Why does my 3 month old baby have dry and itchy skin?

Question

Hello doctor,

My baby is 3 months old, going on 4 months. I am a visitor to this country with no insurance and not working. My baby's skin is very dry; it is as coarse as sandpaper, and he is shedding a lot. I changed his formula many times from Kendamil to Happy Baby, then Gentle Ease, then Elevate, and now a hypoallergenic formula from Target. I am concerned a lot because of his skin. He also pukes a lot, but he is a happy baby. Skin itches at times, too, especially the chest area. What should I do?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and I understand your worry.

With what you describe, the dry, rough, sandpaper like skin with flaking and itching sounds more consistent with eczema (atopic dermatitis) rather than formula problem alone. Many babies with eczema have very dry skin and may scratch or rub afflicted regions such as the chest, cheeks, arms and legs.

Frequent formula changes are usually not necessary unless there is clear evidence of a cow's milk protein allergy, such as blood or mucus in the stool, severe eczema, poor weight gain, persistent diarrhea, or significant feeding problems. Spitting up is also very common at this age. If your baby is happy, feeding well, and gaining weight, it may simply be normal infant reflux.

For now, you can do the following things,

Apply a thick, fragrance-free moisturizer (petroleum jelly/Vaseline, Aquaphor, or a ceramide-based cream) at least 3 to 4 times daily, especially after bathing.
Use short lukewarm baths and avoid scented soaps, lotions, and detergents.
Dress your baby in soft cotton clothing.
Keep the room from becoming too hot and dry.

If the skin is very red, inflamed, or itchy, a doctor may recommend a mild steroid cream, but I would not start that without seeing the rash.

Could you please upload clear photos of the affected skin areas?

This will assist identify if it is eczema, extreme dry skin, ichthyosis or any other skin disease and will help direct treatment more correctly.

Hope this helps.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.