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 An infant food rash commonly occurs when children digest, either directly or indirectly, food to which they are allergic to. The latter occurs when a breastfeeding mother passes the allergen through to her infant via the breast milk. The primary carer will often be the one to identify the infant’s food allergy rash, as it will usually develop as a direct reaction to newly introduced food. With rashes being part and parcel of an infant's development, it can sometimes be a process of elimination to determine if your child's rash is a nappy rash, heat rash or due to food allergies.
It's important to remember that rashes can be a symptom of an allergy or intolerance to food, so the best way to treat the rash is to identify and eliminate the cause of the rash. Food allergy rashes can be more easily identified if new foods are introduced separately. It is a possibility that infants can also develop food allergy rashes through breast milk. Be mindful of this if you or your partner have a family history of food allergies.
Signs
The signs of infant food allergy include: - Inflamed skin - flat or scaly
- Changes in colour - white centers or red marks
- Spreading - the rash can appear all over the childs body.
Common allergenic foods
The following foods are identified as common triggers in food allergy rashes:
- dairy milk
- soy milk
- eggs
- peanuts
- fish
The good news is that many children outgrow their food allergies by school age, so it is recommended that you re-test your child after a few years to determine if the food allergy still exists.
Treatment Rashes are very painful for young children, so eliminate the suspected food immediately if your child develops food allergies. Paracetamol can be used as a stop-gap measure to ease your infant's pain. Your doctor or dermatologist can advise of creams or anti-histamines to use on the rash until the food allergy reaction subsides. Your doctor or specialist will also suggest food alternatives to ensure both you and your infant are receiving the correct balance of nutrients to maintain your health and ensure the healthy development of your child.
Important
If you are in any doubt about what caused the rash, see your doctor immediately. Infant rashes are usually indicative of a diaper rash, heat rash or food reaction, however there is still the slight risk of measles or meningitis.
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