CDing and Rashes

[Panthira]

I posted this on the diapering board as well, but I thought I would try you DDCers too. We're desperate.
Here's what I posted:

There's probably a ton of threads like this on this board, but I thought I could give it a go because we really need the help on this one.

I'm not new to cloth diapering and have CDed all of my children. They've had rashes before, but we've always managed to clear them up one way or another.

My 2 yr old DS has had a bad rash for about 2 months now and will not clear up no matter what I do. I thought at first it was because my DH hadn't washed the dipes on hot with an extra rinse on the last cycle when I was too sick too wash them myself. I took over the wash again and it still won't clear up. I use Bi-O-Kleen (a small amount) and strip the dipes with sportwash every once in a while. I've also tried Baking soda, and vineger. I have a 4 month old and we wash their diapers together. The 4 month old has no rash at all.

The main rash is on his butt cheek. It's bumpy and itchy. It had spread to different places but those went away, and this one on his cheek will not. It's about the size of a half of a dollar bill. We've tried everything we can think of trying. EBM, butt paste, lotrimin AF, A&D, zinc oxide crap, letting him go without a diaper, and now I'm at a loss.
We really don't want to take him to a doctor, so this is my last ditch effort before we resign ourselves to calling for medical help.

TIA for any help or suggestions.

[judybean]

have you always used biokleen?

[spiralmg]

nak - Have you tried homeopathic ointment with calendula? I think it is hylands? Has always been magic for me, but i've never had rash that bad.

--

also check to see if your detergent has enzymes in it - can cause probs with some people

[jenangelcat]

Hayley went through a big diaper rash phase a while back. I was searching online for ideas when I came across an article that said that baby products tend to be too strong for babies despite labels stating otherwise and that Curel among other dry skin products was a better bet.

So I started a new routine. We used two wipes (homemade) to clean up and then blew on her to dry. At each change we alternated between zinc diaper cream and curel. It cleared up straight away. We continued with the creams for another week or so to be sure and it hasn't come back.

[Panthira]

Originally Posted by judybean

have you always used biokleen?

Yeah, for about 2+ years now.


I did just get sportwash and start using that again. I've used it in the past without a problem but maybe this time he's more sensitive? We use cloth wipes with water to clean him up.

My DH was making fun of me for squirting BM into my hand and patting it on my DS's butt. Heh.

[kofduke]

the issue of mothering I just got suggested the BM!

It sounds a bit like a yeast rash...have you tried a cream for yeast? It's whatever the active ingredient is in monistat, but in a tube...Aaron had a similar rash once when he was on antibiotics. Perhaps if YOU have been on antibiotics for your surgery, it is getting him rashy?

[amelissam]

My little one had a rash that persisted though everything I tried- regular diaper creams, all naturals, I tried about 5 different kinds. We had a check up at the doctor's office, and they gave me a sample of a cream called Calmoseptine. Cleared it up in 24 hours and hasn't returned. It's not natural, has a ton of ingredients, but it's the only thing that finally worked for us.

[judybean]

actually because of the location (only one cheek, round) it does sound more yeasty thab detergent sensitivities (that would probably be more of an all-bum thing)

[Panthira]

Yeah, I am thinking it might be a yeast thing, and there is one tiny spot on the other cheek. Is there anything natural (besides that awful Gentian Violet) that can get rid of yeast? Can it affect my baby since we wash diapers together?
The fact it itches is a real yeast flag to me.
What about Impetigo? Someone mentioned that but I have no idea what it is, with little time to search the net.

[allnaturalmama]

Is he eating a lot of probiotics? If it is a yeast rash, and he's not, introducing pbs to his diet could help. They make kids supplements that you can pick up at the HFS, but just plain ole' yogurt is a good start. Kefir packs an even more powerful punch, and then if you can find someone who makes cultured veggies (or make them yourself), that would be a big help, too.

LOL about hubby and the EBM!

[Panthira]

Umm he eats no probiotics. He does eat live culture yoghurt. Can I make a paste or something with probiotics or does he have to ingest them? Ugh, I can just see what kind of poo comes out of him after eating probiotics. *shudder*

Stupid question: What's kefir?

[allnaturalmama]

Originally Posted by Panthira

Ugh, I can just see what kind of poo comes out of him after eating probiotics. *shudder*

This may sound weird, but some women have reported good success applying yogurt topically to yeast infections. It couldn't hurt to try! I *was* referring to eating it though.

Kefir is just another cultured milk product. Whereas yogurt cultures are beneficial and feed the intestinal flora as they pass through, kefir actually hangs around and repopulates the intestines, taking back the good real estate from the bad guys (sorry, been explaining probios to the kids lately...).

Store-bought yogurt typically has 1-4 strains of live beneficial bacteria; kefir has 10-15, or more. Kefir is thinner than yogurt, and is usually found right next to the yogurt at the HFS, in a tall narrow drinkable bottle. It can also be cultured at home.

I prefer to buy the plain variety, since the flavored ones are usually sweetened with nasties that counteract the work the cultures need to do. Your DS may tolerate it straight, but if not, it makes yummy smoothies with fresh fruit and honey!

[aisraeltax]

pan,
why dont you just take probiotics? thats what i was doing (out right now). that way he gets them but you dont have to worry about "how". kwim?
my ped. recommended anti-fungal cream, but all i could find in the stores were for jock itch and that just seemed too weird for me to give him.
yogurt applied directly is supposed to work.
rach

[Panthira]

Thanks, I'll try the yoghurt thing. My kid loves his yoghurt, and we do usually flavor it ourselves. I'm wondering if it's the FuzziBunz. I bought them a long time ago, and since then we've been trying to get the synthetics out. Maybe I'll just sell them off and try making larger sized diapers for him with the organic fabrics I have. They're just so bulky on him.

Rach, I do take probiotics, but my kid isn't a booby eater anymore, since I dried up while pregnant with Greyson, he weaned himself.

[aisraeltax]

Pan,
im sorry..i had a mushy brain there...thought you were referring to the babe. and i could have sworn you were taking probiotics b/c i thought YOU were the one to tell me about them!

[Panthira]

I AM taking probiotics.

[kofduke]

Originally Posted by aisraeltax

pan,
why dont you just take probiotics? thats what i was doing (out right now). that way he gets them but you dont have to worry about "how". kwim?
my ped. recommended anti-fungal cream, but all i could find in the stores were for jock itch and that just seemed too weird for me to give him.
yogurt applied directly is supposed to work.
rach

The active ingredient in the jock itch cream is the same as in the monistat 7 (which is what I think I used...even weirder to put on a boy, no?)

[aisraeltax]

pan, sorry i went scatter-brained on you.
i KNEW you were taking pro. b/c you were the one that told ME about them.
then i thought you were referring to the baby, which is where my scattered brain came into play.
so sorry about that!!!!

[Panthira]

It's become so bad I'm using antibiotic ointment on it.
I guess it's time to call a doctor... I really don't want to do that.

[allnaturalmama]

I hope your doc can help you get to the "bottom" of this... (sorry, I know this is no laughing matter - I really do hope you can get it solved ASAP).