How to Deal with Baby’s Skin Allergy?

Newborns and infants can have skin rashes due to various reasons. Most babies have a skin allergy when he gets in contact with a typically harmless substance. It can be a new soap, food, or an allergen, such as pollen.  

New parents may not know how to deal with baby’s skin allergy. You need to pay attention to symptoms and recognize the type of skin allergy to provide the right cure.

This post will shed light on skin allergy causes, symptoms, and cures. So, continue reading to learn how to deal with baby’s skin allergy.

What are the Known Causes of Baby’s Skin Allergy?

The following things are mainly responsible for causing skin allergies in babies:

Pollutants:

Pollutants released from automobile exhausts can cause severe discomfort to the baby. Gases, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, and solid pollutants can cause skin issues. You should use an air purifier in the house to keep the internal atmosphere clean and healthy for your child.

Poor hygiene inside the house:

Babies can get skin rashes due to getting in contact with dirty carpets, sofa, mattresses, and other household objects. Poor household hygiene is one of the main causes of skin issues in babies. Keep the baby’s room clean and remove all the pollutants from his space. Clean your house regularly to eliminate the risks of skin allergies.

Pet hair:

Do you have pets at home? Keep them away from your child. Babies, who get in contact with pet animals, can suffer from allergic dermatitis. This problem will prevent your baby from playing with the pet in future. So, keep your pet away from the baby until he is 1-year old. His immune system will be stronger enough to withstand normal allergens.  

Mold and mildew:

Mold and mildew can grow anywhere across the globe. Prevent dampness in your house. Suppose you spot mold growth in the house, do not take your baby near that fungus. It can trigger skin reactions and health issues in babies.

What are the Symptoms of Skin Allergies in Babies?

The following symptoms indicate that your child is having a skin allergy!

Dry and itchy skin:

The baby will have dry and itchy skin if he is experiencing skin allergies. His eyelids might swell and his lips will get drier and scuffed. The baby is certainly experiencing skin allergies if there are red blisters and rashes on his skin.

Change of skin color:

Some babies get their lips swollen due to skin allergies. Another skin allergy sign is pale skin. papules, herpes, and clear erythema also indicate skin issues. The baby needs immediate treatment when such symptoms appear.

Cough and cold:

The baby can start sneezing and coughing due to an allergic reaction. His eyes will look teary and a prolonged cough is another symptom of allergy. Common skin allergy symptoms will soon appear on the baby’s skin. You can prevent them if provide a quick cure to the baby.

Irritable behavior, bloating, stomach pain, vomiting, etc. also indicate skin allergies. Take your baby to the doctor and provide the best cure to alleviate these symptoms.

How to Deal with Skin Allergies?

Babies experience a lot of discomfort due to skin allergies. It can be painful to see your baby in such a situation. So, how to deal with baby’s skin allergies? Try the following solutions to soothe skin rashes and other allergic symptoms as soon as possible.

Don’t let the baby itch!

Scratching is a natural reaction to soothe itching. The baby can scratch and turn a normal rash into a wound. So, do not let him scratch and apply an ointment to prevent itching.  

Do not bathe the child every day!

Once you spot the signs of skin allergies, you should not bathe the child frequently. Immediately change his soap and pick a doctor’s recommended baby soap. Soak a clean cloth in lukewarm water and wipe the baby’s body. Apply an ointment on the affected regions to soothe inflammation.

Control the temperature and humidity in the baby’s room

25-30°C temperature is perfect for your baby’s room. Humidity levels should also not be too high. It will help you in curing skin rashes and other skin allergies quickly.

Contact a doctor

You have to diagnose the root cause of the issue to cure the problem as soon as possible. Take your child to a pediatrician or skin specialist doctor. The doctor will diagnose the type of skin allergy and provide the best medication and ointment to heal it quickly.

Skin rashes and other allergies might last for a few days. Keep applying ointment to soothe itching. Put on clean and loose clothes on the baby to prevent further discomfort.

What is the Best Daily Care Routine for Babies with Skin Allergies?

Parents should follow the below-explained daily care routine to prevent skin allergies in babies:

Massage:

You should massage different acupoints on the baby’s soles every day. Press each acupoint 30-50 times and it will be quite beneficial to prevent skin issue.   

Give a gentle massage to the baby on his fontanel. Press 30-50 times gently while the baby is lying on the bed. This massage is for babies 6 months old babies. Do not try it if your baby is younger than 6 months.

Diet therapy to cure allergic symptoms:

Contact a doctor or nutritionist to pick the best diet for your baby. It should be planned to cure allergic reaction and strengthen the baby’s immune system. Diet therapy is not an option if your baby is younger than 6 months. Consider it if the baby is ready to consume external foods and milk.

What Type of Skin Allergy Test is Performed to Diagnose the Skin Issue?

Recognizing the type of skin problem can be difficult. You should immediately take the baby to a dermatologist or pediatric doctor if you spot the signs of skin allergies.

The doctor will screen the child comprehensively to diagnose the cause and the concerning health issue. The following two tests are conducted widely to diagnose the skin issue:

The skin prick test:

It is an effective, cost-effective, and the safest method of finding the type of allergen responsible for the skin condition.

The doctor will drop a tiny drop of extremely purified allergen liquid on your child’s forearm. Now, the doctor will gently pierce the outer layer of the skin. Suppose your child is allergic to the dropped allergen, it will cause a red bump on your child’s skin. It might look and feel like a mosquito bite.

It is a painless, safer, and extremely effective test. The test results can be available immediately and the doctor can provide the best cure according to the test result.

The skin patch test:

This test is also conducted to recognize the allergen, but it is a bit time-consuming. The doctor will use an antigen diluents soaked film for this test. This film will be placed over the baby’s forearm. This film will be removed after 2 days and then the doctor will observe the result.

It helps in recognizing the antigen and the doctor can provide a proper cure to treat the underlying skin condition.

What Precautions to Take If the Baby Have Skin Allergies?

Take the following precautions if your baby got skin allergies:

Increase the humidity:

The humidity in your baby’s room should be 50%. A dry atmosphere can make skin allergies worse. It might also cause cough and cold problems. Do not make the environment too humid because bacteria can easily survive in such an environment. Avoid using the AC throughout the night during the summer season. Maintain a perfect environment to prevent skin rashes and allergies.

Protect your baby from stimulating objects:

Never take your baby out when it is raining or the environment is too windy. Protect your child against pollen, feathers, and other such substances. These substances can cause skin allergies and other health issues.

Keep your house clean:

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and pet hair from the floor. Maintain a clean environment in the house. Thus, your baby will be well-protected against all sorts of allergens.

Feed immunity booster foods:

The baby will gain immunity booster nutrients from breast milk until he is 6 months old. He will need nutrient-rich complementary food after 6 months to strengthen his immune system. So, carefully pick the baby formula, soups, and other foods to improve the baby’s immunity.

Help the baby in exercises:

Newborns and infants need a daily massage to stay fit and healthy. Learn how to give baby massage and how to give regular exercises to your baby. A 5-10 minute massage and a few simple exercises will keep your baby strong and healthy.

Conclusion

Skin allergies are quite irritating for babies. Since infants can’t express their discomfort, parents should observe the baby for skin allergy symptoms. We have already explained symptoms to look for and how to deal with baby’s skin allergy. So, take the necessary steps to keep your baby healthy and happy.

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