Baby has impetigo on his eyelids

It started when he was 3 weeks old. He’s almost 10 weeks now. The ped said it was just baby acne that got infected and prescribed erythromycin. Did that for a week and it seemingly went away, although his eyelids were still a bit swollen but I assumed that was from the repeated warm compresses for his clogged tear ducts. He woke up 6/28 bleeding from his eyelids and it had come back full force. It was the weekend so we went to children’s hospital urgent care. They didn’t really say much other than do another round of erythromycin and if that doesn’t work in 48 hours stop using it and go to the ped. It didn’t work so we saw the ped on Wednesday.

He then said it wasnt an infection it was cradle cap on his eyes, to stop using erythromycin, and to moisturize but be careful not to get it in his eyes. Which like?? It’s on his eyes? So? I asked for a referral to a dermatologist. He said if his eyes were like that the following Monday when his 2 month wellness check was then he will. Of course, his eyes were not better and looked worse than ever.

Finally saw a dermatologist who diagnosed it as impetigo. But she told us to do a 3rd round of erythromycin since the ped told us not to finish the 2nd round. I don’t have high hopes that it’ll work as it hasn’t before.

And I can’t get my boy to stop scratching or rubbing his eyes. I’m sure they itch and hurt. But him messing with them is prolonging this I’m assuming. He finally let me start swaddling him at night (he hates it but after a long time will give in. It’s exhausting) but when he’s awake all he does is go after them. If his hands are free he will scratch. If they’re in mittens he’ll rub them. I don’t know what to do. I also didn’t realize it was so contagious. I suspect it’s spread to his head. I thought it was just cradle cap but it’s like a mustard colored crust that keeps coming back less than a day after bath.

If anyone has any tips how to tackle this, keep him from messing with his eyes, or what to talk to the dermatologist about for next steps I’m all ears!