New and need advice !

[crafty]

Hi there,

First off, thanks to all for your posts ! It's my firts time wirtting on here but have been reading since I opened my daycare in Jan. 2012. You guys have been most helpfull ... and now I have to ask for your advice.

Other than my own 2, I currently have this little guy, the only one I have so far but I have families starting in September. He as been with me since I opened. He started when he was 12 months old. He has been doing well here normal adjuments I would say but he is a very anxious/nervous 'paniquy' little one by nature. We have made big progress together on some of his little problems like eating, naps and stuff. However, ever since I have known him he seemed to have skin problems. It's very dry and he scratches himself especialy when he's mad or unhappy, tired ..whatever. When he first started I had a discussion about his 'rashes' with his mom and I knew he had seen the doctor and according to her he was not too concerned. 'Normal dry skin just put baby cream on it'. But lately it has been worst . Soo bad it he has scabs and it's really all over his legs and arms a little bit on his face too. It's very nasty to look at. I know he has seen the doctor and the mom still tells me that the doc. just says to put baby cream on it. I do tend to beleive her but I can hardly imagine that the doc would not have prescribed something ...it really is very very bad. He is not bothered by it here and I don't catch him scratching all the time, he does not cry or anyhting when I do put cream on it but I AM worried for him. If it was my child I would go get a second opinion for sure.*I do not think it's comunicable as he has been like this for ever but not nearly as bad. However, I am tempted to ask the family for a medical paper to confirm. The parents to tend to be a little layd back and too seasy going but that's MY opinion. They often forget some of his supplies, don't really have a rountine ... you know the type I'm sure but nothing that would have me concerned for the child's security or wellbeeing. However, I am concernt about this very much so but since he is my only icome for now ... What would you do ???

Thanks a bunch !

[Crayola kiddies]

I would guess by your description that it could be eczema. The dr should be able to diagnose it's very common, but not contagious .... Stress and acidy foods can cause outbreaks.

[playfelt]

Sounds like eczema to me too. Very common in little kids and the good news is they tend to outgrow it somewhat as they get older. The best non prescription cream right now that one of my daycare families is using is made by aveeno and is meant for dry skin from eczema. All of the aveeno products do well on sensitive skin. I use their diaper cream on my own daughter as well as several of the daycare use it. I find the body wash with the oatmeal in it is good too since that is what is often prescribed is an oatmeal bath to soothe the skin. Worth looking into the entire line and no I don't get paid by the company to say that just tried them all.

[Mamma_Mia]

My DD also has eczema nd in the winter months its pretty bad, thankfully its mostly on her legs, lower back and back of the arms....no face! Baby cream, even the aveeno one didn't do much. I had to use adult lotions with extreme moisture on her 2-3 times daily. I tried to reapply at each diaper change during the day. It helped a BIT

Lately I've noticed something else, with the warmer weather it went away! so it's either the #1 the heat or #2 not wearing pants/long sleeves to rub against it. OO also if her bath water is a bit warmer then normal she flares up again. Its a constant battle...

A Dr. should have told them that BUT even if they did most will say, there isn't anything you can do to make it go away. Some things may help but suddenly next month the 'thing' that worked doesn't anymore. So annoying......

[crafty]

Thanks guys !

I should have mentioned that I have eczema and am familiar with the aveeno products as I've used them on my own kids however they do not have eczema. Just beeing safe with what I use on them. It did look like very very bad eczema or sometype of allergies to me and I have told the mother but he has seen the doctor just last week ... and still nothing. I do not get it. The cream she is providing right now is a sented one which if it is eczema can only make it worst and I have not seen any improvement so far. I'm also worried that infection can get into it because let me tell you he is full of open wounds now all over his legs and arms. It almost looks like burns after the skin peels off. ( I know they are not burns as you see the cratches from his fingers) but it's just too give you an idea how bad it looks right now. I guess I just reallly want something done and make sure I>m giving him sometype of proper treatment and not actually making it worst.

[Crayola kiddies]

Life brand ( shoppers) makes a hydrocortisone cream that I used for my kids cause they get it too.

[playfelt]

If the doctor does give a cream it will likely be a hydrocortisone based one. Just be very careful using it on the face or the diaper area as repeated use thins the skin and makes it more prone to breakouts of other kinds for some reason. Only seems to be on those two area but then again they are thinner to begin with I guess.

It is the humidity in the summer that makes the eczema seem to get better and why it is worst in the winter when the air is heated and dry.

It might also be some form of contact dermatitis and any scented product will really make that worse. Experimenting with switching laundry soaps, making sure clothes are washed before wearing, sticking with cotton vice anything wooly or scratchy. Although lanolin which is made from sheep might actually help when applied as a cream.

The fact the sores are open means you may just have to treat them like sores and apply polysporin instead of lotion to aid in healing. That will at least keep the chance of infection somewhat at bay. I have used vaseline on my own child after a bath and that seems to help moisturize well. The pores are open from the bath and the vaseline rubs in easily.

As a side note rubbing my hands with vaseline is the best treatment I have found for the red dry cracked hands we get in daycare. Doing it at bedtime and just keep massaging till it soaks in and it doesn't stay greasy feeling for long. But for both it has to be the stuff in the jar not the vaseline brand lotions which are useless as far as I am concerned.

For lotions for my own dry skin I like the St. Ives oatmeal and cocoa butter version.

[crafty]

My problem is that this little guy does not have any diagnostic or a good cream to treat it. So I dont know if I should just use a cream that I provide for him myself and hope that it works or ask the parents for a medical confirmation or just let it go. But I really do have a hard time seeing him like this.
For myself I use the avon therapie moisturinzing hand cream and vaseline an it does work well. But that,s when it's well controlled. I NEED my precription when it decides to act up.

Anyway, I just hope my little guy is not suffering from it.

[Inspired by Reggio]

As hard as it is to see a child in discomfort I would not apply anything not provided by the parents or with written permission for you to use something you supply - you open yourself to liability if it made it worse or an allergic reaction occurs.

If you are really concerned and wonder if perhaps he has not REALLY been seen by a DR I would draw up a "treatment form" that must be signed by a Dr that outlines the symptoms and concerns your seeing and need for clarification this is not a communal rash and what treatment for symptoms are to be offered both at home and in group care setting to ensure it is not aggravated ... that way your ass is covered and if the Dr says to avoid scented creams you can refuse to apply the one they have provided and demand one that matches the treatment plan ... win win

[jazmic]

I agree with Reggio. I would go with the angle of making sure that it's not communal for the other kids in your care especially now that there are open wounds if you're nervous about how to approach the parents. And insist on getting the Doctor's signature as well as phone number and address just to make sure they don't just make it up. Poor little guy.