Ben has started to have skin issues. It makes me sad. Because Ben's hands are fisted all of the time, the skin stays moist and damp. I usually have him hold onto rolled gauze, but lately the skin in between the fingers on one of his hands started breaking down because of the moisture. His left foot is having the same issue. Hopefully wrapping the gauze in and out of his fingers and toes will help. If not, there is a concoction of barrier creams that I can try next. Has anyone else dealt with skin issues on the hands and feet before? If so...any thoughts?
10 comments:
poo
Poor Bennie. Would corn starch help?
So sorry you guys have to deal with that. My dads hands/fingers are curling. They fitted him for a "brace" (not sure what it's called) but for him, the brace is supposed to help so his hands/fingers do not curl more, and try to keep them a little bit straighter. What about a "brace", something that will help keep his fingers open and not closed fisted?
I know this is an extreme case, but on my blog, there is a link to "The Williams Family". The Williams family has a son with EB, and extreme skin condition. I'll bet she could give you plenty of ideas to keep Ben's skin healthy, free of infection, or further lesions.
Hi Becky - I have something that is natural and may help - it has worked wonders for Chance with irritations/infections - it is a specific kind of honey from New Zealand (Manuka) - and I have found it to be effective. I first used it in the straight and oure form - but there are other lotions now. Check out Honeymark at honeymarkproducts.com and please let me know if you need more info.
But I can say this special honey has been a gift from God for us!
Nancy L.
Junior had some breakdown between his toes after his last hospital stay. We put some neosporin on the areas a few times a day. His hand and foot splints really help.
Sure hope it clears up.
Hugs
Yep! We've battled with an area on the right side of his neck where the trach collar touches. At times it looks like someone took a knife and just laid his neck open on that side. We finally ran onto this stuff called medipore + pad. Basically its a breathable tape that has a pad in the center and it doesn't stick to the wound. Breathable being the key so the area can dry out. You can buy it at any medical supply. It was around 30 dollars for 25 pads(cut in half we get 50 uses out of each square) He also has an area now and again by his wrist. Jophies wrists tilt a bit like Bens and in that little crevice it breaks down. We just use triple antibiotic and put a little roll of gauze in there and tape too. Eventually it heals. He used to wear beniks gloves(hand braces) but finally outgrew them and honestly I can't afford them so his wrists just curled. He had one other area around the top of his ear where the nasal canula touched. For some oddball reason on one side it would rip and look again just like a knife had slit it open. We finally had to start putting the tubing at the back of his neck rather than over the ears. We do use cornstarch once we get it all healed up and it really seems to keep it clearer.
Hope you can get it all cleared up...
Trina and Jophie
Oh shoot! That sounds ouchie! Don't have any helpful pointers. Thinking about you tonight.
Looks like what you are doing should help.....hope it does! Hugs!!!
Oh I'm so sorry he's having skin issues-- poor boy. Looks like you have some great suggestions-- I'll ask around too. LOVE YOU!!!
Looks like your friends have given you some good pointers. I wonder if checking with a dermatologist would help--he/she could also give you suggestions. Nana used to clench her fists and they had a special hand brace they used that had a lamb's wool backing (or imitation lamb's wool). I used to bring them home and wash them. They worked fine as long as the aides would use them on her. I think the clenching was due to arthritis. Hope what you are doing helps him. Looks like you are doing the right thing for him and changing the gauze frequently would help keep the areas dry. Give him a big hug and kiss from us.
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