Almost 2 year old severe rash around mouth

[Isabellamt]

hello,

my little boy is 22 months old and for the past 6 weeks has had a horrible rash around his mouth and sometimes one eye. It doesn’t seem to bother him at all but at times it looks so sore and angry! I have have taken him to the doctor twice already. The first time they prescribed 1% hydrocortisone and a barrier cream. The steroid cream didn’t seem to make much of a difference at all. The barrier cream helps it to look less angry temporarily but doesn’t clear it up. The second time we visited the doctor they prescribed an antifungal cream which if anything seems to be making it worse. Has anyone experienced something similar with their little one and can offer some advice? What helped clear it up in the end? Thank you so much.

Have you changed toothpaste recently?

If you scroll down a bit there are some links to other threads that might help.
Hope you find a solution soon.

It might be that he is eating something he is mildly allergic to. I got sore skin around my mouth as a child. I was brought up on soya milk due to having a dairy allergy but then realised I was allergic to soya on a low level.

The other things to consider are a sensitivity to something in the toothpaste or sunscreen you are using. The skin around eyes/mouth is particularly sensitive. I can use Nivea sunscreen on my arms/legs no problem at all but on my face it makes my eyelids blister and the rest of my face inflamed.

Steroid cream might actually make something like this worse.

I'd keep it as dry as possible (I know, I know) and use something really gentle like aveeno to moisturise overnight.

Allergies are worth considering too, so try some antihistamine.

Poor mite.

I'd stop the steroid cream too and use a gentle cream. I like Savlon.

Could it be contact dermatitis? Does he suck his fingers or thumbs?

Check to see what is in his toothpaste.

I am obviously much older but get exactly this rash with any toothpaste containing Sodium Lauryl Sulphate.

Discussing it with my Dentist I am not alone. Unfortunately SLS is in most toothpastes, it helps create the foam. My Dentist was able to give me details of a toothpaste without it (the cheaper plain Sensodyne) but I assume that you might need something different given the age of your DS.

My daughter had this, it was a soya allergy

Try Kit and Kin magic salve. Worked on a rash my adult DD had on her face when cream from the GP and Pharmacy didn’t.

https://kitandkin.com/collections/skincare/products/magic-salve

If the various creams haven’t worked - I would say it’s almost certainly an allergy to something. Look at diet and keep a diary. Try removing the obvious things (one at a time) and see if it improves. I would imagine the NHS website has some info on this.

You can probably find similar versions of the magic balm. Look at the ingredients of anything you apply.
If you buy anything that has a leaflet in the box, read the leaflet.

Go back to the dr, it may require a slightly stronger steroid or referral to allergist , are you giving marmite or crisps? I had redheads and had to stop and it cleared up . I was a wound care specialist and really think you need to see gp again .Please dont start taking advice however well intentioned, before you see a professional .

@Cakegold , the thread is from August 2025.