what 'green' barrier cream or other advice for sore skin?

[hovely]

Ds (13 months) uses motherease onesize with fleece liners, but recently his poor skin is getting very sore. All round the tops of his legs is red, like he is wearing red shorts, and now the skin is peeling off. It's not 'shiny' and I don't think it's thrush. he's also developed a little rash in the folds and creases. If I use sudocrem it just gets awfully dry, and peels. It seems like he needs a strong moisturiser/barrier. I've tried kamillosan, sudocrem, almond oil, green baby salve, and some other concoctions based on beeswax and chamomile. he gets his bum washed in a mixture of camomile and redbush tea (yes, we are completely barking in this house). I haven't changed washing liquid or his food, the only thing we've had recently is occasional bubble bath.
Any ideas? I'm not keen on metanium, it might sort out the rash but I think it would hurt his red patches, and it doesn't seem to be a barrier.

Hi everybody, thanks for recent messages.
Allycat, I did in the end put ds into disposables for about 48 hours and guess what - all problems gone - rash dried, sore red patches faded - then back into washables which had been washed with 1/2 quantity of liquid and extra rinse cycle - and hey presto - sore red patches back. Humph .
i do agree the wraps are responsible for the red bits on the legs. Not sure what to do next. I guess I'll look into some different styles. I've got one stuffable already, and maybe will check what's available second hand.
good luck

Hi Hovely. My ds was wearing disposable at xmas as he got chickenpox and I thought that his wee may sting the spots. His cleared up completely too. Have you heard of stripping the nappies before? The people who I bought them off (babykind) recommended doing this every 3 months to get rid of the build up of detergent. Maybe now his poos are not going on the nappy (just the liner as they are more solid (sorry I hope you're not eating!)) I'll cut out detergent altogether and just wash them really hot? Anything is better than this. I can remember vaguely someone saying about rashes with wrap on another site. I will investigate and if I find anything, I'll let you know. Is there anyone else out there that uses motherease wraps that are not having this problem?

sorry alycat
yes the hemp cream it better than anything we've tried for dp's psoriasis and on dd's dry patches. smell is strong at first, but settles down and is quite nice, but it's cos it natural smell, but really v.good...£10 for a big tub of the body creme or £7 for the hand cream which is the one i tried first as same ingredients really.hth

Hi Allycat, how's it going?
we still have the same problem, the rash is better in the groin but worse on the tum, and the red sore legs are still there.
had not heard of stripping the naps before, but have done the washes & just about to try the stripped batch.
have tried active birth centre gel as recommended, it's pleasant to use but no difference to the skin.
have also ordered some fleece wraps to make a break from the Rikkis.

Hi Hovely
How are you finding it? I tried stripping the nappies, using fleece liners, caking on the weleda nappy cream and it worked - for a while.... now unfortunately we're back to square one and his bum is worse than ever!! He has just cut his first two teeth though (ahh bless) so that may be why we have jumped ten steps backwards. It is so bad today that I'm afraid to say he is wearing pampers which is all I could find at the back of his wardrobe where I kept the free samples from Bounty! I am going to get some Nature nappies tomorrow and get rid of the rash completely then start again. It is always when I have left him with anyone else that it flares up. They just don't listen to a word I tell them. I often undress him after someone else has baby sat and he has a booster but no liner as no one else seems to recognise the difference - either that or they use baby wipes and no nappy cream! Still - wish me luck and hopefully one of us may crack it! Let me know how you're getting on too.

hi Allycat,
sadly we are not getting on well with the soreness. I have posted a new thread today being totally fed up. Hope it works for you, & congrats to your ds on his new teeth!

Hi Hovely
Well I must say - the Nature disposables are fab and the soreness is clearing up - his skin is peeling off though. I really wish that we could continue with the washables but little Josh has really suffered enough. I wonder if its just a motherease thing or whether all the other wierd and wonderful nappies do the same thing. Trouble is, its too expensive to try another make isn't it? I really hope you find a cure but for the time being I'm throwing in the towel!! Please let me know if you find something that works as I'd love to give it a try. Allison

The Emu Oil I use is actually totally safe to use on babies and children. It's no different to using any other edible oil such as olive. I'm not sure about other brands...I get mine from \link{http://www.mezza.co.uk/emu_buy.htm \mezza.co.uk} . It is certainly safer than many of the man made chemicals we so happily daub on our children. I've used it on both my children for eczema, nappy rash & cradle cap... I also don't have a single stretch mark! It is a wonderful natural product and doesn't interfere with your child's normal skin function. It's also safe should your child accidentally ingest it, or if you need to put it on a part of the body (such as hands and feet) that your child or baby is likely to put in their mouth. I have used sudocrem and various other products that we are told to use... the list of chemicals is horrendous and most probably toxic. We live in a funny old world where people think it's strange to use something natural and effective (Emu Oil has been used by the aboriginals for hundreds of years) but we think nothing of rubbing toxic and suffocating chemicals on our babies... most of which are from the petroleum industry (money, money, money!). Thank goodness more and more of us actually question the viability of many of the staple products on the shelves of Boots including the "so called" baby products.

Natural Child Nappy Balm contains calendula and chamomile, earthbound organics baby cream is also good for nappy rash, also contains chamomile and calendul. Natural Child also do a petroleum free jelly and a Bottom Balm which I have just ordeered but not tried yet