying not good for skin rashes

I could have wrote this. Going through exactly the same. Got fobbed off at GP. Have been in tears tonight xxx

Yep, DS looked like that. Cut dairy and soya and it mostly cleared up apart from his forehead. He has a stork mark so it was hard to tell the redness from the stork. He scratched his face to ribbons itching it, and eventually managed to get rid of it by cutting out egg too and steroid cream. Every time I trial one of his allergens, he gets eczema again, but mild and clears up pretty quickly.