Doctors don’t know what’s wrong with DS’s face. Can the MN hive mind help?

[Havanawinter]

I wouldn’t post here if I wasn’t at a total loss. For 3 months nearly DS2 has had progressively worse acne spreading across his face. It started on one cheek, then another, now it’s all on his chin. The GP has been very helpful but ultimately we’ve tried everything he can think of and it’s only getting worse. We’re waiting for a dermatology appt but that could be months.
Things we’ve tried: fucidin cream, anti-fungal cream, course of antibiotics, cutting out dairy, soy and gluten, and treating it like eczema. We’ve also just tried leaving it. Nothing works. I have to take matters into my own hands because I can’t wait months letting it get worse and worse. If anyone has any ideas on what I could try next I’d be so very grateful.

GPs are utterly useless with skin.

Can you afford a private dermatology appt? Ours was £180 after months of DDs eczema getting worse and worse and everything the GPs threw at it causing bigger issues. It was worth every penny.

I know this probably sounds like too simple a solution and you may well have already tried it, but my DS had an almost identical issue and this cream worked an absolute miracle - cleared the lot up in a week where everything else had failed, so may be worth a shot?

Have you tried these things:
Switching your own perfume/moisturiser/anything that might touch him when you do
Changing laundry powder to Ecover Zero
Using only Dermol 500 (available over the counter) to wash his skin and hair with

He could be reacting to something.
My ds reacted to dairy and got rashes around his ears and cheeks.
A friend was at a loss at what was causing a rash on her dds face which cleared up when she ran out of vitamins and couldn't get any for a few days.

@YukoandHiro we may well end up doing that, it’s good to know you had a good experience with a private derm, thank you

@EltonJohnsSunglasses we currently use the aveeno with the green lid but I will certainly give this a whirl, thank you!

@TheHighQueenOfTheFarRealm we’ve tried cutting out dairy, gluten and soy but it’s made no difference. Do I just progressively cut more things out until I find the culprit? Never had allergy issues in the house before so not sure what’s the best tactic!

I saw something similar to this on a friends child he was allergic to tomatoes !! X

I'd ask the GP for Eumovate (steroid used for face) DD has similar issues as skin can break out quite easily but this normally fixes it.

@Hairobsessed123 and as pp suggested many young children intolerant to tomatoes as acidity levels high can cause skin rashes and also loose nappies

DD intolerant to tomatoes and skin issues and we find Betnovate works on body and Eumovate on face. Was given by dermatologist

As above, my child had identical facially but also other areas that were similar on the body. Basically a type of eczema.
Eumovate and betnovate prescribed by GP,0ilatum junior when having a break from them.

Occasionally gets it now she's a bit older but maintained with regular emollient use.

Be extremely careful if using steroid creams – over-use/using them too long can cause more problems. Do exactly what the dr/derm prescribes, and no more.

https://dermnetnz.org/imagedetail/5840?copyright=&label=Infantile+atopic+dermatitis%2C+face&caption=Infantile+atopic+dermatitis%2C+face

link is from a website called “Dermnet” which is an NZ skin disorders website.. it’s vey good. I think your sons rash looks very much like this. Look up Atopic Dermatitis in Dermnet.
Poor wee man.. he is just gorgeous!

Looks like an allergy reaction to me. I would get a referral to a pediatric allergist as well as a dermatologist

I’d line his car seat with a cotton sheet and see if that helps.

Have you already used a steroid on his face? Could it be perioral/periorificial dermatitis? Please don’t use a steroid on his little face! It can make this worse!!!
I have attached some dermatology photos of adults with PoD. Sometimes the skin is quite dry but still pimply.

Thanks all, this is so helpful. Interesting RE tomatoes, hadn’t even considered that. My gut feeling is some sort of allergy/reaction but it seems like such a huge task identifying what it could be.

@LunaTheCat thank you 😊 that’s a lovely thing to say.

*These are all much more extreme cases. I have had it myself and I know it can sting and you’re “aware” of it all the time. I’d avoid juice etc while he has the rash too. (Acid probably not great for it.)

@Fraaahnces I haven’t used a steroid on his face, I’m very reluctant to. That does look similar, thank you.

If it could potentially be an allergy would a daily dose of piriton help? The non-drowsy one.

My son was reacting to his sunscreen i was faithfully putting on not realising it was out of date.

Anyway, we use a different sunscreen now. I think the gp prescribed, But now a normal sensitove one is fine.

Very smart requesting a referral to a derm. Seems weird that a nearly two year old would suddenly develop eczema/dermatitis now. My twins had rashes within weeks of their birth - they’re smelly teenagers now and have grown out of it, btw…) Potentially an allergist too. (Especially If nappies have changed lately.)

Health Visitors are pretty clued up with rashes like that. Many HVs are also nurse prescribers. I’d ask your HV for an opinion.

Hard to tell exactly from the picture. Are they spots? Are they itchy? Anywhere else on the body? The redness being on the face suggests an airborne allergy/trigger. Perhaps tree pollen…