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Parents with Guatemalan born children are often confronted with skin problems that they are unfamiliar with. I’ve blogged about this in the past, but I’m a little more knowledgeable now that Ella and I have paid several visits to the dermatologist.
If your child has white patches on their skin, chances are they have pityriasis alba, a form of eczema. It initially presents as a patch of raised bumps, often quite small in diameter that eventually becomes red and rash like. After the rash disappears, the pigment in the skin also disappears and what is left is a white spot.
There are different treatment programs for this; Ella was given cortisone cream and we’ve had some success with this. However you don’t want to use this cream for too long as it thins the skin. According to my doctor, the pigment will return to the skin after it is exposed to sun, and the white spot will gradually disappear.
Are there ways to prevent this type of problem? According to my doctor, and other sources, over bathing is one of the commonest mistakes with our children. She recommendes a maximum of two baths a week.
Using products labeled “soap” is also a “no no.” Instead we should only use products that do not have the word “soap” in them, as they reduce the alkaline in the skin and cause drying. One example of a good “wash” I use is the Aveno brand, available in a tear free shampoo as well.
I’ve tried several creams and so far Cetaphil has worked best on Ella’s skin. It is inexpensive (you can get a big jar at Wal Mart for under ten dollars) and the whole family can use it. I apply cream to her whole body twice a day, and to her face often more. The lotion is not thick enough to be effective.
If any of you have found other products or treatments successful, don’t hesitate to share them with us!
We had the same problem with Leo’s skin when we brought him home. The Doctor told us to stop the bubble baths. And to only give him baths every other day, since babies don’t need one everyday. He also told us to get some Vaseline Healthy Skin lotion and put it on the effected areas really heavy before we bathe him. He said that will keep it from getting any worse. Lei also came home to 22 degree temps so it was a big change in climate.
Tabitha
Mom to Leo 14 Months
What about darker brown spots? On our last visit trip, our son had brown spots all over his legs and some on his stomach. They were not there on our first visit. His FM said it was a rash from the cold weather??? I have heard bug bites, but they did not look like bites? Maybe?
kids are a carnival ride, huh?
No matter where they’re from
C.
We united with our two when they were 18 months old. They became much browner when we brought them home, due to playing outdoors alot. I assume they don’t get out much in Guatemala City! Our son developed white patches on his upper cheeks. I assumed it was due to sunburn (except that I missed the sunburn and the peeling part!), and then worried that it was vitiligo developing as it wasn’t going away. However the patches have now disappeared, a few months later, with no treatment.
We never use soap nor shampoo on our children, we bathe them every day but just rub their skins and hair with pure water from the bath; it’s enough, they never smell, and I believe it keeps their skins healthy.
When we first met him our son had lots of brown spots, particularly on his legs, but also stomach, arms.. We were told he was allergic to mosquito bites but we now know that he’s not. We think they were scars from bed bugs or fleas, they’ve now faded and gone.
Both children have bruise-like spots on their lower backs. We were told by the doctor that this is very common for children with dark skins, they are called ‘mongolian spots’. I don’t know if they disappear with adulthood.