How can I clear up a red bumpy rash around the mouth (started small, irritated by paci and food)

[Dot-to-Dot]

My 2 yr old dd was teething a few months ago and started chewing on her finger (never chewed on her fingers before this).  The drool and presence of her finger caused what looked like a chapped lip in the corner of her mouth.  It wasn't serious and when she stopped teething she stopped the finger chewing but the rash seemed to get angry with every meal (food and face wiping) and angry overnight when she'd use her paci.

I've tried cleaning the paci with rubbing alcohol and sanitizing it.  I was putting Dr. Newman's All Purpose Nipple Ointment on it which worked for a day or two.  Now the rash is ALL OVER the outside of her mouth.  It's awful - so red and angry with loads and loads of bumps!  It looks like it burns and she HATES for me to wipe her face after meals now.  I also tried the Earth Mama Angel Baby bottom balm which they say is used for all sorts of skin irriattions all over the body, not just the bottom.

Do I need to call the doctor to get a hydrocortisone cream?  I hate to put that around her mouth for fear that she'll ingest some.  Does anyone have experience getting these rashes to clear up?  The Dr. Sears website explains exactly what she's got and says it'll just go away but it'll take many weeks.  I can't imagine it going away without some major help.

P.S.  I've ruled out more serious things like Fifth's Disease and such.

[McGucks]

DS2 and I had something similar.  It turned out to be impetigo and cleared up beautifully with Neosporin. 

Honestly, I would run it by a doctor if that doesn't help considerably with a day or two of application.

ETA:  Here are some google images of impetigo:  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=impetigo&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=707&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=71BRdwABPmGBRM:&imgrefurl=http://www.impetigopictures.org/&docid=uLGuCaRxx2B0qM&w=212&h=237&ei=xjJRTte_I9HngQfQ-MSABw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=694&vpy=204&dur=279&hovh=189&hovw=169&tx=72&ty=124&page=1&tbnh=147&tbnw=131&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0

Edited by McGucks - 8/21/11 at 9:32am

[OTMomma]

Are you certain it isn't related to any kind of food allergy? If the neosporin doesn't help I would look hard at her diet. My dd gets a rash like that from pineapple, we aren't sure if it is the acid in the fruit or just a straight up allergy to it, but it clears up within a week if she doesn't eat any more of it.

[Dot-to-Dot]

Well, she has a very straighforward diet, I make everything she eats and so I know exactly what she gets and when she gets anything new.  I do think that catsup aggravated it but I don't think she's allergic.  DH thought it was strawberries...I don't think it is but we cut them out last week.

The doctor thought it looked like yeast and perscribed nystatin.  It's definitely better!  He also gently suggested we try getting rid of the paci if we can.  I just had a baby and I am so sleep deprived...I'm just not ready to do that.  (she only gets it when going to sleep).  We're sanitizing the paci after every use and steering clear of catsup for now. 

I really wished we could have handled this homeopathically, but yeast is so tough to get under control.

[Dot-to-Dot]

P.S. Caedenmomma: We tried the neosporin, thank you for that advice.  I wonder if we'd tried that right away before it got out of hand if it would have worked.