Sensative Skin!?!
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: Archive July-December 2004:
Sensative Skin!?!
I will start this question by saying that I KNOW my DD has her father's sensitive skin! My skin is hearty Italian skin... can withstand sun, never breaks out, never gets too dry!!! She is the opposite. She is very fair, and gets little heat bumps on her upper arms all the time. I have to put vaseline on her face a couple of times a week just to get rid of blotches.
But, in the last couple of weeks, even though I bath her every night, I've noticed a couple of little pimples on her legs. They are PIMPLES with little white heads on them. They are nowhere near the diaper line. One is on her lower thigh and the other on her shin!!!??!!
Do you think it's just her sensitive skin (it has been VERY hot the last couple of weeks) or should I be doing something different in her bathing regime??
TIA
Might be ezema. My son has it and if often looks like you described. He uses a prescription cream. Vaseline has never helped him!
Thanks for the info.
But, it's not so much the blotches that I'm concerned with. It's the pimples! I can't seem to fathom a 2 year old with white heads?? On her legs??? What's up with that???
That (pimples) is exactly what happens to him! The DR diagnosed it as exema
Really!!!! Wow!!! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to doubt you!  I'll have to check into that! Thank you so much!
My ds's get little pimples here and there all the time. Especially when the weather is very warm. These little ones tend to have sensative skin anyway, it could be from her clothing rubbing on her legs, especially if it is very warm in or outside the house. My ds, 8 months old gets little red dry rashes. The doctor said it could be from the hot weather, irritation from laundry detergent, clothing, a number of things. Best wishes to ya!
BTW, it very well could be exema. Of course get it checked out if this continues.
Now that I have mispelled the word--twice--here is some info I found online "Eczema is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions. One of the most common forms of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or "atopic eczema"). Approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of the world population is affected by this chronic, relapsing, and very itchy rash at some point during childhood. Fortunately, many children with eczema find that the disease clears and often disappears with age.
In general, atopic dermatitis will come and go, often based on external factors. Although its cause is unknown, the condition appears to be an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. In people with eczema, the inflammatory response to irritating substances is overactive, causing itching and scratching. Eczema is not contagious and, like many diseases, currently cannot be cured. However, for most patients the condition may be managed well with treatment and avoidance of triggers. One of the most important components of an eczema treatment routine is to prevent scratching. Because eczema is usually dry and itchy, the most common treatment is the application of lotions or creams to keep the skin as moist as possible. These treatments are generally most effective when applied directly after bathing (within three minutes is a common recommendation) so that the moisture from the bath is "locked in." Cold compresses applied directly to itchy skin can also help relieve itching. If the condition persists, worsens, or does not improve satisfactorily, another effective treatment is the application of nonprescription corticosteroid creams and ointments to reduce inflammation.
Alternatives to nonprescription corticosteroids include more potent prescription corticosteroid creams and ointments, which are effective, but which may have some side effects. To prevent side effects such as skin thinning, your doctor may limit the length of treatment time and locations where you can apply treatment. For severe flare-ups, your doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids, but be aware that side effects including new flare-ups can develop when treatment is discontinued (this treatment is not recommended for long-term use)."
My son has had it since he was an infant. He has had both dry red patches, cracking skin, and the whiteheads or pimples you refer to. I have noticed that the whiteheads happen often when he has either been sweating or been swimming (particularly in the ocean). We treat with prescription cream if severe-- otherwise he daily uses dry skin cream. He is 8 and now knows to apply it in morning and at night. Hopefully your child does not have this but if so it can be kept under control.
Good luck!
Yvonne
Thanks Yvonne!!!
Thanks Lynn!!!
You've both been a great help. Sometimes I just need to hear that I'm not crazy!!!
I know exactly what you mean! It's nice to bounce things off of other people especially when you are a mom. Also it's nice to feel vallidated (sp) once in awhile too!!
Until age 12 or so I had little red/white bumps all over my legs, elbows, belly-button area, etc. that I have since been told was probably a form of eczema. (my sister and I used to joke about my "chicken skin") Here are a few things you may want to watch out for that I found aggravated my condition:
1. Powdered laundry soap, because it doesn't always dissolved fully and "clumps" in the waistband of underwear, jeans, etc.
2. Underwear with exposed elastic
3. Bubble bath
4. Vinyl/plastic shoes that don't breathe well--leather or canvas were better
Thanks Andy!!!! Thanks EXACTLY what my DDs upper arms feel like... chicken skin. Not really a rash, just bumpy!!
I have stopped the bubble baths, and "usually" don't use the powdered laundry detergent, so, hopefully, it won't get any worse. I think I'm just going to have to face the fact that she has her father's sensitive, tender skin, and I'm going to have to watch EVERYTHING!
Thanks again!
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