A baby named Isaiah, born abroad, developed large and small rashes just three months after birth. A doctor diagnosed him with eczema and prescribed a steroid ointment. However, the ointment only worsened with application, eventually causing his skin to crack and bleed. His hypersensitive skin prevented him from touching anyone, and sometimes even caused him to soak in water to soothe the pain, leaving him in a constant nightmare.
Stephanie Smith, 35, mother of a daughter, happily welcomed their son, Isaiah, into the world in 2013. However, when Isaiah was three months old, patches of red rashes began to appear on his tiny body. These rashes were particularly severe when exposed to strong perfume. Stephanie then removed all scents from the house, including dish soap, laundry detergent, and even air fresheners and perfumes. The rash improved slightly, but when someone tried to hold Isaiah, and they smelled fragrant, the rash would flare up again. Eventually, she had to hold Isaiah through a cloth.
However, the rash didn't improve, so Stephanie took Isaiah to see a doctor. Most doctors diagnosed Isaiah with eczema and prescribed topical steroids. Initially, the rash seemed to subside, but it soon reappeared and became uncontrollable. Eventually, Isaiah's entire body was covered in redness and swelling, but the doctors always concluded it was severe eczema.
When Isaiah was five months old, his skin condition reached its peak. Besides redness and swelling, it was so severe it cracked and bled. Applying ointment would help, but the pain would recur after two days. Day after day, Isaiah cried in agony, prompting doctors to administer stronger steroids. For her precious son, Stephanie virtually cut off contact with him and avoided taking him outdoors. She even bandaged him and tied his hands to prevent him from scratching himself when he slept. His skin was so delicate that he couldn't touch towels because they were too rough, requiring only cotton. Sometimes, Isaiah's entire body would become red and he would cry out in pain, leading to severe sleep deprivation. To help him sleep, she had to soak him in warm water to soothe his discomfort. Stephanie described how the air seemed to freeze, with only the sound of the faucet and Stephanie's heartbroken sobs. Isaiah could only soothe his discomfort with warm water (Photo/Isaiah Quinn Blog) Stephanie, who had seen 35 doctors, was overwhelmed by Isaiah's condition. Sometimes, out of sheer frustration, she even wished for God to take him away. Desperate, Stephanie searched the internet for information and came across articles discussing the side effects of steroids. Looking at photos of patients with symptoms similar to Isaiah's, Stephanie, acting on her mother's instinct, decided to stop using steroid creams on her son. Because Stephanie used to make candles, she began making herbal soaps and even handmade ointments using natural ingredients. After testing a small patch of skin, Stephanie found that the area where she applied the ointment had healed. After a few weeks, while the rash remained, the swelling and cracking had significantly improved. Later, Isaiah seemed to understand that the ointment on his mother's body could relieve his pain, and whenever he felt uncomfortable, he would shakily point to Stephanie's homemade ointment. By the time Isaiah was one year old, his skin condition had completely healed. Stephanie said that while she couldn't pinpoint the cause of his distress, her family's history of allergies led her to believe it was an allergy to the medication. However, the most important thing is that Isaiah is no longer allergic to perfume and is happily curious about everything every day. For a mother, seeing her child grow up healthy and happy is the greatest blessing.
