Brief Answer: Atopic Dermatitis; Dry skin; Allergy Detailed Answer: Hi there. I note your history & clinical findings with interest. From your observations & description, it appears the rash is in the cubital fossa. How old exactly is your child? Is there a dryness of skin associated with his/her condition? Is there a family history of similar lesions or allergic rhinitis (sneezing/nasal allergies) or allergic bronchitis or similar ailments in this child? You clearly state that when he has a common cold this does not happen & it reappears when it is clear. This leads me to think it is some sort of an allergic phenomenon. Atopic Diathesis is possibly what the child has & one needs to isolate what is precipitating this phenomenon. Foods are a likely possibility & while different foods aggravate the lesions in different kids, fish, nuts, chocolate, milk & eggs are the common suspects. I would advice you keep a small 'diet diary' & record the symptoms & the foods eaten daily & over a span of 1-3 months, you may arrive at likely allergen suspects. For the moment, apply a cream called HH Fudic that contains a mild corticosteroid & an antibiotic like Fucidin. This applied twice daily should provide instant relief in 2-3 days. Subsequently, please do try using a moisturiser like Cetaphil Restoraderm on the region liberally & together this may give you long term clearance. As for the sweating, do rinse the area often with plain water & prevent accumulation of dust & pollen etc & this will help. Avoid soap & stick with cleansers' eg Cetaphil or Dove commonly available on the market. Good Luck & trust I have given you a sense of direction & hope that this will clear & is not a serious issue. Having said that, it is probably best to get a 'visual' confirmation & advice from a paediatric dermatologist nearest you. This HCM site might just help you with that. Au revoir! Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD

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Brief Answer: Atopic Dermatitis; Avoid Dust Detailed Answer: Hi there. Understand your anxiety XXXXXXX but the new info you provided, only enhances my clinical hunch that it is an Atopic diathesis your child ails from. parental & family history of asthma is supportive of my diagnosis. Cough & colds are normal when children enter school..i have 4 of them so am quite used to this. it does give us parents' sleepless nights' but strangely is required to 'build' their immunity over the long haul. Please do continue the care you have been providing & add the additional moisturisers' & cleansers that I have suggested above & avoid all soaps & shampoos including baby Johnson's & see if things improve. Do remember to use cotton clothing especially things that touch the area & avoid direct contact of flannel, wool etc; Remember dust allergy is also common in these kids & avoid carpets & keep the A/C clean & free of dust. A humidifier (water based) sans perfume or aerosols may also help in the overall scheme of things. Good Luck & Godspeed. Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD

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