DS's severely dry skin

[Anonymous]

We have a dermatologist appointment on Tuesday (it's actually DH's, but he's giving it to DS because it seems more serious).

11 year old DS has what can only be described as exceptionally dry skin. Even with a humidifier, even lathering on hypoalergenic cream right after the shower, even reducing showers to once every two days and making sure the temperature is tepid, DS literally has red raw marks all over his thighs, the back of his legs, and his elbows. All his skin is dry, but some parts are so dry that when we try to apply any cream, it is like an open wound.

I feel so bad. Any other ideas? Or just wait for the derm. appt?

[Anonymous]

Wait for the derm appointment, that doesn't sound like normal dry skin.

[Anonymous]

I agree to wait for the dermatologist. But, your DS's skin sounds like mine. The worst part of me is my hands and you can't imagine how hard it is to have to wash my hands everytime I have to go to the bathroom. I use things like vaseline and Aquaphor. Aquaphor hurts though when the skin has any openings. I hope you find a good solution for your DS.

[Anonymous]

Course of steroids followed my maintenance w aquaphor.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like eczema.

[Anonymous]

Here are some good ideas, especially the adding omegas to the diet. It can make a huge difference.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0846/is_3_22/ai_92587670/

[Anonymous]

I'd definitely talk to the dermatologist about it, but my son's pedi's recommend "daily" baths now for super-dry skin, followed by an emollient ointment. If I let him go a couple of days without a bath, he get super-dry. You need the film of moisture from the bath (a very brief, warm (not hot) shower) in order for the ointment to hold any moisture in.

[Anonymous]

OP a friend's children had skin like you describe. She used a technique called wet wrapping, I'll see if I can get a copy of the protocol from her. You might want to Google it in the meantime. They had taken the kids to several specialists but this was simple and very effective. I'd second what PP said about the soaks in water than applying the cream within 2 minutes after just patting dry.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I am going to look into the wrapping now. My son already takes cod liver oil (which I'm sure has omega something), but I haven't tried giving him tepid baths followed by ointment (he did showers followed by cream).

We'll see what the dermatologist says, too, but thanks for the options.

[Anonymous]

22:08 here, see Therapy For Acute Flares

http://www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/wet_wraps.html

My friend used one pair of thin cotton pajamas, damp, then another pair or sweats over them for warmth. She used cotton socks on the hands and feet. At first they did soaks a few times per day and wet wrapped each night.

[Anonymous]

Make sure he's getting a lot of water/staying hydrated as well.

[Anonymous]

sounds like dry skin that turned into an infection,

I have exema (sp) its bad some weeks and gone the rest.

there were a few times in my life it got infected from scratching it...