A red rash that develops on your child's cheek after eating certain foods is a sign of a food allergy. The rash may appear as large welts or as small blisters, depending on the type of rash your child develops. Keep a food journal of the foods your child eats in a day and record when the rash appears on his cheeks. Keep a detailed log of what foods cause this type of reaction until you can meet with the doctor. Share your finding with your child's pediatrician. A food allergy can lead to severe allergic reactions that could be potentially life-threatening.
Allergy Testing
Before you can effectively treat your child's food allergy, your child will need to undergo allergy testing to determine which foods are triggering the red rash on the cheeks. Most allergy tests performed on young children use a skin test. Proteins from the suspected allergic foods are placed on a sticky film that is placed on your child's skin for 15 to 20 minutes. If the skin becomes irritated or red after the film is removed, your child is most likely allergic to that food. Some allergists may recommend a prick test, where the proteins are injected under the skin.
Cause
The red rash on the cheeks is caused by increased chemicals released near the surface of the skin during an allergic reaction. After your child eats a food that she's allergic to, her immune system attempts to fight off the proteins in that food by triggering excessive production of histamine in the skin, which causes irritation and inflammation. This chemical reaction can trigger hives or eczema.
Symptoms
A food allergy can cause a red rash on your child's face, but will also cause other symptoms to develop. Hives form in various shapes and sizes, but look like welts that are elevated from the surface of the skin. Eczema is an allergic rash that causes pimple-like blisters to form within minutes of ingesting a food that causing an allergic reaction. Other symptoms from a food allergy could include wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, cramping and nasal congestion.
Avoidance
Once your child is diagnosed with a specific food allergy, he will need to eliminate that food from his diet. For example, if your child is allergic to eggs, he will not be able to eat any food or beverage that is made with egg products. This includes baked goods, breads, certain sauces and ice cream. Your doctor and dietician can help you develop a diet plan specific to your child's condition.
