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Original poster

Weepy patches spreading on baby's face

20 replies

Twobeauts · 03/03/2024 21:49

Hi everyone,
I'm very concerned mummy running on very little sleep and lots of worry. Please know I've spoken to a doctor many times about what I'm about to describe. We are 2 lots of steroid/antibiotic cream and a course of oral antibiotics in, hence my wonder if anyone else has experienced this.

My LO is 4 months old. Totally healthy, normal birth and no issues until now.
About 8 weeks ago my LO had a small bite on his face (assuming insect as we had been out for a walk) which disappeared within 2 days. A few days later a red patch started to appear on his cheek in the place where this bite was. Its started very small and not concerning at all, assumed it was drool rash or a little eczema. Over the weeks it grew and grew until it became weepy and inflamed, at which point I sought help from a GP. Fucidin H was prescribed as they thought it was infected Eczema. After 10 days of use no improvement. Visited GP again, this time prescribed Trimovate. Told it looked almost like Impetigo but that it wasn't. Note it hasn't spread to any other member of family. Trimovate for 7 days and didn't improve, if anything got worse. Saw a different GP who thinks it is Impetigo as it has now spread on the same cheek and onto the other cheek. Areas are smaller than original but blistery and now crusting over. Have also been weepy. Now on a 7 day course.of Flucloxacillin, 2 days in and no improvement yet. I'm staying the course and understand no immediate improvement will be seen possibly, but wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this. It was only the one patch originally until all the treatments started before it got infected. No we have multiple patches on both cheeks.
Any help would be much appreciated. 😊

Weepy patches spreading on baby's face
OP posts:
Beach11 · 03/03/2024 21:59

Is it crusty?
Looks like impetigo to me.
Could be perioral dermatitis.

pastypirate · 03/03/2024 22:01

Looks like impetigo to me too it's the distinctive yellow weeping. Is baby being treated for impetigo? It responds quite quickly.

I also thought chicken pox?

CammyChameleon · 03/03/2024 22:07

It looks like impetigo to me, but it's worrying that the fucidin didn't shift it while it was at an earlier stage - fucidin is commonly given for impetigo that doesn't require oral antibiotics.

I wouldn't take other family members being unaffected as a "sign" it isn't something contagious, when DS3 got impetigo no one else did - it's most likely to take hold if the bacteria gets to broken skin.

If it doesn't improve with these antibiotics, I would go back and ask about it being swabbed in case it's caused by an unusual bacteria that isn't vulnerable to the antibiotics he has been prescribed.

MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 03/03/2024 22:12

My DS had a stubborn patch on his back which wouldn't go. Tried lots of prescribed creams and moisturisers, until 1 dr said fungal and prescribed an anti fungal steroid cream. Had to apply it x3 daily for 2 weeks and it did the trick!

Tiredandbored · 03/03/2024 22:12

Is he rubbing/scratching it? My son developed a weeping wound on the side of his face because he kept rubbing it on his bouncy-chair. They thought it was due to dairy intolerance causing eczema and it did clear up after a while of cutting out dairy alongside using fucidin cream, but it took quite a while.

I know you've mentioned eczema, but just in case there is an underlying intolerance causing it meaning the creams aren't enough on their own.

I really hope you can get it sorted, it's so heartbreaking when you see your little one suffer.

cestlavielife · 03/03/2024 22:12

Ask for referral to paediatric dermatologist

Original poster
Twobeauts · 03/03/2024 22:12

Thank you. That's reassuring to know your little ones wasn't contagious. I've tried to find search to see if that's possible. Whilst researching I did see that insect bites can cause Impetigo. Just concerning we are on 3rd lot of treatment and it's actually gotten worse. Granted we are only.about 36 hours into treatment with Flucloxicillin.
I will persevere with the antibiotics and get onto GP if no improvement.

😊

OP posts:
Original poster
Twobeauts · 03/03/2024 22:15

Beach11 · 03/03/2024 21:59

Is it crusty?
Looks like impetigo to me.
Could be perioral dermatitis.

It has just started to because crusty on day 2 of Flucloxicillin. Just checked pictures and the patch started off very small approx 8 weeks ago now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Twobeauts · 03/03/2024 22:16

Tiredandbored · 03/03/2024 22:12

Is he rubbing/scratching it? My son developed a weeping wound on the side of his face because he kept rubbing it on his bouncy-chair. They thought it was due to dairy intolerance causing eczema and it did clear up after a while of cutting out dairy alongside using fucidin cream, but it took quite a while.

I know you've mentioned eczema, but just in case there is an underlying intolerance causing it meaning the creams aren't enough on their own.

I really hope you can get it sorted, it's so heartbreaking when you see your little one suffer.

He is rubbing his face a lot which I assume is it bothering him. The GP asks me of its bothering him but its hard to tell. He's happy otherwise and still smiling, but quite aggressively rubs his face. Rubbed it raw the other day. 😔

OP posts:
Original poster
Twobeauts · 03/03/2024 22:17

CammyChameleon · 03/03/2024 22:07

It looks like impetigo to me, but it's worrying that the fucidin didn't shift it while it was at an earlier stage - fucidin is commonly given for impetigo that doesn't require oral antibiotics.

I wouldn't take other family members being unaffected as a "sign" it isn't something contagious, when DS3 got impetigo no one else did - it's most likely to take hold if the bacteria gets to broken skin.

If it doesn't improve with these antibiotics, I would go back and ask about it being swabbed in case it's caused by an unusual bacteria that isn't vulnerable to the antibiotics he has been prescribed.

Thank you. That's reassuring to know your little ones wasn't contagious. I've tried to find search to see if that's possible. Whilst researching I did see that insect bites can cause Impetigo. Just concerning we are on 3rd lot of treatment and it's actually gotten worse. Granted we are only.about 36 hours into treatment with Flucloxicillin.
I will persevere with the antibiotics and get onto GP if no improvement.

OP posts:
Original poster
Twobeauts · 03/03/2024 22:19

MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 03/03/2024 22:12

My DS had a stubborn patch on his back which wouldn't go. Tried lots of prescribed creams and moisturisers, until 1 dr said fungal and prescribed an anti fungal steroid cream. Had to apply it x3 daily for 2 weeks and it did the trick!

Thank you. That's useful to know as nobody has mentioned fungal yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
Twobeauts · 03/03/2024 22:25

MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 03/03/2024 22:12

My DS had a stubborn patch on his back which wouldn't go. Tried lots of prescribed creams and moisturisers, until 1 dr said fungal and prescribed an anti fungal steroid cream. Had to apply it x3 daily for 2 weeks and it did the trick!

It's also interesting you say this, and I've no idea why I've not thought to mention it to the GP yet 🤦‍♀️ I'm actually BF him and my one breast has had an itchy rash for the past few weeks. I've had this before, bigger chest and warm etc. Fungal that has been treated with canestan before. I didnt think the 2 would be linked as my other LO never caught it when I breast fed her and I had the same rash. Mine isn't something that is contagious and is clearing up on its own now without treatment. But thinking with the bite could this all be linked.

OP posts:
MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 04/03/2024 08:00

I also had the same rash when I was BF (right in between breasts and slightly in the creases). I didn't link the 2 either been as the patch was on his back. However you also made me think now.
Mine cleared up with Eumovate (I think it was called) it wasn't an anti fungal cream but it eventually cleared up whereas DS didn't so I kept taking him back until the fungal steroid cream was diagnosed.
Worth a mention to your GP, you never know, he could have developed it which started from the bite?

Original poster
Twobeauts · 04/03/2024 13:45

MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 04/03/2024 08:00

I also had the same rash when I was BF (right in between breasts and slightly in the creases). I didn't link the 2 either been as the patch was on his back. However you also made me think now.
Mine cleared up with Eumovate (I think it was called) it wasn't an anti fungal cream but it eventually cleared up whereas DS didn't so I kept taking him back until the fungal steroid cream was diagnosed.
Worth a mention to your GP, you never know, he could have developed it which started from the bite?

Thats such a coincidence!! Thanks so much for all the info! It's nice to know we aren't the only ones! X

OP posts:
Cloudful · 04/03/2024 13:51

I can’t help with the rash but my DS suffered with eczema when he was small and we used Scratch Sleeves, they go under his clothes and have a silk glove so he wasn’t able to scratch himself raw during the night. Might help with healing once you get the treatment sorted.

CCx19 · 26/01/2025 11:49

Hi
apologies jumping onto this old post but did you ever get a solution? Your sons face looks very similar to what my daughter is suffering with at the moment!

Crystvi · 19/05/2025 13:51

Did you find out what it was? I’m going through the same things right now it started as a bug bite and disappeared and came back as a lil red patch just like yours

Crystvi · 19/05/2025 13:54

Did you ever find out what she had?

issa31 · 17/08/2025 04:41

Twobeauts · 03/03/2024 21:49

Hi everyone,
I'm very concerned mummy running on very little sleep and lots of worry. Please know I've spoken to a doctor many times about what I'm about to describe. We are 2 lots of steroid/antibiotic cream and a course of oral antibiotics in, hence my wonder if anyone else has experienced this.

My LO is 4 months old. Totally healthy, normal birth and no issues until now.
About 8 weeks ago my LO had a small bite on his face (assuming insect as we had been out for a walk) which disappeared within 2 days. A few days later a red patch started to appear on his cheek in the place where this bite was. Its started very small and not concerning at all, assumed it was drool rash or a little eczema. Over the weeks it grew and grew until it became weepy and inflamed, at which point I sought help from a GP. Fucidin H was prescribed as they thought it was infected Eczema. After 10 days of use no improvement. Visited GP again, this time prescribed Trimovate. Told it looked almost like Impetigo but that it wasn't. Note it hasn't spread to any other member of family. Trimovate for 7 days and didn't improve, if anything got worse. Saw a different GP who thinks it is Impetigo as it has now spread on the same cheek and onto the other cheek. Areas are smaller than original but blistery and now crusting over. Have also been weepy. Now on a 7 day course.of Flucloxacillin, 2 days in and no improvement yet. I'm staying the course and understand no immediate improvement will be seen possibly, but wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this. It was only the one patch originally until all the treatments started before it got infected. No we have multiple patches on both cheeks.
Any help would be much appreciated. 😊

Hi mama! I am on the same boat right now as I have found your thread. I am loosing my mind trying to find the cure for my baby’s skin. How did it go? I know it’s been a year, can you provide me an update. I am awaiting your response.

Cocomandarin · 17/04/2026 09:45

@CCx19 @Crystvi also wondering. How did yours turn out? Every time I see a doctor they put my baby on antibiotics and it makes her sick it’s driving me mad.

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