My Son's Eczema Nightmare: What We Did (and What Worked)

Hello everyone!

I stumbled upon a thread a year ago where moms were sharing their experiences with skin care for their babies. I think those tips are super valuable. Not every doctor can provide the right treatment, and in my case, none of the doctors gave me any useful information.

My Story

I knew that my baby could develop an allergy, but I didn't expect it to be a long-term thing.

After giving birth, I knew that I was in for the toughest time of my life. Besides recovering from the delivery, I had to take care of my baby.

Firstly, I took a long time to recover from the anesthesia. Secondly, I was waking up every 30 minutes at night to feed, soothe, and put my baby to sleep.

In short, motherhood without help is really tough. But that's not what I'm talking about.

I encountered a problem that kept me up at night. My son started developing red patches on his skin from two months old.

Naturally, I took my baby to the local medic. Why? We don't have pediatricians in our town, and the private pediatricians just prescribe the same thing to everyone. What's the point of paying 2000 rubles for a consultation just to be told that I ate something wrong or that I should apply fenisol cream?

When I took my baby to the medic, she told me to go on a diet. Considering that my son wasn't on breast milk anymore, that advice wasn't very helpful. I explained to her that it wasn't about that. My son was on formula. Yeah, right! I should change the formula. In short, if someone tells you something without checking the facts, you should question their qualifications. Of course, I didn't change the formula. In the hospital, my baby was given 'Nutrilak', which caused vomiting. I switched him to 'Nutrilon Premium'. And guess what? His sleep improved, and his weight gain was normal. There was no allergy to this formula. His cheeks were red from spitting up, and he would spit up a lot. He would get upset if I took away the bottle. That's how I suffered. But the medic on the local health post was convinced that it was the formula. When my son was six months old, the spitting up almost stopped, and the red patches on his cheeks went away. By the way, the doctor didn't prescribe anything. She just told me to review my baby's diet. Yeah, right. I had to explain to her that my son was on formula already.

However, I saw how my baby suffered at three months. His cheeks were itchy, he slept poorly, and he cried all the time. I was at my wit's end because I couldn't help my poor baby.

That's when I found a forum where someone recommended 'Advantan'. It's a hormonal cream, so you have to be careful. There can be side effects. The cream is pricey, but I'd buy anything for my baby's health (see my review of the cream here).

I applied a thin layer at night, and by morning, my son's cheeks were already softer. Within three days, the redness had completely disappeared. However, the cream doesn't fully cure the issue – if the spots come back, I'll have to apply it again.

But the cream did help my son sleep better. He finally slept through the night, and I didn't have to get up every 30 minutes.

Unfortunately, the cream wasn't a long-term solution. New spots appeared all over his body, and they were rough like eczema. They were covered in some kind of scaly crust. I was shocked when I saw them. I took him to see a nurse practitioner, and she told me it was probably due to the heating system. She didn't prescribe any medication, though – just suggested covering the radiator with a towel.

I tried using the Advantan cream again, but it didn't work as well as I'd hoped. The spots didn't go away, and I didn't want to constantly apply a hormone-based cream. I was looking for a more natural solution, so I started searching online forums and reading advice from other moms. And let me tell you, moms of little kids know best! I learned a lot from them. I wouldn't recommend reading articles online, though – they can be really scary.

Atopic Dermatitis

After researching, I realized that my son has Atopic Dermatitis – it's not a food allergy. It can be caused by dry air or using the wrong body wash.

So, my treatment plan for atopic dermatitis was:

One thing that's been a game-changer for me is ditching all those questionable baby bath products. (I wrote about this in the 'Baby' section - think 'Honey Kid', 'Ушастый Нянь', and the like).

Another thing I've found super helpful is closing off the radiator with a thick, heavy blanket during the heating season. (I've got a 200x200cm one that's super dense and heavy - it blocks out the heat perfectly. Trust me, get one like that).

Getting an air humidifier up and running has been a lifesaver. Go for one that's over 10k rubles - the cheap ones just don't cut it. I've got an 'Электролюкс' (check out my review) that's worked wonders in my 18sqm room. If you've got a bigger space, you'll need a much more powerful one. I had a cheap one that lasted 5 hours max - it was useless.

Moisturizing the baby's skin has been a must. I don't go for the super expensive creams - most of the time they just provide a temporary fix. We've found 'Лисичка' to be a game-changer - it leaves the skin feeling so soft. I apply it to the baby's hands, feet, and tummy after every bath, and also use 'Липобейз' or 'Бепантен' as a powder. I used to swear by 'Бепантен', but now I'm not a fan. If the baby's skin is really dry and they're scratching a lot, 'Адвантан' is a lifesaver.

I've also found that using baby products with a decent formula has made a big difference. For me, that means 'Синергетик' - but make sure it's the baby version, not the regular one. I wrote about shampoos and body washes in the 'Baby' section. The only downside to 'Синергетик' is the smell.

Getting the baby out for some fresh air has been a revelation. Even in the cold, I've found that 10-15 minutes outside makes a huge difference. I used to think it was no big deal, but it really is.

I've also found that dressing the baby in natural, breathable fabrics has been a must. Don't worry too much about style - just go for quality and natural materials. And don't worry, you can find plenty of affordable options.

Another thing that's been a lifesaver is making sure the adults who handle the baby wash their hands regularly. This is especially important for mom and dad. I always wash my hands before picking up the baby, and I make sure to remind everyone else to do the same.

Finally, I've found that minimizing trips to the doctor's office has been a must. Of course, you'll need to go every month for the first year, but try to avoid exposing the baby to other kids as much as possible.

I know some people might say that atopic dermatitis can't be cured, but I disagree. Sure, it might come back next year, but that doesn't mean you should just throw money at it. I've spent thousands on creams, but let's be real - that's just not a sustainable solution. When you're on a tight budget like I am (my maternity leave pay is a whopping 9k rubles, and I'm not even getting that right now), it's just not feasible. And what about food? Do you really want to be spending all your money on creams and not on putting food on the table?

Treatment

I've got an alternative method that works. Why pay more?

I follow these rules:

I make sure each baby has their own towel (I have a few and they're only used by the baby);I check the clothes. If they're scratchy or uncomfortable, I don't buy them. If they were given as a gift, I just give them away for free. That's actually why I don't like it when others buy things for my son.I don't always use baby products for bathing. Unless the baby has had an accident in their diaper. Same goes for hair care – I wash my son's hair once every two weeks.I apply rich creams to his skin, but I try not to do it every day so he doesn't develop an immunity to them.The treatment that helped my son:

I give him 5 drops of 'Zyrtec' in the morning and evening after meals (2-week course). But it's better to switch to 'Cetirizine' drops. My son enjoys taking them, and the effect is noticeable sooner;I moisturize his skin with baby cream;I apply 'Advantan' to any remaining rashes;I turn on the humidifier (it works at night too);I don't bathe my baby with those bright, kid-friendly gels;I take my son outside for 2-3 walks a day. Exceptions are winter (it's cold) and summer rain (if there's a storm and lightning).After turning off the heating, skin problems decrease.

Anyway, all kids are different. What works for one might not work for another. I remember the doctor suggested using 'Fenistil'. But it actually made things worse. I'm not saying anyone's lying. It's just that the product doesn't work, and that's worth mentioning. After all, someone might find this information helpful. I personally read the 'Kids' section. There's a lot of information there that no one would tell you in 5 minutes.

What Was Interesting to Read:

I read up on breastfeeding reviews and thought, why don't I want to breastfeed? It's great, right? But nope. Before I got pregnant, I already told my family I wouldn't be breastfeeding. And guess what? That's exactly what happened. Do I regret it? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I'm super glad my little one transitioned to formula after a month. CHECK OUT MY BREASTFEEDING STORY HERE.I read up on natural births before, during, and after pregnancy. I'm subscribed to this community, and despite giving birth, I'm still discovering new facts. It's essential. My birth wasn't easy, but I don't regret it. Motherhood is a blessingCo-sleeping with my baby. Opinions differ in this community, but moms know best when it comes to sleeping with their little ones. For myself, I decided my son needs to sleep separately from mom and dad. Exceptions apply, like when the baby's sick or born prematurely, and so on. But if everything's okay, I'm TEAM SEPARATE SLEEP. My story's here.I want to thank those who share their experiences, offer parenting advice, and tips on treating kids. It really helps. And to those who mind their own business when it comes to other people's kids, thanks too!

Caring for a baby's skin at home isn't as simple as slapping on some cream or ointment once. It's ongoing work. Don't forget to monitor the results.

Home care does help your little one. If your baby has atopic dermatitis, I recommend starting with external care. If that doesn't work, it's time to bring out the big guns – medication. My son's eczema was helped by Zirtek drops (check out my review). But I found Cetirizine to be way more effective.

May all the babies in the world stay healthy, and moms be happy! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

By the way, the heating's back on.

And what do you think? The eczema's back, and this time it's just one spot. But I'm ready to fight! (Turkish Bepantin works better, it's thicker somehow. I got it in Turkey when my son had heat rash, but everything turned out okay in the end). I haven't used Adrenaline since spring. Fingers crossed I won't have to again!I hope my experience was helpful!

Thanks for reading!