If the baby has rashes on the face, red spots, peeling of the skin, most likely the cause is an allergic reaction. Imperfect immune system of babies is not able to cope with the influence of external factors and irritants. One of the manifestations of the pathological reaction of the body is an allergic rash. In newborns who are breast-fed, it is much less common than in babies who are given artificial mixtures.
Causes of Allergies
In essence, an allergy is a defensive reaction of the body directed against itself. The cause of the pathological immune response is the influence of the allergen, which can be hygiene products, food, household dust, washing powder, etc. As a result of the action of the stimulus, the immune system produces immunoglobulin E - a protein that, when combined with the allergen, manifests itself as an allergic rash.
In newborns and children of the first year of life, this unpleasant symptom can be of food or non-food origin. An important role in the development of allergies in children is played by a factor of hereditary predisposition. If at least one of the baby's parents is an allergic person, the probability of developing a pathology in a child becomes several times higher.
Lactose as the cause of allergies
In infants, a common cause of the immune response is lactose, a protein found in cow's milk. It is present in some milk formulas. Some children tolerate it without problems, while others have stool disorders, frequent spitting up or an allergic rash.
In newborns, the cause of rashes may be the wrong diet of the mother, abusing allergenic products. Also, the risk of developing an allergy increases if during pregnancy a woman did not follow a diet, smoked, or suffered a serious infectious disease.
Skin contact with irritant
The cause of allergies in a newborn on the face is often the negative impact of household chemicals, therapeutic ointments. In addition, allergens such as:
- household dust;
- blood-sucking parasites (ticks, bugs);
- flowering houseplants;
- cosmetics and perfumes used by parents.
Often an allergy in a child is caused by plastic toys. The kid needs to buy only those things whose quality and safety are confirmed by certificates. The same applies to clothes. Choosing a wardrobe for a newborn, however, like an older child, preference should be given to things made from natural materials, without bright dyes. Especially if these clothes will have direct contact with the skin of the baby.
Medications as the cause of allergies
Sometimes an allergic rash in a newborn with breastfeeding may occur after routine vaccination. Redness on the skin is often the result of prolonged treatment of colds with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs. The cause of rashes may be aromatic additives or dyes in the composition of drugs. Also, not all babies can easily tolerate vitamins or dill water.
Pediatricians believe that diathesis in newborns on the face can be the reason for the late onset of breastfeeding against the background of the development of intestinal dysbiosis. The thing is that in children who are fed an artificial mixture, the formation of beneficial intestinal microflora is disrupted.
How is allergy manifested in newborns, symptoms
In order to help the baby in time and prevent the occurrence of allergy episodes in the future, you need to know about the features of the clinical picture. Most children are affected by the skin. The rash can have a different view, localization, severity. Most often it occurs on the face, neck, forearms, buttocks, inguinal and popliteal folds. Due to constant itching, the child becomes restless, sleeps poorly, and is constantly naughty.
Along with rashes, a child may have an upset digestive process, which is manifested by intense regurgitation after feeding, colic, constipation or diarrhea. If the allergen is in the air, a typical red rash in a newborn may not be. Instead, respiratory symptoms will appear in the form of laryngeal edema, dry cough, and nasal congestion. Sometimes these symptoms are often confused with a cold, but unlike her, allergies do not occur with an increase in body temperature.
Varieties of rashes
Skin lesions can be of different types. An allergic rash in a baby is most often manifested:
- exudative diathesis - usually occurs on the cheeks, the skin becomes red, dry, peels and itches heavily, crusts, scales form in the scalp;
- milk scab (small, wet red plaques in the forehead, cheeks, chest, buttocks, abdomen are accompanied by itching);
- seborrhea of the scalp and eyebrows;
- diaper rash behind the ears, in the groin, armpits.
It should be borne in mind that the rash in infants does not always mean that the child's body has been exposed to an allergen. Symptoms of flowering in newborns and prickly heat are similarly manifested.
How to distinguish an allergy from another skin rash
During the so-called flowering period, which lasts for 1-3 months, the child may appear small millet spots of a reddish-pink hue with white blotches. Such a rash is hormonal in nature, since it is provoked by estrogen, the female sex hormone that enters the baby’s body through milk. Estrogen promotes enhanced work of the sebaceous glands, which ultimately manifests in rashes on the face. Such a rash may not cover a specific area, as with an allergy, but almost the entire body.
Also, many confuse allergies in a newborn on the face, neck, and scalp with prickly heat. However, it is important to remember that prickly heat occurs only in places where the skin is in contact with clothing or in the area of folds on the skin. Moreover, very often it manifests itself not as pimples, but as red spots, reminiscent of diaper rash.
How to start treatment: eliminate the allergen
Correction of the diet will be the first step in the treatment of allergic rashes in a newborn. What to do to save the child from skin lesions and improve his well-being? The main task is to eliminate the allergen. To find a product that is responsible for allergies, it is necessary to completely review the diet of the baby if it is breast-fed, and the mother if the baby is breast-fed.
In the first case, the provocateur is often lactose or its synthetic analogue of lactulose. If the child does not consume anything other than the mixture, it must be changed, and pay attention that the new one does not have the indicated components. If the child eats exclusively mother's milk, then the allergen must be excluded from her diet. Most often it turns out to be:
- whole cow's milk;
- gluten contained in pasta, semolina, wheat porridge, white bread, oatmeal, sweet pastries;
- fish;
- eggs
- honey;
- cocoa;
- red vegetables and fruits.
It is possible to introduce complementary foods to children prone to allergies no earlier than seven months. In this case, you can start with green vegetables (zucchini, broccoli) and cereals that do not contain gluten. It is also important to ensure that the child does not overeat and drink enough fluid. More than necessary, eat the children who are on artificial nutrition. If there is a shortage of fluid in the body, then toxins and decay products will not be able to leave it with urine, so they will begin to look for other ways - for example, through the skin.
Bathing and hygiene
In this matter, the most important thing is the use of boiled water. Often, the cause of dermatitis, which serves as a favorable background for the development of allergies, is bathing a child in tap water. In addition, a weak solution of potassium permanganate can be added to water: potassium permanganate is an excellent disinfectant and antiseptic.
Use soap when bathing babies or other hygiene products can be no more than once a week. As for washing children's things, it is better for her to use hypoallergenic powders for children. For hand washing, it is more convenient to use children's laundry soap.
Other recommendations
If the child has allergy symptoms, you need to pay attention to the frequency and quality of the baby's stool. With a delay in feces, intoxication of the body occurs. If he has a tendency to constipation, mom needs to reconsider her diet or change the mixture. Boiling meat, rice and semolina, eggs, persimmons, quinces, green bananas most often have a fixing effect. Irregular stools may also indicate that the child is not eating up.
An optimal microclimate and cleanliness must be maintained in the newborn’s permanent room. If the room is hot, the baby will sweat more, and sweat tends to irritate the skin. Wet cleaning should be done regularly in the room, as household dust on the floor, in carpets, on curtains can cause allergies.
Antihistamines for babies
In the treatment of allergies in newborns and older children, the use of antiallergic agents is of particular importance. Babies are prescribed drugs in the form of injections, drops, suspensions. It is impossible to give an antihistamine to a child on his own, he should be prescribed by a doctor. Most drugs are prohibited at an early age, as evidenced by the instructions for use.
- "Loratadine." For children under two years of age, this tool cannot be used - as the annotation says. However, in practice, pediatricians prescribe it to babies from the first months of life. Given that in the instructions for use "Loratadine" children from two years old are given half a tablet, infants should be given a quarter, not more.
- Fenistil. You can give to children older than one month. The drug is available in a convenient drip form, has a sweetish taste, in addition, “Fenistil” can be added to a bottle with a mixture or water.
- The Zodak. According to the official instructions, Zodak drops should not be given to children under 6 months of age, but despite this, it is often prescribed to infants at a younger age.
Children older than 6 months can also be given Zirtek, Claritin, Gismanal, and Erius. Some of them are effective not only for allergic rashes, but also for swelling of the mucous membranes, rhinitis, conjunctivitis. Along with antihistamines, doctors recommend giving children adsorbents that will speed up the cleansing of the body of toxins (Smecta, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Atoxil).
Ointments and creams for allergic rashes
All drugs for external use can be divided into two groups - those that contain hormones, and non-steroidal. Preparations are available in the form of creams, gels, ointments.
Hormonal drugs have many contraindications for use, especially in children up to a year, so they are not prescribed for newborns. For children older than one month with an allergic rash, non-hormonal drugs are prescribed:
- "Bepanten";
- Fenistil;
- "Emolium."
These are universal drugs that are suitable not only for eliminating rashes, but also for treating diaper rash, prickly heat, and diathesis. Without a doctor’s prescription, Bepanten and Emolium can be used. An allergy cream in newborns relieves itching, moisturizes the skin, eliminating peeling, and starts the regeneration process. Fenistil is also used for allergic rashes of any etiology, including insect bites, diathesis, etc.
How to prevent allergies
In order to prevent the manifestation of allergies in infants, it is necessary:
- carefully approach the issue of compiling a maternal diet;
- introduce new products into the menu of a nursing mother no earlier than a month after the birth of the baby, and this should be done sequentially, observing the reaction of the baby;
- refuse to use potentially dangerous allergens for the entire period of natural feeding (honey, chocolate, peanuts, seafood, etc.);
- with all efforts to maintain lactation and breastfeed as long as possible;
- minimize contact with allergens;
- refuse to take medications if this is not urgently needed.
These simple rules will help protect your baby's skin from allergic rashes and various complications.