Lotions and potions

Graham has had skin issues since day 1. We have a cabinet's-worth of lotions and potions now that includes T-Gel shampoo, Eucerin calming wash, Eucerin advanced dry skin therapy cream, cetaphil cream, cortizone cream, jojoba oil, shea butter lotion, aquafor, vaseline, and Neutragena Norwegian fisherman's lotion. At his 2 month appointment our pediatrician told us to treat his eczema with cortizone and vaseline or aquafor. Then at a three month visit to make sure he didn't have an ear infection, the other doctor in the practice told us that cortizone could bleach his skin if it was used for several consecutive days. Then a co-worker of Jason's said that she took her son to a dermatologist for his cradle cap and dry skin and that the cradle cap went away within a few days of using the prescription cream. So I decided to go to that same dermatologist because I just felt like we were fighting a losing battle trying to keep his skin and scalp hydrated and healthy. On Monday morning at 8:35 we arrived for our 8:40 appointment with Josh and Lillie still in pajamas and Graham needing his bottle and letting everyone know it. While I was checking in I could hear Josh talking to Graham, "You don't have a baby in your tummy, Graham. But you could adopt a baby. We adopted you. You didn't grow in mommy's tummy. You grew in a different tummy, but we adopted you." I'm not sure the handful of folks in the waiting room appreciated Josh's explanation. I'm guessing they were hoping to read their magazines in peace and quiet. We finally made it back to see the dermatologist. She said that eczema in infants is usually due to the skin not producing enough ceramides on its own. There are three over-the-counter lotions that contain pheramides: Aveeno makes one, Cetaphil makess one, and Cera Ve. She ordered us a prescription scalp oil, a prescription cream to use on rough patches on arms and legs, and gave us samples of the cetaphil lotion called Restoraderm. I filled the prescriptions right away and got Graham on his new regimen. By Tuesday night Jason and I were both very concerned about the skin on Graham's face and neck. He looked like a leathery, wrinkly old man. It was terrible. So I got online and found out that Restoraderm has shea butter in it- which we had tried on Graham before and he did not respond well to it. So I ran to the store and grabbed some Cera Ve. This morning when Graham woke up he looked like a scaly alligator. Huge pieces of skin were flaking off all over his face, scalp, and neck. His arms, legs, and torso were fine- in fact his legs are looking quite a bit better. So I took him back to the dermatologist today to figure out what was going on. Unfortunately she pretty much said she didn't know. She didn't know if it was an allergic reaction or if it was just the way his skin was sloughing off dead skin. I told her about the Restoraderm having shea butter in it and she said that the scalp oil had peanut oil in it. WHAT?!?! Who gives a 3 month old infant something with peanut oil?? Most pediatricians don't want kids even touching peanuts until 3yrs old or later. That is when I really regretted not going to a pediatric dermatologist. I had called a pediatric dermatologist, but they couldn't get me in until the end of the month. Anyway, she said to stop using the scalp oil as well as any lotions with ceramides and go back to the stuff we were using previously. Then she also gave us a new prescription for a cortizone cream. I asked her about if it could bleach his skin. She acted surprised by the question and said that she had never heard that. Ugh. The conflicting info is frustrating. So I called and talked to a nurse at my pediatrician's office and she said to go ahead and fill the prescription. The more I have thought about it I feel pretty confident that the culprit for the crazy skin-peeling reaction is the scalp oil. Not only does it contain peanut oil, it also has a scent to it. We have not used anything scented for Graham because his birth mom told us that she was allergic to perfumes. But today would have been a great day to have her contact info and be able to ask her some questions. The dermatologist asked if his birth mom had battled eczema as a child or asthma. She said asthma, allergies, and eczema all go hand in hand. We have a brief summary of her medical history that the hospital provided to us, but nothing extensive. Well, I know that was a LONG post on skincare- but thanks for letting me vent. It is just hard to watch my sweet baby boy who I love struggle with all of these skin issues. I feel very hopeful that we will get it all to a healthy place soon. Thanks again for your prayers and support.