very minor bumps

[mommydancer]

Ok, so DS intermittently gets a really slight scattering of bumps on his face...often more on one side, near his temples/ eyes. Not red, never itchy, it is so low grade you have to turn him to catch the light on the surface of his skin to see it. It has waxed and waned, not in connection to anything I have been able to trace. I am posting because I want opinions as to whether it is something I shouldn't worry about or if I should take it very seriously. I don't want to go on a crusade if it's a heat rash or something. How do I know if it's a big deal?

[Lollybrat]

How old is your son? Does he have the bumps anywhere else, like the back of his upper arms or his thighs?

My son and I both have Keratosis Pilaris ("chicken skin"). This is mild and generally harmless skin condition with small, rough bumps. It seems to come and go and while it can be annoying at times, it really hasn't been a problem. This is a very common condition. Estimates are the about 50% of people have it.

Here are a couple of articles that might help you decide if this is what your son's has:

http://www.drgreene.com/21_84.html
http://www.kpkids.net/
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00769.html

[Chinese Pistache]

My ds has this, too. His are on his back mostly. I do think it's some kind of KP. My KP first went away when I cut out corn for my dd (came back gradually after she weaned and I wasn't monitoring my diet any more). Most recently, it went away when I eliminated wheat and eggs for my ds. His went away, too, strangely. BTW, I've had it as far as I can remember.

But then, just this week, it's coming back for both of us and I can't figure out why. I posted a thread a while back about how people had controlled it by cutting gluten, dairy, and adding Omega 3s and Vitamin A, but since I'm already doing that, I'm not sure what to make of ours returning. Of course, all the literature says it's no big deal, but from my experience, it is in response to something going on with my body.

[mommydancer]

Thanks so much for responses.

Lollybrat, he's coming up on two, and no...the bumps are not in any other location.

CP- That's the thing...it seems like whenever something waxes and wanes like this, it's a clue about something he's eating (or I am eating) that is causing a problem. It went away completely over the weekend both of the last two weekends, so I am wondering if some difference in what we eat during the week can be discovered if I pour over the food journal. Daddy's not so fervent about making entries over the weekend, so it is harder then.

[changingseasons]

I've noticed bumps like that too over the past month. DD has them in a few spots- on the side of her leg, her stomach, sometimes her face. I asked the ped if this was something new or just a different version of eczema (because it looks nothing like the eczema on her face), and she said she thought it was just some minor spots of eczema.

[Wugmama]

My dd gets some that look like little mosquito bites - they come and go - usually 2 or 3 at a time.