Are you aware of the various skin allergies in babies? How do skin allergies in babies look like? How do you know if your baby is suffering from allergies? Baby allergies can be due to underlying reasons, nothing that could be a serious impact on the baby’s health.
Babies are more prone to get allergies and infection than older people. Skin allergies in babies when the baby’s skin gets irritated by some allergen. The body produces some chemical histamine triggered by some allergen that causes skin allergies in babies.
In this article, we will focus on the types of various skin allergies in babies, its causes and some of the home remedies to fight with the skin allergies in babies.
Signs and Symptoms of Skin Allergies in Babies
The sign and symptoms vary from one baby to another. It also depends upon the type of skin allergies the baby is suffering from, but some of the common sign and symptoms that skin allergies in babies include:
- Rashes
- Swelling of the eyes, lips or face
- Dizziness
- Dry, thick skin
- Cold, flu
- Temperature variation
- Yellow or crusty flakes
- Dandruff in eyebrows, head
- Inching
- Reduce of appetite
- Sneezing
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
Different Types of Allergies in Babies
There are a variety of allergies that babies suffer from. The types of skin allergies (R) in babies differ from one baby to the other. Let’s focus on some of the types of babies allergies.
Check Out These Types Of Skin Allergies In Babies
1. Eczema:
Eczema is one of the most common skin allergies that babies suffer from. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis skin allergies. Babies often experience eczema at the beginning of their life, mostly during 1- 5 years of age. If the eczema skin allergy in babies is not being treated at the right time, it can lead to scabbing and oozing skin spot.
Eczema is moreover noticed as red, dry and thickness itchy rashes which ooze out when scratched. The babies get scratchy in the evening hour or during the night when they are exposed to bed, as they don’t have any activity to do.
The eczema skin allergies in babies tend to show up in cheeks and scalp but it may spread to arms, chest, knee, and others part of the babies body. It mostly appears on the elbow of babies.
Cause of Eczema
- Food allergies to eggs, nuts, wheat, soy, seafood, etc.
- Environmental pollutant like smoke, dust.
- Expose to heat/sunlight, extreme cold weather.
- Dietary allergies like milk and other related milk product.
- Heredity can be is one of the cause in some babies.
- Certain components in soap, lotion, oil or even fiber
- Sweating
2. Hives:
Hives are another type of baby skin allergies. This form of allergy is experienced by the baby soon after they are exposed to solid foods apart from breastfeeding. Hives can last for several days on and off. They can appear in any part of the body as it gets affected by any food allergies. Hives are the itchy red bumps or patches on the baby’s skin. Hives first appear in one spot of the baby’s body then it spreads to different parts of the baby’s skin.
Hives are more often reddish and swollen blotches on the skin of your baby. Like other skin allergies in babies, hives are not too dry and scaly. If the hives stay for a longer period of time, then the baby needs to consult a doctor as it might take a different turn for the baby’s health. When the baby body is allergic to some substance, it releases a chemical called histamine that can lead to the development of hives (R) and other allergic symptoms.
Cause of hives:
- Food allergies to solid food like eggs, milk, soy, peanut etc
- Fragrances
- Latex
- Viral infection like cold, flu, cough
- Insect bite like ant, flies, cockroaches, etc.
- Temperature change-if it is too cold or too hot
- Medicine antibiotics, NSAID (R)
- Pet saliva or dander
- Pimples
- Hepatitis B
- Bacterial infection including urinary tract infection and strep throat
- Expose to sunlight
- Water on skin
3. Papular Urticaria:
Papular urticaria is a localized allergic reaction to a bug bite. Papular urticaria resembles a small cluster of red bumps or bug bites from mosquitoes, flies, insects, etc. Papular urticaria stays for a longer period of time, sometimes several days or weeks. It usually affects to 2-6 years of children, it is also found in babies.
It mostly appears on face, hand and neck areas of babies. Papular skin allergies in babies are quite common and can lead to hives, in the long run, giving the impression that there are a lot of insect bites in the babies. Papular urticaria forms bumps which are mostly fluid-filled blisters and it varies in size.
Cause of papular urticaria:
- It mostly occurs due to the insets bites like
- Mosquitoes
- Bug bite
- Flies bite
- Crocroches
4. Miliaria or Heat Rash:
Miliaria or heat rash is also known as sweat rash or prickly heat. This is a very common skin allergy in babies. Most babies suffer it in the early days of their life’s. Miliaria or heat rash occurs in babies when they are exposed to sweat. It is not a very serious skin allergy in babies. It gets cured on its own with few days. Miliaria is often seen all over the body in small red spots.
This form of Skin allergies mostly occurs in babies with more sensitive skins. The babies usually get to suffer from miliaria in warm weather. baby heat rash tends to happen when the baby sweat gland becomes blocked and trap sweat under the skin. Heat rash is an uncomfortable but usually harmless condition. Prickly heat always continues without any proceeding disorder.
Causes of heat rash:
- Environmental condition- too much hot and humid
- Accumulation of sweat in the body
- Tight clothing
- Latex
- Pollen
- Overheating-dressing too warmly or sleeping under an electric blanket
- Prolonged bed rest
5. Ringworm:
Ringworm (R) is also known as tinea. Ringworm is a common fungal skin allergy in babies. It is a ring-like infection red rash that appears almost anywhere of the baby skin such as in scalp, feet, chest, etc.
It is a contagious skin allergy, but not painful or dangerous. It gets spread through towels, clothes, toys. It can appear anywhere in the baby skin such as the scalp, baby diaper area. The rash doesn’t itch, it is not caused by worms. Ringworm rash is more dry, swollen, and scaly.
Causes of ringworm:
- Hereditary
- Pet salivation or dander
- Accumulation of sweat on the skin
- Wet patches in the fold of skin
- Cut or scratch on the skin after contact with an infected person or animal.
- Viral infection
- Fragrance
6. Milia:
This is a common skin allergy in babies that is seen with a yellow or white small superficial cysts. Milia occur in nearly half of healthy babies and are typically present in birth. Milia appears on the facial skin bearing vellus hair follicles and arise from the lower infundibular sebaceous collar of the vellus hair.
Milia are the blocked pores and usually clear up within 4 weeks of the birth of babies. Milia first appears on the face of the baby and then spreads over the different areas of the body. Mostly 40-50% of new babies develop this type of skin allergies. The chances of this allergy are more in normal babies than premature babies.
Cause of Milia:
- Irritation
- Infection
- Milia (R) develops when tiny skin flakes become trapped in small pockets near the surface of the skin.
7. Cradle Cap:
Cradle cap is also known as seborrhoea. This is another common form of baby skin allergies. Cradle cap is a condition that tends to develop within 2-3 months of birth. It usually gets better without treatment over the course of time. It is characterized by greasy yellow scaly patches develop on babies scalp. Cradle cap rash is generally painless and will not irritate the baby. Cradle cap is a non-contagious skin allergy that the baby faces.
Sometimes the face, ear, and neck also get affected by cradle cap skin allergies. The scales flake and may make the affected skin look red. Sometimes the hair will come away with the flakes but it will grow back. Cradle cap is a type of seborrhea dermatitis which is a common irritation that affects oily skin in babies and adults.
Causes of Cradle Cap:
- Excess of sebum
- Mother hormones
- Malassezia on the skin
- Poor hygiene
8. Diaper Dermatitis:
The term diaper dermatitis includes the eruptions that occur in the area covered by the diaper. Diaper dermatitis is considered the most common skin allergies in babies. Diaper dermatitis is mostly one of the self-limited allergies that disappear within three days. Baby’s diaper rash is also very common in case of older babies who sleep with a diaper.
Irritant contact dermatitis begins as acute erythema on the convex skin surfaces of the pubic area and buttocks, with sparing of the skin folds which reflect the area of the body that contact with the diaper. Babies sometimes suffer from diaper rash after a bout of diarrhea, as a side effect from the antibiotics or the has exposure to solid foods for the first time.
Causes of Diaper Dermatitis:
- Urine enzymes
- Wiping
- Rubbing and stool
- Wetness in diaper
- Fungal infection or rare skin condition
9. Intertrigo:
Intertrigo is a skin allergy or infection that is very contagious but not serious. It is a bacterial infection that appears on the surface area of the skin, that leads to sores and blisters. It gets cleared up within 8-10 days of time. The baby gets experiences a bit of pain with this form of skin allergy. Intertrigo mostly appears on the chubby babies.
Causes of Intertrigo:
- Excessive moisture
- Infection
- Latex
- Temperature change
10. Baby Acne:
This is another common form of skin allergies babies often get or experience. This starts with a pimple that develops on babies cheeks, nose, and forehead within a month of their birth. Sometimes it gets so severe that it needs medical treatment.
Causes of Baby Acne:
- Pimples
- Irritation skin
- Food allergies
- Insect Bites
TIPS TO AVOID SKIN ALLERGIES IN BABIES:
Let’s focus on some of the tips that are needed to avoid or prevent skin allergies in babies.
Try to avoid giving the baby a bath every day with soap and shampoo
- Make sure you moisturize your baby with a cream or lotion after the baby takes a bath.
- Keep your baby away from insects and bugs.
- Keep the room temperature in a moderate mode, neither too hot nor cold.
- Always try to make the baby wear loose clothes
- Try to avoid baby diapers at night
- Check with the ingredients of food before you expose to your baby especially with the solid foods
Baby skin is precious and delicate. So, every parent needs to take care of the baby’s skin with lots of love and care. Being aware of various skin allergies or rashes that affects baby’s skin will help you to give a better and comfortable life for your child.
