Rash Help

BoothBaby

Sorry this is long....

A while back we had stink issues, and this board helped me with my wash routine to eliminate it (thank you!).  We had been using Charlie's Soap.  After getting advice, I tried Tide, but after a few washes, it gave my son a rash on his lower abdomen (just like the other person described -- red bumpies).  So I switched back to Charlie's and got some Bac-Out, which solved the stink issue (I add it to every load).  I also determined that we have hard water, so I have just recently bought the Charlie's booster and have been adding that to loads (only like the last 3 times though).

Now I cannot seem to get rid of this dumb rash though!   I have been patting dry every diaper change and slathering on CJs Butter most of the time.  I have also tried baby powder to keep him dry (instead of the CJs), which seems to help for a change or two, and then the redness comes back.  I also just purchased some Waxelene, but frankly I'm not sure how to use it.  The initial red bumpies have changed to more of a red blotchiness now (see pic).  He also has gotten some in the corners of his thighs, clearly from chafing (also in pic).  I try to change every hour or so during the day (unless he is napping), but at night he does anywhere from 7 to 12 hour stretches, and his fitted is soaked upon waking.

If you need me to describe my wash routine, just let me know!  I have no idea if it's the dipes causing the rash at this point, or if I'm just not using strong enough creams?  I'm lost.

Mandmeesh

Ouch! Poor baby! Charlie's is known to cause some serious rashes in kids. It could be that he is sensitive to it. This sensitivity can develop over time

freezorburn

I find that once a rash really takes hold, I need something stronger than CJ's. Grandma El's is good for wetness protection. Waxelene or Grovia Magic Stick are also nice because they have that waxy quality.

This is assuming you're not dealing with yeast.

As for the wash routine -- maybe a few hot water strips and try a different clean-rinsing detergent, like Tiny Bubbles or Country Save?

TJ1979

Make sure LO is really completely dry before putting it on though, otherwise you will seal in the wetness.

BoothBaby

I know it looks bad.  Fortunately he's not bothered by it at all.....but it bothers ME a lot!  Some days it looks like it's almost gone, and then the next day it's more red again.  Ugh.

We used Charlie's for weeks before trying Tide, so I'm thinking (hoping?) that he's not sensitive to that soap as well.  I bought the 32lb bucket of Charlie's, so I'm trying to make it work, otherwise it will be a very heavy doorstop.  I'd like to exhaust any other options before switching detergents again.  Sorry, I should have mentioned that in the original post.

How would I know if the rash was yeast at this point?

Is Grandma El's better/stronger than Waxelene?  When you're saying to just slather on the Waxelene, should I apply it between every diaper change?  I've heard to sometimes layer creams, so should I be putting something UNDER the Waxelene?  This is where it all gets confusing for me.  I don't know what creams really do what.

BoothBaby

To clarify -- hot water strip just means to "wash" in hot water with no detergent, right?  How many times do you recommend doing that?  I assume I should do this to my whole stash, right?

mrshudson618

BoothBaby said:

To clarify -- hot water strip just means to "wash" in hot water with no detergent, right?  How many times do you recommend doing that?  I assume I should do this to my whole stash, right?

Yup. Check the machine for bubbles each time, but I would start with 3 washes.

But doing this most likely won't do you any good if you aren't going to switch detergents.

TJ1979

mrshudson618 said:

To clarify -- hot water strip just means to "wash" in hot water with no detergent, right?  How many times do you recommend doing that?  I assume I should do this to my whole stash, right?

Yup. Check the machine for bubbles each time, but I would start with 3 washes. But doing this most likely won't do you any good if you aren't going to switch detergents.

Unless it's ammonia burn from detergent buildup.  Does Charlie's build up like other detergents do?

BoothBaby

mrshudson618 said:

To clarify -- hot water strip just means to "wash" in hot water with no detergent, right?  How many times do you recommend doing that?  I assume I should do this to my whole stash, right?

Yup. Check the machine for bubbles each time, but I would start with 3 washes. But doing this most likely won't do you any good if you aren't going to switch detergents.

Ok, I understand.  Any idea what the likelihood is that it's the detergent causing the issue?  I know it was originally caused by Tide....is there a chance that there is still Tide residue in the dipes?  I did not strip them after that, I just switched back to Charlie's.  It's been a few weeks since then though.

Obviously if Charlie's is causing the issue then I will switch.  I'm just trying to figure out if I can solve the problem with creams or whatever else before doing that....especially since we were successfully using Charlie's before trying Tide (at least in terms of him never having any sort of rash prior to that point).  Darn you ladies and your love of Tide! 

TJ1979

Hmm, yeah, if you never stripped after using tide, then it's possible there is still tide residue causing the problem.

mrshudson618

BoothBaby said:

mrshudson618 said:

To clarify -- hot water strip just means to "wash" in hot water with no detergent, right?  How many times do you recommend doing that?  I assume I should do this to my whole stash, right?

Yup. Check the machine for bubbles each time, but I would start with 3 washes. But doing this most likely won't do you any good if you aren't going to switch detergents.

Ok, I understand.  Any idea what the likelihood is that it's the detergent causing the issue?  I know it was originally caused by Tide....is there a chance that there is still Tide residue in the dipes?  I did not strip them after that, I just switched back to Charlie's.  It's been a few weeks since then though.

Obviously if Charlie's is causing the issue then I will switch.  I'm just trying to figure out if I can solve the problem with creams or whatever else before doing that....especially since we were successfully using Charlie's before trying Tide (at least in terms of him never having any sort of rash prior to that point).  Darn you ladies and your love of Tide! 

Isn't charlie's the one that shouldn't be used in combo with other detergents(like you can't use it on your diapers and something else on your clothes)? I think you are even supposed to clean your machine before switching to Charlie's, to get rid of any residue from previous detergents. The charlie's causes weird build up or something when mixed with regular detergents. 

So, in this case maybe a hot water strip could help, if there was residue from the tide left over.

So maybe 

BoothBaby

Well, it's worth a shot I suppose!  I am not sure about all the rules on Charlie's....we are using it exclusively for dipes and regular clothes, so other than my little foray into Tide, there hasn't been any other detergent mixing.  But to be safe, I might as well clean my machine too!  It is rather ironic to me that all these products that are supposed to "clean" are the ones that are causing issues with build-up, stink, etc.

First load of dipes is in the wash right now, so we'll see if stripping helps.  In the meantime, I will slather on the Waxelene and continue to work on the rash from the skin end.

Thanks everyone!

freezorburn

Fragrances and brighteners are designed to stick to fabrics. That's why they build up. I'm a little less clear on how enzymes work in laundry detergent, but I understand that they can also be skin irritants. Tide has all of these.

YellowLily2013

Wow. That looks just like ds' rash does! It's so infuriating.

1. We use different detergents. I've been using planet powder. And now I'm thinking of swithing to tide.

2. The ammonia smell has came!! Oh my!! It does burn the nose. So this may be an ammonia burn. I'm hoping the tide will help that.

3. Mine also starts like little dots and then spreads to a bright red patch. Especially after waxelene. DS had mspi, but soy always presented worse. Waxelene's first ingredient is soy! So in wondering if that's also contributing to it??

Gawd. This rash thing is awful, but know you aren't alone!

Keep me updated if you find a solution.

YellowLily2013

@mapleme Thanks for looking into things for me. I've researched and researched too, and what the "book" says versus whatever is happening just doesn't make sense KWIM... As for the soy, I know what the FDA says, but I can't figure out why he gets worse with the cream! It just seems contrary to what everyone else is experiencing. And he ultimately clears up and is rash free from just using water on cloth wipes... and his skin peels. wtf!

And the ammonia smell JUST started this week, I've never noticed it before, and I've been battling this rash on and off since January! Ahhhh

I have done hot water strips before, but don't feel like I should have to do that all the time. And how much water do they need? If I only have 15 aios in the wash, it doesn't make sense to fill it up all the way... since you need the diapers to have some agitation together, right?

I know you don't have an outside baby YET, and things are simple in the hypothetical world of what "should" work. But in the real world, something isn't right and I don't know to fix it.

JEPES1348

Maple, you're so darn sweet. FX you get that outside baby soon, like, today! "...Friday's child is loving and giving..."

Danielle2482

We have a similar rash that I've been trying to identify with a 5 month old.  We use prefolds at night and in the morning it's gone.  By the end of the day in our pockets and aios, its back.  I've been trying to use prefolds when I'm with him and it seems to be fine with prefolds.  I'm confused because I don't think it's my detergent (Nellie's) as the prefolds are washed with the other diapers and I don't think it's certain fabrics as my pockets are stay dry and my aios are natural (simplex).  No ammonia smell here and it's the same thing, doesn't bother him but bothers me looking at it!  I've got no advice but I hope you can figure it out soon and I'll be watching the suggestions.

YellowLily2013

Mapleme said:

Chickypoo2468 said:

@YellowLily2013‌ Js skin peels, it does it the most when it's healing but I noticed it other times as well. I only pat him, I never actually wipe unless there is poop. And I pat dry as well.

Also, your last couple of sentences are very condescending IMO.

Maybe you're looking at the wrong things. It could be something else causing an issue, or the soy causing an issue for different reasons.

No worries. I get it. I fully realize that my advice is just "book smarts" and I try hard to not come off as a know-it-all-bish. I couldn't remember what YL had tried, but I noticed that no one had replied to her in a while and I had *just* been researching ammonia, so I thought I'd throw out there what I came across. I know how frustrating a seemingly unsolvable problem can be.

Glad you didn't take it condescendingly @mapleme. It definitely wasn't ment to be. I know I was armed with lots of book smarts before I had an outside baby and now that isn't helping me! Lol.

@Chickypoo2468‌ glad to know j peels too. It's definitely in the healing process. It's so weird to me though. I like to wipe with water and pat dry in case of ammonia bothering him...

TJ1979

Mapleme said:

@YellowLily2013‌ Js skin peels, it does it the most when it's healing but I noticed it other times as well. I only pat him, I never actually wipe unless there is poop. And I pat dry as well. Also, your last couple of sentences are very condescending IMO. Maybe you're looking at the wrong things. It could be something else causing an issue, or the soy causing an issue for different reasons.

No worries. I get it. I fully realize that my advice is just "book smarts" and I try hard to not come off as a know-it-all-bish. I couldn't remember what YL had tried, but I noticed that no one had replied to her in a while and I had *just* been researching ammonia, so I thought I'd throw out there what I came across. I know how frustrating a seemingly unsolvable problem can be.

This is my favorite thing about @mapleme. 

TJ1979

@mapleme You love me.

AwaitingAAmiracle

We are having the same type/looking rash. Not sure what is going on. If you ladies find a solution, please post it.

I cannot find a correlation between the type of diaper and the rash or anything really. It really does seem to bother me a lot more than it bothers LO.