Cracked skin behind the ears

[AliBaby]

What is this?

I thought maybe its because behind the ears havent been dried propaly but we have been heaps thorough about that and its not clearing up.

Where the back of the ear joins onto DD's head she has cracked skin. I noticed it was heaps red the other day around the area and thought she may have been scratching at it.

The poor thing had a big wad of hair stuck in it this arvo where she must have scratched it and then her hair dried into the scab. Mind you it doesnt seem to bleed, just gets all moist, clear pus like moisture. Sorry gross description.

Do you think it could be excema?

Anyone else had this with themselves or children/babies/toddlers and know how to clear it up?

Any advice greatly appreciated. I feel so sorry for her

[megs]

My youngest 2 boys who have mild eczema tend to get this on and off, I too used to wonder if I wasn't drying it properly. I would just put a paw paw ointment or something on it for a few nights and it would usually clear itself up quite quickly.

[Lady_Tess]

My son would get this and still gets it occasionally, it does sound like eczema although nothing to worry about. My son gets it behind his ears, on his back and backs of arms. I changed his soap to goats milk soap, he homemade stuff you can buy online is excellent.

[Tinsel]

My DD2 had the same thing and it was gross and smelly. Turns out it was eczema but she also had mild rashes on her body. The Dr gave me Advanten which cleared it up but I'm sure there are other creams that would work that aren't as 'potent' for lack of a better word.

[*EJ*]

I too notice this with all 3. I had always put it down to not drying behind the ears properly and/or moisture??

I just try to make a habbit of after each bath making sure i dry behind the ears and then apply some moisturiser. I like to use the MooGoo MSM.

If i happen to forget for a few days-a week the dryness is back again.

[HotI]

My DD gets it too. like the others, i can clear it up by making sure it is dry and then moisturise.

[Lisa]

DD3 has had this from days after she was born. Moo Goo scalp cream is fantastic for it. I also use their eczema cream on other parts of her body, including her face.

[~Kim~]

I have this on and off. I have psoriasis. It's def not to do with me not drying behind my ears, because I'm a bit obsessive. Occurrence is random. It is painful. The fluid is the white cells coming out of the wound to protect it.
It would be hard with a littlie to stop them scratching, but that's really the only thing I find helps along with a good dose of steroid cream....but mine is pretty bad.

[Kimbles01]

Could also be psoriasis - I get eczema on my legs etc, but psoriasis all through my scalp, and generally some pretty persistent patches where my ears join my scalp. Tends to get worse either in winter when it's cold and damp, or in summer when really humid.

[AliBaby]

Thank you so much everyone.

Kim- Great to know what the substance is. I can imagine it would sting and hurt as it looks sore.

Lady-Tess- We use goats milk soad as well as DD has sensitive skin like me and DF. It is lovely on the skin. I think I need to do something about shampoo.

Lisa- That scalp care stuff sounds good. I might have to get some!

I have tried to keep her hair up but because she has curly ringlet type hair and lots of it, little bits of hair seem to get stuck in it while the seepy stuff dries. Then we have to try and get the hair out which causes it to break open. I did this today by dampening the area in hope the hair would come away and she freaked when I went near it, then did a big scratch at it in agitation to get me away from it and gave herself the biggest fright as it must have stung really badly as she took the whole scab off. Just felt so sorry for her