Itchy Rash in Front of Ears

Updated on October 21, 2008
J.B. asks from Redondo Beach, CA
18 answers

Hi everyone! So, I was just curioes if any other moms have this type of problem. My 5 mo old daughter has had this red rash in front of her ears pretty much like side burns since she was about one mo old. My ped said she has extremely sensitive skin for one but also it is probably a reaction to some hormones in my milk. She gave me a few tubes of ointment called Vusion which is 80% white petroleum, 15% zinc oxide, and the rest miconazole nitrate. I apply this twice a day and some days it seems to help and the rash is gone but other days is back in full force. She scratches at it and it gets even worse. Has anyone else ever had this type of rash? Ive gone back my ped twice about it but she keeps saying the same thing! I just feel like my daughter is really irritated my the itching and is incredibly uncomfortable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated:)

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

It sounds like eczema. My girls have it. It is allergy related. It is worse in warm months. My youngest is also allergic to most skin cremes and sunscreen. I've had good luck w/ Aveeno products for her. Try hydro-cortisone for the itch. There are RX eczema cremes.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.M.

answers from San Diego on

Do not take to a pediatric dermatologist go to a pediatric allergist! I did the dermatologist first and I wish I would have got to the allergist. They were able to tell me the cause rather than just trying to put medicine on it. Good luck

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Honolulu on

Try changing what you eat. Google the "big 8" allergens - I don't know them all - milk, soy, chocolate, etc. and try eliminating them from your diet for a month and see if that helps. Also, the laundry - use the hypoallergenic laundry detergent. If she is allergic to something, you need to eliminate what she is allergic to, not cover it up with creams. My daughter was sensitive to milk and milk products. Once I stopped consuming them - she was s different baby!! good luck and I hope you figure it out!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Does your daughter, when she's sleeping, have her head turned to either side...and then perhaps some "drool" may accumulate on her bedding right there, and being that it is "damp" because of it, it may cause some skin rash/problem there?

Or if she has a sippy cup/bottle in bed with her, or sucking on a pacifier... saliva may "drool" & dribble to the side of her face in which she is turned, and thereby making her bedding damp right there and making her skin irritated, where her ears happen to be?

My son is a sweaty type, and sometimes wakes up with the side of his face/ear area sorta sweaty right there on the side of his face, where via gravity would then make it damp on his pillow.

Just an idea.

All the best,
Susan

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Ask for a referral to a dermatologist. Demand one, they must give it to you. A dermatologist will have a better idea than the doctor because they specialize in the skin. Or go pay for one out of your own pocket. My daughter also has had a few weird rashes on her nose nad behind her ears, my doctor gave my hydrocortisone which helped but you are not supposed to use it for long periods of time. What the doctor also gave us was Eucerin products. YOu can buy them at Walgreens. That also helped. I would clean the skin with hydrogen peroxide, let it dry then put on some Eucerin cream, this also really helped, I think better than the hydrocortisone cream. Everything is gone now but sometimes she does still get the rash behind her ear and I just use the hydrogen peroxide to dry it out then the Eucerin. If none of this works demand to get that referral to the dermatologist be firm with your doctor and Good Luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.J.

answers from Honolulu on

Try "Bag Balm" in a green tin can my friends swear by it. Also try laying hands on your child and pray for her, that always helps my child.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Oh this must be so hard for you. I am sure you have gotten lots of great advice. Allergies are a big cause of rashes - do you have pets, indoor plants ?? sometimes some household items are allergens, then perhaps use a hypo allergenic detergent, if you are nursing you could change your diet to eliminate the allergens from your diet, dairy, soy, or perhaps it is the formula - you might see if a different formula might help. As far as products you might want to try Arbonne so that you are not putting the harmful petroleum/mineral oil or steroid containing products on her.The wash wont strip her skin and contains no dyes/fragrances . All the best to you! jenni ____@____.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Get a second oppinion. And a third if necessary. Maybe a dermatology appointment for the baby.
Good luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

my son's eczema started the exact same way you are describing it, at about the same age.
i knew it was from something i was eating (i was nursing at the time), and through a difficult process of elimination, it turned out to be wheat & gluten.

after seeing pediatric dermatologists, i decided to begin seeing a doctor who specializes in using eastern/holistic methods for treating that are noninvasive (treatments are not covered by insurance but my son is doing so much better that it is well worth it).
if you are interested i can pass along her information -- she is in pacific palisades.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

it might be her birth marks, reason it itches cause she keeps scratching it and iratating it, research the meds the ped gave you , research skin rashes, then decide

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.B.

answers from San Diego on

She is probably allergic to something you are eating. In babies and toddlers food allergies typically manifest as skin rashes. Since its been going on so long I would take her to a dermatologist

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.T.

answers from San Diego on

go to a pediatric dermatologist.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

That type of rash can be a food allergy. I would take her to a pediatric allergist when she is old enough and do an IgE and IgG food panel....I'm in the health care field...For right now you can try to eliminate some of the usual causes like milk, eggs, wheat etc from your diet and see if that helps...

R.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

Are you nursing? - usually whatever you eat will go through to her. If your diet is high in sugars or carbs it makes your body more likely to get fungal infecions (such as miconazole treats). If you are NOT nursing, her formula may be one that is too high in sugars/carbs. My kids are all grown now, and I only nursed, so I don't know which formulas are out there - but maybe there's a better one.
Just a thought!
Best,
R.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.B.

answers from San Diego on

We went through this issue when my DD was younger for months. Her rash was on her back of her neck and her forehead. It ende up being a reaction to dairy and once I eliminated that from my diet it got a little better. I also used a thick cream on it for 10 days at night after her bath and that seemed to really help as well. Try Eucerin Calming Cream....or Johnson's soothing naturals cream. Also, Aquaphor seems to help any redness from diaper rash to face acne.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

You could try nipple cream on it. The lanolin in it might help clear it up.
I also think that seeing a dermatologist would be the way to go here.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

It sounds like maybe she has exzema. My grandson has it and the doctor prescribed a medication with a small percentage of steroid in it. It seems to work really well on him and he gets itchie too and it helps with that very much.

Good luck...M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from San Diego on

I was at a health class last night and it was said that it is getting more and more common for babies to have eczema or sensitive skin these days. Typically skin problems are just indications that something is not right on the inside, especially in the digestive area. If you would like information on a healthy alternative, please let me know.

God Bless!

J.
____@____.com

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions