Evil rash - butt picture warning - T's not mine

T's had this rash for over 2 weeks now. It started on her butt cheeks and has spread to her legs and arms. Its raised and becomes red when she scratches it (because is itchy). Her doctor said its contact dermatitis (an allergic reaction to something her skin came in contact with) and told me to apply 1% hydrocortisone 3 times daily. I've been doing that and its done nothing. Its actually spread. He also gave me a prescription for a stronger steroid that I'm going to fill on Tuesday if its not better by then. I've also tried my Angel Baby Bottom Balm, calendual oil, Aquaphor, and now coconut oil. Nothing seems to help.

While I'm trying to make her more comfortable and treat the rash, I'm also trying to figure out what on earth is causing it. The doctor said its not something she ate so I'm concentrating on things I use around the house. I haven't changed anything in months so I'm kinda lost. I'm starting with our laundry detergent. I already use Free & Clear detergent on our cloths & bare minimum Crunchy Clean detergent on her trainers and night time diapers. Aside from her body wash/shampoo, sun screen, and bug spray I don't really put anything on her. I clean with vinegar mostly so its not some chemical she's picking up off the floor or something.

What else am I missing? Is there something else I can try for her skin?

Here's a pic of the offending rash.

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/P1010601.jpg

What about the new clothes she got for her birthday? Sometimes there are chemicals from the dyes or from whatever color brightener they put on them.

Or could it be a teething rash (since you previously mentioned more teeth coming in)?

While the redness isn't coming through in the picture, it looks uncomfortable and just not good. If you haven't changed anything at home is there something at daycare that could be causing it? Maybe make an appt, with a dermatologist?

Hmmm. She only got like 2 outfits for her birthday and hasn't worn any of it in a while and its gotten much worse since.

She's had teething rashes before and this looks different. Its also not on her drool spots or in her butt crack.

Daycare doesn't put anything on her that I haven't supplied. They do wash her crib sheet so maybe its a detergent they use? Something in the sand in the playground?

If its not better in a week or so I'll think about taking her to a dermatologist. We don't have good health insurance for her so I'd have to have a strong feeling that a dermatologist would be helpful. Perhaps another trip to her doc would be in order first.

It could also be something the daycare uses to clean toys or floors, anything she might sit on or somehow come in contact with. . . the possibilities are endless. I hope it goes away soon.

Has she been sick lately? My kids both have a very similar rash and when I took them to the dr they said it was a viral rash.

Poor kiddo! Have you tried Tea Tree Oil? Whenever we have mystery rashes (including one that even baffled the dermetologist) tea tree oil has done the trick. I fill a container with 1/2 c water, add a few drops of TTO, and dab it on once or twice a day. 3 of the 4 of us (DD1, DD2, and DH) have had weird rashes and had good luck with it, even when the steroids didn't work.

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Originally Posted by Newlywed630

Has she been sick lately? My kids both have a very similar rash and when I took them to the dr they said it was a viral rash.

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Nope. No illnesses aside from the usual daycare snotty nose.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeK

Poor kiddo! Have you tried Tea Tree Oil? Whenever we have mystery rashes (including one that even baffled the dermetologist) tea tree oil has done the trick. I fill a container with 1/2 c water, add a few drops of TTO, and dab it on once or twice a day. 3 of the 4 of us (DD1, DD2, and DH) have had weird rashes and had good luck with it, even when the steroids didn't work.

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I dabbed some on a few days ago. DH freaked out. The smell reminds him of his late mother (not a good thing if you recall). Anyway, it didn't do anything and he's forbid me from using it again.

It does stink. In our experience, you've got to keep using it for at least a week. If you dilute it the smell isn't as bad.

Is she using the potty at school? Maybe what they clean it with. Carpets or floors professionally cleaned lately at school? Fertilizers or sprays used in playground recently? Maybe the school switched cleaning agents.