Dry skin after bath or swimming - remedies

[kitten2014]

Hi Guys our lil miss had a mild case of heat rash many months ago and it went away but since then whenever she goes swimming or in the bath she has red, dry patches on chest and sometimes face and lower abdomen. After drying and leaving to air for a bit the redness fades but the skin feels dry and rough in places and this doesnt fade...she is fine in her skin fold areas so we know its not heat rash but could it be a form of ezema (dont know how to spell) and if so whats the best thing to use...we want to avoid moisturisers if we can so she doesnt become dependant on them and she only baths/swims twice per week (using johnsons top to toe lotion) so its not too regular to my way of thinking...it doesnt seem to irritate her when we touch it and just wondering if its a transitional phase the skin goes through as it toughens up?

 

[El1en]

My little girls skin sounds exactly the same. I could tell she had a bit of eczema (her dad has it bad) and was using coconut oil which seemed to help. She had a day at my mums a little while back and her house is much hotter than mine and her skin flared too what looked like an awful rash. We took her straight to Drs who said it was definitely eczema.

She said not to use johnsons and gave me oilatum to go in her bath and a moisturiser which goes on morning and night. After a few days I was on top of it and now sometimes i forget to put it on in the morning and she's fine.

I know you said she only baths twice a week, this is good. I was bathing my Lo every other day but have cut down to once or twice and week as the water dries her skin out

Some babies do just have baby eczema, knowing my oh I'm sure my babies will be full on but fingers crossed it will go away

 

[Lulu90]

My brother had bad eczema when he was a baby/child and my mum would only wash him with aqueous cream. As he got older, the eczema went away. He still has sensitive skin now and will flare up if he uses perfumed products. He still mentions that the chlorine in the pool irritates him in certain places, especially behind his knees. I'd recommend giving the aqueous cream a go xx

 

[kitten2014]

Thanks guys, Ive always used johnsons as that was always seen to be the best for baby but perhaps should try something else for a bit, wil try oilatum and see if that helps otherwise ill try the aqueous...anything worth a shot...funny you should mention coconut oil as was using that for baby massage nightly (after using for wks on her cradle cap works a dream!) and it seems it wasnt helping and maybe was trapping the moisture after a bath so stopped...

 

[Orion]

The HV prescribed Oilatum. You can also buy it in supermarkets but it's very expensive. It's just a cream, doesn't need a prescription, but you can get it free that way.

I use it on my dry hands too.

 

[kitten2014]

ok there are various versions of this, there is emollient bath additive as well as top to toe and daily junior lotion? should I get one for the bath and one for moisturiser? Not sure which would be best....

 

[El1en]

The one my dr gave me is for the bath, it makes her super slippery but I do think it works. Separate thing but I agree with you re coconut oil for cradle caps works wonders!

 

[kumber]

I echo the others, Oilatum is fab stuff. Johnson's is packed with chemical crap that's actually quite bad for skin, I would avoid it where possible. It's mad the power of advertising, makes it sound like the best thing since sliced bread! I would say to try and get a dermatologist referral as well, just to rule out any skin conditions.

 

[kitten2014]

thanks heading out now, will try next swim/bath.. would you recommend the lotion for now to moisturise?

 

[Orion]

The stuff you add to their bath water seems good too. But the lotion is good. I used both and his dry skin was gone in under a week

 

[kumber]

Definitely, skin can't get used to or become immune to lotion/moisturiser so use it as much and as often as needed

 

[Mummybexee]

We use oilatum