Thrush, standard or allergy rash?

[milasmum]

My boy get the same pin prick rash around the same area.

I am baffles by it too but it seems to flare up when he is in fleece lined nappies

[~*Bron*~]

heat can absolutely cause reddening up!

[firespiral]

I cannot even touch a tomato!!

They are high in salicylites (natural food acid that irritates eczema) and one of nature's most acidic fruits.

Pears are the only fruit with (virtually) no salicylites, followed by apples and bananas. These are 'my fruits'

Do a web-search for ellimination diets specific to salicylite (spelling?) reduction, as well as amines (the other potentail culprit).

Dairy is another likey irritant. As is modified starches, like the modified corn starch (1442?) found in heinz teething rusks.

Keep away from MSGs (621, 627, 635) .. especially if asthma is in the family too.

i recommend visiting www.possibility.com to purchase yourself a copy of 'The Chemical Maze' - if you have an eczema-prone family it will make your life so much easier.

Be aware that allergies don't dissappear forever. Even if your son has no symptons, he may have them (or completely different ones) appear later in life. I was allergic to some foods as an infant, different ones as a kid, nothing during adolescence, and as an adult i have learnt much

Also, allegries can be tested for - intolerances can't - except thru ellimination diets and good ole trial and error.

Eczema skin is not about 'which soap' but is actually 'no soap' - the acidic nature of the soap base is an irritant too. Doesn;t matter what brand it is!! We use 'Natural Instinct' products, found at many chemists these days .. but as there is a small amount of citrus in these, be careful of them too. Once a day is plenty. Aquaous cream can be used as a soap too!

Goodluck .. this is a life journey now. But it can be just as much fun and learning as cloth .. with the right attitude.

I recommend: the natural confectionary company - the only company with lollies that don't cause my girl hives!! mmm .. yum

[proudmum]

Hi FS, I really appreciated that response. That was terrific.

The strangest thing for me is that I thought I was doing all the right things: using cloth nappies, buying expensive detergent that doesn't contain phosphates and the like, using water and cloth wipes when changing, using natural products for bathtime, everything that the average joe doesn't do and still my son's skin was affected... I was kind of horrified after my efforts (especially when the average joe who doesn't do all those things doesn't have any issues!) but I never stopped to think food would be a problem... it's naive of me really... and this isn't a sob story either... but I just find it so strange because I didn't expect it...

I've actually cut out dairy and there was a slight improvement... although this seemed to help more with his colic... I found that egg was an issue as well... I am obviously breastfeeding and I have cut out so many foods, I am almost too scared to eat anything!!!

And we don't have eczema in the family... although my sister has athsma but I just thought that came from her whooping cough which she was diagnosed with as a baby... anyway, I have digressed! I will check that link out...

[marymac]

When it comes to rashes, the only thing that has worked for us is nothing.

I use no detergent on my nappies. I stripped my whole stash, rinsed multiple times and sinse then only wash in water. My super sensitive dd1 has stopped getting any rashes, and dd2 has not had one in 10 months since she was newborn. My nappies smell fresher than before, have no stains, and are sanitised by the sun. I generally put their singlets in with the nappies, just so the things closest to their skin have no detergent. For everything else I use half strength sensitive powder.

If it is thrush, remember it is a yeast. It loves warm dark moist places. And it's favourite food is sugar. Dried fruit is a killer for me for that reason.

The only other thing I can suggest is the elimination diet. Find out what it is. You would have to do the diet as well so that you knew your breastmilk was "clean"

[proudmum]

Only wash in water... interesting. If they are sanitised by the sun, what do you do during the winter time?

[marymac]

Sun. There is UV all year round. I live in a cold damp part of Vic and when it is nasty outside in winter, I put the nappies on an airer next to the glass sliding door or in a north facing window.

Detergent doesn't sanitise things anyway. The ingredients help to remove particles, but don't kill germs.

My sister uses a small amount of detergent, and I think my nappies are cleaner and brighter. Hers look kind of grey. I wouldn't tell her that though.