Rashes on the cheeks of a baby are a very common phenomenon that a huge number of mothers encounter. Allergic reactions can occur for a variety of reasons and appear throughout the body, but, as a rule, the first symptoms appear on the face. Let's try to understand the main factors that cause a response in the child's body and find out how to deal with this typical immunopathological process.
The most common causes of rash
The skin of a newborn baby is very delicate and thin, it is easily susceptible to various influences, it reacts to both external factors and the internal state of the body. There are a huge number of factors that can cause rashes on the cheeks of the baby.
The causes are most often associated with the following:
- taking antibiotics, as a result of which the intestinal microflora was disrupted;
- violation or lack of feeding;
- hypersensitivity to any products transmitted by heredity;
- immune response to vaccines;
- improper nutrition of mom;
- feeding with artificial mixtures.
In addition to all of the above, an allergic reaction can be caused by cosmetics used to care for the baby or household cleaning products. In order for the rashes on the cheeks of the baby to disappear, it is necessary to determine their exact cause and exclude it from the baby’s life. Otherwise, his health will deteriorate.
Food allergy
What is she like? According to medical statistics, red rashes on the cheeks of a child are associated with nutrition. The thing is that in one-month-old children the digestive system is still not well developed, so it can react poorly to a huge amount of food. If they enter the body, a malfunction may occur. In this case, the immune system begins to respond to an allergen only when it is re-introduced into the body, and at the first it only remembers it. The more antigen enters the bloodstream, the more severe the symptoms.
Among the main causes of food allergies are the following:
- feeding with milk mixtures made on the basis of cow's milk containing lactose;
- too early or incorrect transfer of the baby to normal nutrition;
- non-compliance by the mother with breastfeeding.
If the rashes on the cheeks of the child are associated with the individual intolerance of any products, then in this case the only way out is to completely exclude them from the baby’s diet.
Allergic diseases
How do they manifest? Rashes on the cheeks of a baby can be caused not only by the individual characteristics of the child's body, but also due to various allergic diseases.
The most commonly diagnosed are the following:
- Atopic eczema. Rashes on the skin are accompanied by severe itching. In addition, the epidermis becomes very dry and begins to peel off.
- Uurtikaria. The rash is very itchy and resembles edematous nodules that disappear after pressing on them. Most often, it develops due to prolonged use of medications or the use of certain foods.
- Quincke's edema. In its clinical manifestations, it very much resembles urticaria, however, a rash with this disease is localized in a much larger area of the skin. A very dangerous situation is in which swelling of the mucous membrane of the larynx occurs.
It is worth noting that with any allergic disease, rashes on the cheeks of the baby are almost always accompanied not only by redness, but also by additional symptoms. Therefore, if you notice them, it is best to immediately show the child to a dermatologist in order to promptly identify the problem and begin treatment.
Clinical manifestations of allergic reactions
What should you pay attention to first of all? When a typical immunopathological process begins in the baby's body, regardless of what it was caused, a rash appears on its skin, especially on the face. It can have a different shade, size and structure.
In this case, the following symptoms may be observed along the way:
- itching
- allergic rhinitis;
- loose stools;
- increased gas formation;
- intestinal cramps.
The first clinical manifestations can make themselves felt after a few minutes or hours after the allergen enters the baby's body. Therefore, if you find red rashes on the cheeks of a baby, then in no case should you leave this unattended.
A few words about artificial feeding
According to doctors, in most cases, the allergic process begins with the use of infant formula. Therefore, if for some reason you can’t breast-feed, you need to be very careful when choosing a mixture for the baby. The thing is that artificial nutrition for infants is based on cow's milk, so casein and lactose are present in their composition. And since the digestive system and metabolism of newborn babies are not yet fully developed, they may have certain problems with their assimilation. As a result, children develop food allergies.
It is possible to determine that the rash on the cheeks of a child at 1 month old is caused precisely by children's maladaptive nutrition by the following signs:
- redness of the skin of the face;
- frequent burping;
- gagging;
- loose stools;
- colic.
It is worth noting that in some cases, there may even be a slight increase in body temperature. However, this is extremely rare, so it can not be considered a clear symptom.
Feeding Diet
So that the baby does not develop allergies, the mother (throughout breastfeeding) should carefully monitor her diet. It is best to consult with an allergist, immunologist, and nutritionist to help adjust your daily diet.
But in any case, you will have to abandon the following products:
- any seafood;
- milk;
- eggs
- mushrooms;
- honey;
- cereal crops;
- nuts
- cocoa-containing products;
- coffee;
- yellow and red fruits and vegetables;
- sweets;
- marinades;
- spicy seasonings.
In addition to the diet, pediatricians also recommend reviewing all household chemicals used, as well as hygiene products for caring for the child.
What products are allowed?
According to nutritionists, with proper nutrition, the likelihood of developing an allergy is almost completely excluded.
Experts in this area advise nursing mothers to include the following in their diet:
- dairy products;
- cereals;
- dietary meat;
- white and green fruits and vegetables, fresh or boiled;
- vegetable oils, especially olive oil.
These products are a good source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, and they do not contain allergens, so they will benefit not only mom, but also her baby.
Allergy to household chemicals and its main manifestations
Many mothers think that a typical immunopathological reaction is caused by the use of certain foods, but very often rashes on the cheeks of a child are the result of the use of inappropriate household chemicals. The whole problem with this is that it is very difficult to distinguish this type of allergy from any other due to similar symptoms. Among the main symptoms, the following can be distinguished:
- dryness and peeling of the skin;
- watery bubbles bursting when pressed;
- redness and tearing of the eyes;
- cough;
- sinus congestion.
In the case of a typical immunopathological reaction to household chemicals, it is very important to start treatment as soon as possible, because if it continues to progress, then the baby may develop eczema over time, which is fraught with very serious consequences.
Diagnostics
What is she like? In order to quickly cure rashes on the cheeks of a baby, it is necessary to identify the exact cause of their manifestations. This requires a comprehensive examination of not only the child, but also his parents.
In the process of diagnosis, doctors take into account the following factors:
- hereditary predisposition;
- the level of immunoglobulin in the blood, eliminating the presence of infectious diseases;
- the study of the possible routes of penetration of the allergen into the body;
- study of external factors that could cause the development of allergies.
If a typical immunopathological reaction proceeds in an acute form, then blood sampling may be required to perform laboratory tests.
The main methods of treatment
Rashes on the cheeks of a baby are the very first and obvious sign of an allergic reaction, so you need to immediately show your baby to a profiled specialist. As a rule, medication is prescribed based on the use of antihistamines.
Most often, the following are assigned:
- "Diazolin";
- "Suprastin";
- Claritin
- "Gistan";
- Fenistil;
- Bepaten Plus;
- Smecta.
These drugs relieve swelling and block the response of the immune system to an allergen. However, you should not forget that any drugs can be taken only as prescribed by the doctor. In very severe cases, glucocorticoids are prescribed, but they are taken exclusively under the supervision of a doctor.
Preventive actions
According to medical workers, allergic reactions in children under the age of one year can be prevented.
To do this, parents should follow these tips and tricks:
- When breastfeeding, the mother should adjust her diet based on what foods can adversely affect the baby’s health. The fact that you can eat, and what should be discarded, has already been noted.
- The child should be accustomed to home food gradually so that his digestive system can adapt normally. At the very beginning, one teaspoon will be enough for the baby. If after feeding rashes on the cheeks of the baby do not appear, then you can gradually increase the portions. In general, it is better to start complementary foods no earlier than 8 months.
- For artificial feeding, it is necessary to use infant formula, which in its composition is as close as possible to mother's milk. This is especially important if the child has any problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Nutrition in the first year of life should be as useful as possible. It is better not to give him fatty foods and foods that can cause the development of allergies.
- Bathing and washing of children's things should be carried out using special means. In addition, it is very important to ensure proper hygiene.
In addition to all of the above, household dust is also one of the external factors, so you need to regularly clean the house.
Pediatric Tips and Moms
So what to do if you notice a rash on the cheeks of the baby? Komarovsky, who is considered one of the most experienced doctors of our time, advises, first of all, to refrain from artificial feeding, since most often a typical immunopathological reaction develops due to the immunity or individual intolerance of the protein contained in cow's milk, which is the basis for the manufacture of infant formula.
In turn, mothers who have faced a similar problem recommend reviewing and adjusting their daily diet, as the substances contained in food are passed on to the baby along with milk during feeding. In most cases, this helps, and the allergy disappears on its own.
Conclusion
An allergy is not as scary as most parents think, but you should not leave it unattended, since in the absence of proper treatment serious complications can develop. Also, do not self-medicate, and when the first symptoms are manifested, it is best to immediately go to the hospital, where your child will be examined by a professional and will choose the safest and most effective treatment program. But if you take good care of your child in a high-quality and proper manner, then he will never have any health problems, so here everything depends on you.