Diaper rash is characterized by red bumps or patches of skin in your infant's diaper area. Though painful for your baby, diaper rash is not typically a serious condition and is often treated easily. Diaper rash can occur for a variety of reasons, including a reaction to food. Milk proteins may be the culprit, manifesting in a skin rash. Talk to your pediatrician about the rash. She can help determine if it is an allergic reaction and suggest alternatives to dairy.
Diaper Rash
Diaper rash is easily identifiable -- it's an uncomfortable-looking, red rash around the area where the diaper touches or covers your baby's skin. Wearing a soggy diaper for too long can irritate and chafe her sensitive skin. If you are diligent diaper changer, however, her rash might indicate a food allergy. Certain foods, particularly new foods or new formulas, may lead to an allergic reaction in your child's body. At times, a food allergy may only elicit digestive difficulties like gas or diarrhea. Skin reactions, however, are also common -- and can occur with digestive problems. Ointments and topical creams can help alleviate discomfort, providing a barrier between her skin and the diaper.
Food Allergies
Though causes are unclear as of 2011, your baby can develop an immune reaction to a food, like milk or nuts. His body considers the food an invader and his immune system attacks it, causing an allergic reaction. The body's response can be to manufacture an antibody called IgE, a protein that detects the food should your baby eat it again, the BabyCenter website explains. The reaction can become stronger each time your baby consumes that food, making his food allergies potentially serious. Hives, rashes, swelling and breathing difficulty occur minutes to hours after eating an allergen. If not recognized, airways can swell shut and impede breathing.
Milk Allergy
Milk protein allergies differ from lactose intolerance, which is the inability to digest the sugar lactose, found in dairy products. The immune system doesn't react during lactose intolerance; rather, the body has a physical reaction, often manifesting in bloating, gas, nausea and diarrhea. True allergies elicit an immune response. Milk protein allergies in infants are fairly common --- approximately 2 to 3 percent of all babies experience this allergy, the KidsHealth website reports, though many outgrow it by age 2. Difficult to diagnose, your child's symptoms may not manifest until days after consuming milk. If diaper rash is the only symptom, an allergic reaction is easy to miss. Watch for fussiness, changes in his bowel movements or difficulty breathing; consult your pediatrician if you suspect an allergy.
Alternatives
Your pediatrician might run stool, blood or skin tests to determine your infant's possible allergies. After diagnosing, your doctor will likely advise you to avoid ingesting dairy products if your infant is still breastfeeding. If you are not breastfeeding, you will need to give your baby alternatives to dairy. Avoid cow's milk-based infant formulas, switching to an alternative like soy-based formulas. Extensively hydrolyzed formulas are another option. These break proteins down into tiny, more digestible pieces, making them easier to tolerate. Amino acid-based formulas contain protein in its simplest form and are also less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
