Conference moira::parenting

    
    Firstly, all 3 products used to be prescription items until a year or two
    ago, so they are strong.  We have had great luck with lotrimin and
    lotrizone on our boys.  (I'm not sure if lotrizone is out on the shelf
    yet).  The yeast infections were cleared up in a day or two with the
    lotrimin.
     
    Look for sales and check the rebate board in your pharmacy. 
    There are often manufacturer rebates on these products since they're
    pretty new to the market.
    
    -dorothy

    
    My daughter has had several yeast infections over the past year, and we
    have tried the lotrimin cream.  Sometimes it works, but it can take
    days to clear up.  My pedi gave us a prescription for something,
    Nystatin I believe, which works wonders for her.  It clears up the
    yeast in usually 1 day.
    
    The prescription costs about the same as the over-the-counter medicine,
    but we don't have to use as much.
    
    Carol

    My daughter also has had several yeast infection from numerous
    anitbiotics she used for her ear infections.  I have also gotten 
    Nystatin for it.  It clears up great!  I have also tried lotriman
    it is expensive and does take days to clear up.  My daughter is
    now on Suprax for her ears and hasn't had a yeast infection yet!
    (I hope she doesn't)
    
    Good Luck!
    Kim
    
    

    I have had great results with lotriman cream.  I didn't think it cost
    nearly as much as gynolotriman or the other products.  I only paid
    $4.96 for the tube, where the others are $12-14.  Maybe things are 
    priced differently in different parts of the country. 
    
    Kathy

    Kathy is right, a small tube of lotrimin is cheaper than a tube of
    gynelotrimin but I was more concerned about a per unit difference.
    I compared a 24g tube of lotrimin to a 45g tube of gynelotrimin.
    The gynelotrimin was about 4.5 cents per gram cheaper.  I know it
    seems nitpicky but I was looking for the best deal.  Buying a
    larger amount (at a cheaper cost per unit) seemed reasonable since
    I'm likely to use the entire tube.
    
    Thanks for the responses so far, the monistat seems to be doing the
    job but I was concerned about its effectiveness since I've only
    heard from people who've used nystatin.
    
    Ruth

    I've been fighting yeast infections and diaper rashes with Jackie since
    the end of February.  In the beginning of March, she got an ear
    infection and the doctor perscribed Nystatin because it would make the
    yeast infection worse (which had just been diagnosed).  I ended up
    going back to the doctor the end of March because the infection was not
    going away .. he perscribed Lotrimon with hydracortisone.  This helped
    for awhile, but she ended up with another ear infection; the bactrim
    didn't work so she went on Celcor... this made the yeast infection come
    back to where not even the Lotrimon was working.  Last Friday her
    bottom was *beat red* and the Lotrimon was hurting her (same reaction I
    have to it).  So, I stopped it and went back to the Nystatin.  I spoke
    with the pedi Monday evening.. she was cleared up except for one spot
    that looked blistery.. he said to give her Hytone ointment (which I
    already had a perscription for) and to use some sort of lubricant (like
    Vaseline) over the Hytone.  This will protect the bottom from the urine
    in the diaper.  He also said to give her baths with baking soda in it..
    this will neutralize the urine on the skin and is soothing.. also to
    use a baking soda/water solution as a salve on her bottom if it doesn't
    clear up.  She will be 2 on June 1... he has told me that the rash will
    probably not go away completely until she's out of diapers and in
    cotton underwear.  She's just starting toilet training... can't wait
    till it's over.
    
    Mary
    

    I didn't know boys got yeast infections (see what you know when you
    only have girls!!)  How can you tell that's what a boy has?  
    
    Chris D. (Who knows, maybe one of my daughters will have a son)

    
    How do you know if your child has a yeast infection or a diaper rash?  
    And what are the differences???  Can they get a yeast infection without
    being put on antibiotics?
    
    Chris
    

    
    In Kelsey's case, the yeast infection looks like lots of little red
    spots, where the diaper rash is more of a general red area....kind of
    hard to describe until you actually see it.
    
    A yeast infection can occur at any time, the wetness in the diaper can
    cause a yeast infection to occur.  They are also common in the summer
    months, as a wet bathing suit can cause the yeast to grow.  There are
    lots of causes for yeast infections.   Everyone has the yeast bacteria
    present, but some people are more susceptible to the yeast multiplying
    until it causes the rash/infection.

    I don't really know how to tell a yeast infection from a regular
    rash.  Andrew's infection was diagnosed during his 1-year physical.
    Andrew had red spots on the tip of his penis that looked kind of
    blistery and raw.  By the time the pediatrician got to examining
    him (probably an hour later), those spots had faded but he had new
    spots in the crease of his leg.  She took one look and said, "Looks
    like yeast."  From what I understand, it's not uncommon for a yeast
    infection to fade and reappear, unlike a regular rash which fades
    over time.
    
    Andrew hadn't been on antibiotics so he didn't get the infection
    from that.  I think he may have gotten it when he had the chicken
    pox.  Does anyone know if calamine lotion is a good breeding
    medium for yeast?  I've also heard a yeast infection can be passed
    from one baby to another during diaper changes if the person
    changing their diapers doesn't do a thorough hand washing job
    between changes.  I guess this could be a problem in childcare
    situations or in families with more than one kid in diapers where
    diaper changes might be done assembly line style.
    
    Ruth

The pediatrician showed me how to tell a yeast infection diaper rash (needing 
more than just soaking and tons of ointment) from ordinary diaper rash.

If it's bad, you can look across the skin - the little dots are raised.  Kind of
like the texture of a gravel walk, but smaller particles.

Ordinary diaper rash (from whatever) isn't usually raised.

But, it's really hard to tell.  It has to get pretty bad for me to be able to
see it's a yeast infection, and I've seen one for sure.


And I think it can be spread from kid to kid, because we're talking about an 
actual agent causing it instead of some mechanical irritation (like not changing 
a dirty diaper soon enough).  In New Hampshire, it's a law that daycare providers
(at least at daycare centers) must wash their hands and the baby's hands after
every diaper change.  (read that as they must wash their hands between kids).

Try feeding the kids yogurt with "active cultures".  These active cultures
are suppost to contain the helpful bacteria that the antibiotics killed.  I
have also heard of people applying yogurt to the rash just like you would
an ointment.  They say that it works better than the presciption ointments.
It sounds a bit strange, but it couldn't hurt.

How many of you have gotten the "helpful" advise about leaving off the diaper
so the rash is exposed to air?  What are you suppost to do, put the baby in
the bathtub!  

Jill

    Well, I've "aired out" Susanna while she was on one of her
    big brother's diapers on top of a towel, and it's worked 
    well; now that she's beginning to move around more, I'll
    have to upgrade to two towels...at some point I'll have to
    use the lawn!
    
    		-John Bishop

    > How many of you have gotten the "helpful" advise about leaving off the
    > diaper so the rash is exposed to air?  What are you suppost to do, put 
    > the baby in the bathtub!
    
    My nephews each had one very bad diaper rash -- very raw and sore.  My
    sister's solution was to let them spend a day without a diaper (while
    they were awake, that is).  She "gated" off the kitchen so they couldn't 
    get to any carpeting/hard-wood floors, and let them loose.  She spent the 
    day following them around with rags and a can of lysol, but it worked 
    wonders for the rashes.
    
                                              Tracy

    
    I think I read this in the last Parenting Volume but we 
    used a blow dryer on low.  This was after his evening
    bath.  It worked!
    
    Jeanne
    

    Both my kids have been afflicted with one really severe yeast infection 
    each. It happened the first time they were ever on an antibiotic  The
    bout lasted 1.5 months with Rasika (it was hell); it lasted 1  month
    with Bhavika.  Bhavika had one more small bout (I knew what to do!!).
    Here is what I learnt:
    
    
    * It only affects some kids.  Some get it, but it is not as severe.
    Others are more prone to it and some get it more severely.  
    
    * Symptoms - the skin is red and it seems to "peel" exposing raw-looking
    patches. Ouch! Diaper rash does not cause the skin to peel.
    
    * If the kid is on an antibiotic, watch the bottom like a hawk ... it is
    easiest to control it when it FIRST APPEARS and is a small patch.  
    
    * The skin will appear to have healed, but a bowel movement will 
    cause havoc.  You need the anti-fungal prescription drugs - 
    Nystatin worked for us.  Anti Diaper Rash stuff does not work.
    
    * Keep the area clean - it hurts when you clean, so the tendency is
    to go easy.  But thorough cleaning is even more important.
    
    * I never used wipes, so I don't know anything about them (I 
    stand the kid in the laundry tub and wash the bottom with gentle 
    soap and running water.) I have heard that they can cause further
    irritation.
    
    * Dryness is VERY crucial - do whatever you can do to keep the area
    dry.  I cordoned off the kitchen area and left them bare-bottomed
    twice a day. At each diaper change, use a blow dryer on low setting
    to dry off the area thoroughly.  (I still do this for every
    diaper change since the area is pretty wet because of the way I
    clean it.) 
    
    * After drying, apply the ointment and then apply
    a liberal coating of Vaseline (the greasy stuff) to protect the
    skin from coming into direct contact with Urine and BM.  BTW, all that
    grease does fun things to the tapes on the disposable diapers - keep
    a roll of kitchen paper towels on hand. If the tapes on the diapter
    don't stick, reinforce with masking tape.
    
    * Use a larger size diaper - gives more "air" circulation. Watch to see
    if a certain brand of diaper causes less or more trouble.
    
    * Watch what the kid eats - I found this to have a very large affect.
    The effect of a food seems to show up in 4-6 hours.
    The doctor claims that there is no scientific basis for some of these
    "hints", but I have learnt to trust my own observation and experience
    on this issue.  (BTW, I kept a rigorous log of food and my
    observations about the yeast infection).  Here is what I found for MY KIDS:
    
     - Yogurt helps - because of the active bacterial cultures that keep
       the yeast in check.
     - Acidic stuff is bad e.g., fruits.
     - Breads which contains added yeast are bad.
     - Go easy on sweet stuff.
     - Do not introduce new foods during this period.  
    
    Hope this helps. 
    
    Pam

	Great set of hints!  As far as I know, I've only dealt
with diaper rash, but it certainly could have been yeast right
after antibiotics started.  I would concur with most of the
observations in the previous note.  I have had success with the
following:

	o  Avoid sugars and acidic foods.  

	o  Add yogurt to the diet - preferably plain, 
		or with real fruit added.  But some is
		better than none.

	o  Clean the area thoroughly, but try not to get
		too much water, alcohol, or aloe on the area, 
		which stings.  

	o  Dry out the diaper area thoroughly.  
		Use cornstarch in preference to talc.

	o  Expose the area to sunlight or to a sunlamp
		for a few minutes.  It works wonders!
		
		(Lamp - 5 minutes max, sun - 30 minutes +/-).  

	o  I found a cream called "Unpetroleum Jelly"
		works well.  I got it at a health food store.
		It has healing herbals in it.

	o  Switch to the "thick" kind of diapers or liners
		for a little while, and change more frequently.
		The "thick" ones have more padding and less 
		chemicals. 

	o  B vitamins help also.  You can give liquid vitamins
		from 2 months to 2 years, take them yourself if you're 
		nursing.  Seems to help clear them up in 1-2 days
		instead of 1-2 weeks.

	I guess that's my 8 cents worth!

My doctor said that yeast *loves* cornstarch.  Her recommendation
was Caldisene (I think???) -- it's a round pink container sold with
the rest of the baby powders.  

    OK folks you asked for it, and here's my "expert" advised, derived from
    experience.....
    
    First, when I worked as an nursing assistant in a hospital, we used to
    help the sores on the buttocks caused by sitting in or on urine soaked
    bedding, by putting maalox (or any good liquid antacid) on the wound
    and surrounding skin, and exposing it to a lamp, just an ordinary naked
    bulb +/- 75 watts for about 10 minutes, until the antacid dried and was
    sort of cakey or powdery.
    
    When AJ had his colostomy closure at 17 months, he had never (sorry if this
    is too graphic) pooped through his rear end.  His skin rebelled almost
    instantly, and he was positively bloody raw near his rectal opening. 
    The doctor suggested I mix up a cream, which I have dubbed a
    "miracle-cream".  It was a mixture of zinc oxide (which I bought by the
    one-pound jar!) with Stomahesive powder (this is a powder sold for
    people with colostomies need, but is available over the counter at
    surgical supply houses like Monahan's in Worcester) and a prescription
    powder druge called Questran, this is a powder that mixes with water
    and is taken to reduce a person't cholesterol.  This mixture worked
    literally overnight to help his severe diaper rash.  Just FYI, the zinc
    will work alone, but not as quickly or as well.  We also tried the
    mixture without the Questran, stomahesive powder only, and it worked
    fairly well too.
    
    I too tried the "leave the diaper off routine" and because it was late
    May I could use the grassy lawn. Usually I did this following a bath with 
    baking soda, he had as many as 4 per day.  The soda soothes and neutralized
    the acid in the urine.  I also tried using plain cloth diapers, no
    plastic pants, but I put lots of the plastic blue pads from the
    hospital under him while sleeping.  Again sometimes without the diaper. 
    I would let him fall asleep and then loosen the diaper.  Luckily he was
    a tummy sleeper.
    
    To this day, I still will use zinc oxide if he has had diaherria and
    his but is sore.  He still gets red and irritated extremely easily.
    
    I remember right after he came home from his closure surgery, I sat
    down and cried my eyes out one day, simply because I felt so helpless. 
    He was in pain from a raw but, and there wasn't a thing I could do to
    help him.  Actually there eventually was a solution, sort of a strange
    one at that.  The surgeon wrote a prescription for viscous xylocaine,
    to numb the area for a while just for relief . 
    This the the liquid the dentist will rub over your gums so you don't
    feel the pinch of the novacaine needle.
    
    Good luck, I do know how this can really "get to" you.
    Lyn

    Spencer recently had a yeast infection as a result of being (once
    again) on antibiotics because of an ear infection.

    We had limited success with the OTC ointment that the nurse told us to
    get, it would look better for a few days and then it would look worse
    (and those of you who have seen yeast infections on little boys know
    that it is not a pleasant sight!).

    Anyway, after doing some reading, it made sense to me to attack the
    yeast from the inside as well as the outside (afterall it had to be
    coming from somewhere) I started spiking Spencer's evening bottle with
    lactobacilli (I broke a capsule open and poured it into the bottle).
    Within just a few days the rash cleared up.

    Should Spencer go on antibiotics again, I think that I'll just add this
    supplement immediately to his diet instead of waiting for the rash to
    appear.

    Apparently you can get the same results from yogurt but Spencer has
    yogurt every morning and it either didn't work or wasn't enough to do
    the job.

    				Wendy

    
    
    	Question.. 
    
    	My friend lisa who has 4 months to go before she has her baby
    has been getting rash's under her breasts and arm pits.  She says
    it caused by sweating (even at night).  She is very big breasted and
    is getting worse as time goes on... 
    
    	is there anything she can put on it - She says she has been
    taking a bath in baby powder to keep her self dry but, nothing helps.
    
    	Donna

    I had the same problem when I was pregnant the first time.  The Dr.
    told me to change my laundry detergent, that what I was using was too
    harsh (ERA).  I switched to using baby laundry detergent (Ivory) and
    the problem entirely disappeared.
    
    It's worth a shot!
    
    Joyce

    
    Also corn starch instead of baby powder might help especially if one
    tends to be sensitive to chemicals and perfumes.
    
    				Wendy

    I wish that had worked for me.  I already use the mildest stuff I can
    find for laundry, as Frank has very sensitive skin.
    
    As it is, the moment I get home, all constricting underwear,
    particularly the bra comes off so things can "air".  It seems that any
    parts that come in contact with each other look "munched." 
    
    If anyone has further ideas I will be looking for them as well.
    
    Meg 

    If the rash is yeasty-smelling corn starch only will make things worse. 
    My mother found this out when I recommended cornstarch for a rash she
    developed.  It looked like all the skin in that area was going to fall
    off.  she found that a vinegar rinse helped more with puting a kerchif
    between the offending skin parts.  
    
    That hasn't worked for me.
    
    Meg

    Your friend can ask her doctor for Nistatin powder to apply
    to the problem areas if he thinks it may be yeast related.  
    Nistatin is used (usually in pill or cream form) to take 
    care of Vaginal yeast problems.
    
    Jodi-

    Well, what worked for me was Micatin (sp?) what I used was a spray
    but I think they also have a cream.  It has medication in it that 
    cures the yeast infection.  You can find this in the section of
    the Osco/CVS that has jock itch medication.
    
    If you are putting powder/cornstarch/any over the counter itch/rash
    medicine not ment specifically for a yeast infection on a yeast rash
    you are making the yeast infection worse.
    
    I don't know if the yeast infection causes the moisture, but this
    area was definitely moist all the time until the yeast infection was
    cured.
    
    Judie
    
    

    Yeast is an opportunistic organism.  It loves warm and moist
    places and can flourish there. It also can take hold in an
    area that is subject to abrasion or irritation. The open skin
    reveals a warm and moist place to live.  If folds of skin or
    other extremities are constantly rubbing together, they offer
    a great breeding ground for yeast. That is why "jock" itch can
    be such a problem.  
    
    Using a antifungal powder like Micatin or Nistatin is great 
    because it both dries and heals. 
    
    Jodi- 

Also try Ammen's medicated powder of Gold Bond, they both contain the same 
ingredient that is in diaper rash creams - zinc oxide.  Work great for me 
and my kids.

Here's an FYI for parents struggling with diaper rashes.  You may want
to try plain-old vaseline before you go through what I went through.

My son was about 4 months old when he started to have a rash.  I tried 
several methods, various diaper rash creams, Lotramin and had no luck.

I kept taking him back to the pedi, and was given a different perscription
each time.  His rash would clear up for a short while and then come back
even worse.  It got so bad, his bum was bleeding.  One of the doctors I saw
told me to let him go without a diaper as much as possible, stop using
diaper wipes, use water to clean him and blow dry his bum before putting
another diaper on.  This still didn't work so I took him to a dermatologist.

The dermatologist said my son had a combination yeast infection and
seboritis dermatitis (it's like dandruff), and gave me yet another 
perscirption to try.  This one worked as long as I kept using it.  When
I stopped using it for 3 or 4 days, it would come right back.  I wasn't
pleased with this and took him back to the dermatologist after he had a
bad reaction to Lotramin, since I thought I'd try that again.  The 
dermatologist took a small skin sample and sent it to the lab.  Then he
called me and said it was psoriasis, and gave me another perscription.

I used this perscription once and wouldn't use it again because it looked
like it burned his skin.

When I had mentioned to the pedi that the dermatologist said psoriasis, he
said he'd be very surprised if that was true and that it was highly unlikely.

Then out of complete frustration due to the fact that this had been going
on for 6 months, I decided to use vaseline after each diaper change and
lo and behold it worked!  He's been fine for a month now, and we just keep
using vaseline all the time.

Gail

    This is precisely what we do on an everyday basis.
    Wash bottom with warm water and baby washcloth (new one each time),
    lubricate generously with vaseline, and apply new diaper (cloth,
    with extra diaper cover).
    Charlotte is now 8.5 months, and has never had a rash at all (I'm
    keeping my fingers crossed!)
    
    Monica

	We do pretty much the same thing, at every change we wipe with
	Baby Fresh UNSCENTED wipes w/all natural ingredients and apply
	a pure petroleum jelly. Victoria will be 10 months old on the
	28th and has never had a rash.

The reason why we've never used Petroleum Jelly is that it blocks the skin
circulation.  We learned that in pre-natal classes.  Can that be harmful?
I don't know but it can't be all that harmful if so many people use it.

We've always used a zinc-based cream called Penaten, made in Germany, sold in
most drug stores.  Vanessa sometimes had diaper rashes during heavy teething
and it always cleared it up within a day or so.

Whe she didn't have a rash, we used nothing.

/M

    
    We try to apply some Desitin at the last diaper change of the night
    (when we remember) to try and prevent diaper rashes. 
    
    Also, when he was younger and had a bad yeast infection/rash we gave
    him a bath in baking soda.. Helped ALOT.
    
    
    

	This looks like as good a place as any for this note.

	My daughter Emily has a small rash on her right leg.
	It started a while ago, and looked as though she got
	an irritation from a snap on her outfit (she had spilled
	apple juice on her leg during dinner, and has gotten rashes
	in the past from a bit of wetness on her clothes).  I
	haven't paid much attention to it, as it hasn't seemed to
	bother her, and it hasn't gotten much bigger.  However,
	my mother was commenting on it the other day, mostly on
	the fact that it hadn't gone away and that it was quite
	dry now.

	The spot is smaller than a dime.  Anyone have any clues
	as to what it may be ?  I thought of dabbing on a little Desitin
	for a few days to see if that helps.  Emily goes to the doctor
	on May 12th, and I can't see calling the pedi for this little
	spot (of course, my mother's telling me it might be ringworm, etc. 
	(sigh)).

	Karen

    RE:  -1
    
    Please also see note 232, also about rashes.
    
    Laura
    co-mod
    

    Ringworm in a ring, and not a solid circle.
    
    It sounds as though it might be eczema (sp?) which my boyfriend some
    times gets, in a very mild form.  A small dry patch of pink skin. 
    Nothing painful - just looks bad?  You could call the pedi, but from
    your description I would suggest it's nothing urgent.  Even ringworm
    isn't urgent, and will go away by itself (at least it always did for us
    when we'd catch it from the dog/cat).
    
    

    re: .35
    
    Karen,  that also sounds like eczema to me.   I don't know that
    the Desitin will help but if you have any hydrocortizone cream,
    that might help.
    
    cj/

	And the winner is...

	Eczema!

	Thanks, cj!  The doctor said use cortizone cream, too.

	Karen

	(Grandmother was also wrong about Emily having an ear infection)

    
    
    	My son has Eczema on a good portion of his body
    	(get it from mom).  And I find Eucerin (sp?) cream 
    	works well as a good "maintenance" cream.
    
    	Kristin
    	

    Geesh, as if Aaron's ear problems aren't enough...
    
    I picked him up from daycare yesterday and Bonnie told me that he had a
    mega messy diaper as she was picking her daughter up from school, so he
    sat in it for a little while.  When she got him home and was changing
    his diaper (and clothes!) she found that he had a killer rash (that
    wasn't there before, definitely not a hint of one when I got him ready
    for daycare).  She put lots of A&D on it to at least protect it from
    urine.
    
    I figured it was a yeast infection (and probably not as bad as she made
    it sound).  As soon as we got home I changed his diaper to put Lotrimin
    on it and the rash was horrible looking.  It was on his scrotum and on
    the back side (not around the anus) and it looked like it was
    blistering!  I put the lotrimin on him and rediapered him.  It really
    bothered me that this rash showed up so suddenly.  Well, last night as
    I was talking to my mom on the phone I realized that I had used a new
    diaper that morning.  One of the supermarkets in the area had sent us 2
    of their store brand diapers.  I used one before his morning poops and
    the other when I changed him the second time.  I think Aaron had a
    reaction to those diapers.
    
    I can tell you one thing, I will never ever ever put anything but Luvs,
    Huggies or Pampers on this little guys behind again!
    
    sandy

    Oh!  I forgot all about that!  David couldn't use Pampers - he would
    get a diaper rash every time.  He would get a rash every place the
    wetness touched his skin, including the lowest part of his abdomen.
    When we stayed with Huggies, he was fine.
    Sarah

    Our pediatrician looked at Aaron's rash on Friday and said that it
    probably was a reaction to the different diaper.  It was gone by Sunday
    (when it appeared on Thursday it looked truly terrible).  Now we just
    have to go through a month or so of maintenance antibiotics to get
    through.  The Lotrimin works well...  We're using it 2 times a day if
    he starts getting a little red.  Aaron is also eating yogurt after
    supper every night (fortunately he likes it better than his mom!).
    
    When I saw that rash on him Thursday night I felt like I must be the
    worst mom ever, letting him get an awful rash like that...  I just have
    to make sure we stick to diapers we know "agree" with his skin.
    
    sandy