Often, young mothers encounter such a problem as irritation and a strange rash on the body and face of the baby. And often the cause of this phenomenon is an allergy. It is small children who are more susceptible to such reactions, since immunity at this age is still very weak and imperfect.
That is why allergies in infants on the face and body can be quite difficult and provoke many unpleasant complications. So parents should worry when they find such a problem, and go in search of its cause. This is necessary in order to understand how to treat allergies on the face of an infant. Indeed, in a neglected form, this vice can lead to negative consequences.
Allergy - what is it?
What is this phenomenon? In fact, an allergy is a protective reaction of the body to various stimuli, as a result of which the active production of immunoglobulin E begins. Interacting with an allergen, this substance provokes the appearance of all kinds of visual manifestations of intolerance, for example, pathological rash, indigestion and other unpleasant symptoms.
Irritation can cover not only the face, but also the scalp, as well as other areas. Visually, it can look like a small rash, redness, peeling. Typically, these symptoms appear almost immediately after a meal or some time after direct contact with an allergen. In this case, the itch may bother the baby, its integuments become too tight and dry, and the child is capricious. To understand what an allergy on the face of infants looks like, you can familiarize yourself with the photos presented. They will help parents to identify the problem in time and, accordingly, to deal with it.
Why does it appear
The allergy presented in the photo in infants on the face can be of a food and non-food nature. In addition, heredity is of no small importance in its development. So, if one of the family members suffers from chronic rhinitis, bronchial asthma or other allergic pathologies, then there is nothing surprising in the fact that once in a baby the cheeks will be covered with strange rashes.
In addition, the manifestation of intolerance is affected by the state of the baby’s immunity and especially by breastfeeding. But be that as it may, determining the initial cause of the vice is very important. After all, it depends on her how to treat allergies on the face of the baby. An incorrectly chosen strategy will surely remain unsuccessful.
Food allergy
Often, the protein that is part of breast milk and artificial mixtures becomes an irritant for the baby's body. A negative reaction manifests itself in the form of skin rashes, abdominal pain, nasal congestion, lung spasm, insomnia and regular spitting up. In such situations, the phenomenon may have several reasons:
- mother’s menu filled with allergen products;
- artificial mixtures containing protein, lactulose or cereals;
- Mom’s unhealthy diet while carrying a baby;
- smoking during pregnancy, as well as some past illnesses.
Contact intolerance
An allergy on the face of a baby can provoke aggressive household chemicals, pollen of flowers or animal hair. The most common reasons for the development of a negative reaction are often the following factors:
- dust, household bugs and ticks;
- household chemicals, for example, detergent or dishwashing detergent;
- some plants;
- cosmetics, even those used by parents;
- pets, even without feathers and wool.
Other reasons
In addition, an allergy in a baby on the body and face can occur against the background of:
- genetic predisposition;
- vaccinations in which specific substances are used;
- late onset of breastfeeding;
- the use of a variety of drugs, especially antibiotics.
Very often, the initial cause of the allergy is dysbiosis. After all, initially the intestines of a newborn baby are absolutely sterile, and beneficial bacteria that come from the mother's body should colonize it. If this did not happen on time, and the child began to eat artificial mixtures from birth, the natural process is disturbed. As a result, the baby may develop dysbiosis, which in turn leads to allergies.
How to detect
To understand how to treat allergies on the face of an infant, the first thing to do is to identify it. To do this, you need to know how it manifests. There are several main symptoms in the presence of which you can suspect the presence of allergies:
- Skin lesion. Various rashes, peeling, puffiness, redness, severe dryness, tightness can be attributed to this category. Most often, these phenomena cover the neck, face, groin, buttocks and knees. The severity can be anything: from slight dryness to wetting wounds.
- Indigestion After feeding, the baby may have colic, diarrhea, constipation, profuse regurgitation. This is usually the food allergy.
- Respiratory abnormalities. Such symptoms are characteristic of babies with intolerance to allergens in the air, for example, dust, pollen, wool. At the same time, the baby has swelling of the nasopharynx and larynx, it becomes difficult to breathe, coughing and lacrimation appear. Often, parents confuse such symptoms with a common cold. But unlike SARS, allergies do not cause an increase in body temperature.
- Excessive anxiety. Of course, a small child is simply not able to say what exactly is bothering him. But parents, being careful, may notice moodiness, excessive anxiety and insomnia.
What does an allergy look like in a baby?
First of all, the child's cheeks redden, on the forehead and chin, the skin begins to peel strongly. You can see possible manifestations of intolerance in the photo. Treatment of allergies in infants on the face should begin with determining the initial cause. It is the identification and elimination of the factor that provoked the appearance of such a reaction of the body, is considered the key to successful therapy. As a rule, this is quite enough to rid the baby of discomfort. But to launch antihistamines is only in extreme cases.
What to do with allergies on the face of a baby
Faced with such a problem in a newborn baby, any mother will begin to worry and think about what to do. Parents should know that therapy should be comprehensive and consist of several stages.
Eliminating an allergen is considered the most difficult part of treating an allergy on a baby’s face. Komarovsky advises parents to check:
- Baby food. Most often, crumbs suffer precisely from food intolerance during breastfeeding, and with artificial diet.
- Mom's nutrition.
- Was complementary foods too early. It is not advisable for small allergy sufferers to administer it earlier than seven months of age, and it should be started with cereals without gluten and hypoallergenic vegetables.
- Is there no overfeeding. In children on artificial nutrition, allergies are more likely to occur, since the mixtures are more high-calorie and process longer, creating a strain on the stomach, unlike breast milk.
- Does the baby comply with the drinking regimen. If there is a fluid deficiency, any toxins that enter the body of the crumbs will not leave it with urine, but will gradually poison it, creating a favorable soil for the development of allergies.
- What kind of water is used. Even in the maternity hospital, mothers are told that you can bathe crumbs only in boiled liquid. After all, untreated water can provoke the appearance of contact dermatitis.
- What kind of toys does the child use? You should only purchase high-quality items that have the appropriate certificates that speak of security.
- Hygiene products. You can use soap and various gels in the process of bathing the child no more than once a week.
- Household chemicals. You can’t wash your baby’s things with a simple powder, you must choose special products for children.
- Clothing. Things crumbs should be made of natural fabrics without bright dyes, especially those that directly touch the body of the baby.
As for the nutrition of the mother, there are a number of recommendations of doctors:
- if lactose intolerance is suspected, whole milk should be discarded;
- with an allergy to gluten, mother needs to exclude pasta, oatmeal, wheat, semolina, pastries from the diet;
- it is advisable to refrain from the use of cocoa, honey, fish, bright fruits and vegetables, eggs.
Creating comfortable conditions
It is equally important to monitor the work of the digestive tract in the newborn. Parents who notice the baby's tendency to constipation should analyze the feeding process. Maybe the baby does not get enough nutrition, or some product from the mother’s diet has a negative effect on his body. In addition, problems with stools in mothers can also lead to the ingestion of harmful toxins in milk.
In the children's room should be equipped with the most comfortable conditions with a low temperature and humidity. After all, if the child sweats heavily, the excreted substances can irritate the skin.
In addition, the room should be clean. So that the dust does not provoke a second reaction, you need to clean the room every day.
How to treat an allergy on the face of a baby
Most often, to eliminate manifestations of intolerance, it is quite enough to simply remove the factors that provoke this condition. The use of all kinds of medicines, as a rule, fades into the background. After all, they can only stop external manifestations, but eliminating the main cause. In addition, a negative reaction may appear in the infant and on drugs.
For the treatment of facial allergies in infants, doctors usually recommend:
- Sorbents. They are absolutely safe even for the child's body, help cleanse themselves of toxins and eliminate constipation.
- Antihistamines are a symptomatic part of therapy.
- Allergy cream - non-hormonal agents with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound healing effect.
- Hormonal ointments. They are used exclusively in cases where other means have not helped the child.
So, how to smear allergies in infants on the face? Usually, several safe and effective drugs are used for this:
- Sudokrem. The product has no age restrictions, has a local anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic effect. The drug stops redness, itching and peeling. Apply it with a thin layer on damaged skin until a film is formed.
- Advantan. This drug allows you to quickly get rid of the manifestations of contact allergies. It has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Apply the product in a thin layer 1 time per day for a month.
- Bepanten. One of the most popular drugs that have a healing effect. The tool helps to get rid of redness, peeling and itching on the face of the baby. By the way, this drug was recommended by Dr. Komarovsky for the treatment of allergies in infants. After all, this tool is considered one of the most sparing and effective drugs.
How much does an allergy on a baby face take? Of course, the course of the disease in each situation is purely individual, therefore it is impossible to say exactly when exactly the symptoms will completely disappear. One baby can recover in just a few days, another in 3 weeks. But on average, with the right approach, appropriate treatment and elimination of an external stimulus, the first effect of treatment is observed only after a few days. But you can talk about the full recovery of the baby in about 1-2 weeks.
Alternative medicine
Folk remedies for allergies on the face of an infant allow delicately helping a child. Such drugs help get rid of peeling, tightness, itching, redness and irritation:
- Chamomile tincture. This is one of the most popular folk remedies that help get rid of allergies in infants. It has anti-inflammatory, disinfecting and soothing effects. And the broth is prepared very simply: you just need to pour a couple of tablespoons of dried flowers, pour a glass of water and boil. With a cooled infusion, moisten a cotton pad and wipe the baby's face.
- A series of. The infusion from this plant is also famous for its useful qualities in the fight against allergies in newborn children. Cook and use it should be exactly the same as a decoction of chamomile.
Prevention
To prevent the development of allergies in a newborn baby, preventive measures should be taken:
- carefully monitor your diet during lactation;
- observe breastfeeding as long as possible;
- refuse to take medication without urgent need;
- carry out wet cleaning in the children's room every day;
- minimize contact of the child with plants and animals;
- avoid artificial mixtures containing soy, gluten or lactulose.
These simple rules will help to keep a child's face healthy, and prevent the development of negative reactions.