Pesky Rash

[LauraJGC]

Hi Moms (and maybe some dads too),

My 9 month old DS has been dealing with an on-again-off again rash.  It is on the skin above his penis.  It started many months ago.  I stopped CDing while treating it (with Rx anitbiotic and triple paste).  After a few weeks of treatment, it went away, only to come back when I started CDs again.  Last week it was finally gone, after 2 months of disposable diapers..ugh!  So obviously it's not the CDs.  Anyway, I sanitized the diapers, stripped them, and tried new detergent (was first using bumgenius detergent, now allens).  After about 5 days in cloth, it's creeping back!!!  I am trying to stay on top of changing him every 2 hours and making sure his skin is dry before I put the diaper back on.  My local CD store thought it may be a reaction with his urine, due to the location of the rash.  Someone thought baby powder would be good.  Does anyone have ideas?  I want to keep him in cloth, because I really don't think that's the cause of the rash, but how should I treat it?

Thanks!

Laura

[cristeen]

What type of dipe are you using (pocket, fitted, pf, etc.)?

With my rashy guy, the thing I had to do was let him spend the mornings in fitteds (no cover - just babylegs) and change him as soon as he peed.  Sometimes that means 3 changes in an hour.  My guy does most of his peeing in the morning, though.  Then when I put him down for his nap, I change him into a pocket (fitted won't get us through nap-time), and change again when he wakes up.  He wears pockets in the afternoon, and I usually change him every 2-3 hours in the afternoon. 

And anytime I see the rash starting to creep back in, I start covering the area with a CD-safe rash cream - Angel Baby is what I've been using, but I just picked up a similar herbal goop at WF that seems to heal better (it has comfrey).  Both are oil based, so will wash out of the dipes easily enough.  And I know that when the rash starts creeping back in, I just have to be more attentive about changing more frequently. 

What type of rash is it?  Describe it... my guy gets 3 different kinds - a pink scaly patch on his thighs, which I believe is yeast.  For the most part I ignore it, it doesn't bother him.  I'll put lotion or cream on it every few days, but it comes right back.  He gets a peeling type of rash like after you've had your hands submerged in dish water for an hour and the skin is water-logged...  that is a hint I need to let him dry out between changes, and that's when I start letting him go cover-less and change constantly.  And he gets open bleeding sores on his bum - which is caused by stealth poops, when I don't realize he's pooped and he's sitting in it for a while (but my guy's a toddler, so he's good at that).  That's when I have to break out the big guns, the completely non-crunchy creams and the diaper liners. 

At 9 mos, have you ruled out food reactions? 

[LauraJGC]

Thanks for all of the ideas.  I'm using pf with Thirstie covers, and BG and Fuzzibunz pockets.  His rash is pink, starts on the skin above the penis, and when it gets worse, it travels to his inner thighs.  It's pink and a little rough, but not really scaly.  The anti fungl didn't do much so I don't think it's yeast, but it may be.  I have a feeling it relates to wetness/urine.  I have been putting lanolin on for since last night, and it's looking better.  Maybe that's a good barrier.  I think I need to just keep on top of the changing to keep him dry, like you said.  I also bought Grandma El's and thought I would try that.  I have heard great things about Angel Baby.  I have ruled out food reactions because it first started when he was 4 1/2 months (EBF until he was 6mos).  He really didn't get into eating until the past few weeks...and the rash does not appear related to his BMs.

Thanks again, let me know if you have any other thoughts!

Laura

[Galatea]

It sounds like yeast.  Yeast will keep recurring unless you treat it for long enough.  Just like when you get a vaginal yeast infection, you have to treat it long past when it appears to be cured.  I'd keep applying the yeast cream (Lotrimin AF worked fine for us) for a week after it appears to heal.