BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)
If your baby’s “eczema” flares with heat, sweating, car seats, contact naps, or drool… and clears with steroids only to rebound worse — there may be a fungal component.
For us, it wasn’t just eczema. It was yeast thriving in a warm, compromised skin barrier — likely connected to antibiotic exposure and gut imbalance.
Topical antifungals + barrier support + gut support changed everything.
Our Eczema (That Wasn’t Just Eczema) Journey
Baby started having dry pink patches around 8–9 weeks old.
At his 2-month appointment (we actually went at 2.5 months), his pediatrician said it was most likely eczema.
At that point, I already knew skin and gut are connected. I had experienced an eczema flare with my daughter at 10 months old, so my brain immediately went there.
I cut out common eczema triggers first:
• Dairy
• Eggs
We followed the standard eczema advice:
Short, lukewarm baths. Moisturize immediately after.
But something wasn’t sitting right.
The Niacinamide Discovery
Every time we used CeraVe Baby Lotion, he would scream after baths. Not normal crying — painful screaming.
After about a week, I realized something:
When skin has micro-cracks (which happens with eczema/dry skin), certain active ingredients can sting.
CeraVe Baby contains niacinamide.
Niacinamide – The Good
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is actually wonderful for skin:
- Supports the skin barrier
- Reduces inflammation
- Helps with redness
- Encourages ceramide production
- Improves hydration long term
The Downside (On Compromised Skin)
On severely dry, cracked, inflamed baby skin:
- It can burn or sting
- It may feel irritating when the barrier is broken
- Babies can’t verbalize that discomfort
We switched to regular CeraVe cream (which does not contain niacinamide). Immediate improvement in post-bath screaming.
But the rash? Still worsening.
Steroids: Relief… Then Rebound
We messaged our pediatrician. She recommended a short course of hydrocortisone (the gentlest topical steroid).
And wow — it worked.
Inflammation down. Skin calm. We were thrilled.
But the moment we stopped?
Immediate flare.
We entered the cycle:
5 days hydrocortisone → clear 5 days off → horrible flare Repeat for 2 months
He clearly flared with:
- Heat
- Long car rides
- Sweaty contact naps
- Baby wearing
That’s when I got scared of TSW.
What is TSW?
TSW = Topical Steroid Withdrawal.
It’s a controversial but very real condition where:
- Skin becomes dependent on steroids
- Stopping them causes intense rebound flares
- Burning, redness, oozing can occur
Hydrocortisone is mild, but the fear of long-term steroid reliance is real for many parents.
The Next Step: Triamcinolone
At his 4-month appointment, the pediatrician prescribed triamcinolone — a stronger prescription steroid.
Pros:
- More potent anti-inflammatory
- Works quickly for moderate to severe eczema
- Can break severe flare cycles
Cons:
- Stronger suppression of inflammation
- Potential skin thinning with prolonged use
- Risk of rebound if underlying issue isn’t addressed
- Doesn’t treat fungal infections (and can worsen them)
I picked it up… but something told me not to use it yet.
Then My Body Started Talking
Around this time:
- He was drooling heavily → neck/chest rashes
- Heat made everything worse
- I was exhausted
And then my head started itching.
Not dry scalp itching.
Deep, relentless itching.
Selsun Blue didn’t help.
Tea tree helped for one day.
Then my belly button ring scar tissue became inflamed and itchy.
That’s when it clicked.
I tried Lotrimin (clotrimazole) – an anti-fungal over the counter cream.
Within 24 hours, the itch was gone.
Within 3 days, the inflammation was completely gone.
Light bulb moment!
What If This Was Fungal?
I had been on four rounds of antibiotics while pregnant for severe sinus infections.
One round of antibiotics can significantly disrupt gut flora. It can take 6–12 months to rebuild.
Now multiply that by four. Add:
- Postpartum hormone shifts
- Stress
- Sleep deprivation
That is the perfect environment for yeast overgrowth.
Also around this time:
- I was gassy
- Nauseous after eating
- Bloated
The dots were connecting.
We Tried Antifungal on Baby
I started using clotrimazole on his skin.
Within one course, his skin started lightening.
This was not an overnight miracle. It was a process. But it was different.
Steroids suppressed inflammation.
Antifungals reduced the actual issue.
And heat still triggered flares — because yeast thrives in warm, moist environments.
Car seat.
Contact naps.
Baby wearing.
It all made sense.
Our Regimen That Helped
1️⃣ Daily Baths
Yes — daily.
2–3x per week: Dead Sea salt bath
(Salt can help reduce microbial load and calm inflammation.)
2️⃣ Completely Dry Skin
Every fold. Every crease.
3️⃣ Antifungal Cream
Light layer over entire body during active phase.
4️⃣ Diaper Area: Zinc Barrier
We used Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.
Why Zinc Helps:
- Zinc oxide creates a physical barrier
- Dries excess moisture
- Has mild antimicrobial properties
- Makes environment less friendly to yeast
5️⃣ Lightweight Moisturizer
We used Vanicream lotion (not cream — too heavy since he runs hot).
6️⃣ Air Time
- Diaper-free time
- Pajama-free time
- Frequent bib changes for drool
We did this consistently for 10–14 days.
Huge improvement.
Addressing the Gut
Topical helped — but it wasn’t perfect.
So we addressed the internal component.
We started Ther-Biotic probiotics (for both me and baby).
Within ONE day:
- His poop smelled less fermented
- His sour breath disappeared
That confirmed the gut component for me.
Then we added a yeast-competing probiotic.
🌿 Gut Support (Mom + Baby)
Within a week:
- My scalp itch disappeared
- His skin improved even more
He is now 5 months old.
Skin is calm.
We are down to moisturizing 2–3x per day only.
Tackling yeast externally AND internally was the key.
Do I think every eczema case is fungal? No.
The Big Takeaway
But I do believe:
- Many babies are misdiagnosed
- Fungal components are often overlooked
- Steroids alone don’t fix microbial imbalance
- Heat-triggered “eczema” deserves a second look
Babies inherit mom’s microbiome at birth.
If nursing, they continue receiving it.
If mom’s gut is imbalanced, baby’s can be too.
This journey was exhausting. But we are in such a better place.
And if you’re in the thick of it — don’t lose hope. Sometimes the answer isn’t “more steroid.”
Sometimes it’s looking at the environment yeast loves… and removing it.
🛒 Shop Our Regimen
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Below is exactly what we used during our active fungal/eczema flare phase. This is not medical advice — just what worked for our family. Always talk with your pediatrician before starting new products, especially antifungals or supplements.
🛁 Bath Support
Dead Sea Salt
Used 2–3x per week in warm (not hot) baths.
• Helps calm inflammation
• May reduce microbial load on skin
• Gentle mineral support
👇🏼 Find Dead Sea Salt on Amazon:
🧴 Antifungal Support (Topical)
Clotrimazole 1% (Lotrimin or generic)
👇🏼 Find Lotrimin on Amazon:
My personal favorite as it lasts longer & is cheaper:
👇🏼 TenderGentle Cream w/ 1% clotrimazole
Used during active flare phase for 10–14 days.
• Targets fungal overgrowth
• Especially helpful in warm, moist areas
• Applied to clean, fully dried skin
(Check with your pediatrician before using on infants.)
🍑 Diaper Area Barrier
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste (Zinc Oxide Based)
Used to seal the diaper area during flares.
Why zinc helped us:
• Creates a physical moisture barrier
• Helps dry excess dampness
• Makes environment less yeast-friendly
👇🏼 Shop Zinc Barrier Cream on Amazon:
💧 Lightweight Moisturizer
Vanicream Lotion (Not Cream)
We switched to lotion because our baby runs warm and creams felt too heavy.
• Minimal ingredients
• No fragrance
• No niacinamide
• Lightweight but protective
👇🏼 Shop Vanicream Lotion on Amazon:
Ther-Biotic Infant Probiotic
(We added this once we suspected a gut component.)
• Supports microbial balance
• Helped improve stool smell + breath changes for us
👇🏼 Shop Infant Probiotic on Amazon:
Saccharomyces boulardii (Yeast-Competing Probiotic)
• Beneficial yeast
• Supports healthy microbial balance
• Helpful when antibiotics were involved
👇🏼 Shop S. boulardii on Amazon:
(Always consult your provider before giving probiotics to infants.)
Read about our probiotic journey here!
The BLUF Collective 
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