Last article updated: 03/31/2018

The baby’s skin is a very complex and multifunctional organ, interconnected with almost all body systems. Skin is a natural barrier that protects a person from the harmful influences of the external environment. In addition, this is a kind of bioscreen that shows any damage to the internal environments of the body. Allergic rashes in children are something that almost any parent becomes familiar with in the first year of their baby’s life. This article will outline basic information about allergic diseases in children, accompanied by the occurrence of skin rashes. Methods for treating and diagnosing allergic skin rashes will also be covered.

Allergist-immunologist

Over the past decades, the number of people suffering from allergic skin diseases has doubled. The emergence of new, atypical forms of the disease that lead to disability is very alarming. Treatment methods for skin manifestations of atopic diseases in children are constantly being improved. But, despite all the efforts of rapidly developing medicine, coping with this childhood disease is quite difficult.

Why do medications often not help? One of the reasons is the lack of basic knowledge about the characteristics of the disease among relatives of the sick person. After all, sometimes it is very difficult to understand the abundance of information from the Internet and other sources, and besides, it may be unreliable.

At the beginning of this rather difficult topic to understand, it is necessary to understand the basic scientific and medical concepts.

Allergic rashes are allergic diseases characterized by the appearance on the skin of a child of severely itchy rashes, of a permanent or recurrent nature.

Why does atopic rash appear in a child?

In babies under one year old, allergic skin rashes appear for many different reasons.

First of all, this is a genetic, that is, hereditary predisposition. When talking with parents, the doctor often finds out that there are relatives in the family who suffer from atopic arthritis, eczema, allergic rhinitis, or drug allergies.

If atopic manifestations of the disease are detected in both parents, the likelihood of an allergic rash in the child increases to 80%.

In addition to hereditary predisposition, the influence of environmental factors in which the child grows up plays an important role.

Risk factors for allergy symptoms in children:

• unfavorable course of pregnancy. We all know the fact that smoking, alcohol, and occupational hazards in the workplace that an expectant mother encounters while carrying a child negatively affect the baby’s health. The background for the development of atopy in children is often toxicosis of pregnancy, latent bacterial and viral intrauterine infections;
• poor nutrition of pregnant and nursing mothers. Expectant mothers often have manifestations of many forms of allergic diseases. An excessively increased appetite while carrying a child encourages a woman to eat high-calorie and often allergenic foods - chocolate, coffee, smoked meats, spices, cakes. As a result, the fetus is exposed to a powerful attack of allergens. During the entire period of lactation, violations in the diet often provoke the appearance of disorders of the unprepared digestive system in the infant, which leads to a decrease in the absorption of food and the development of allergies in the infant;
• unjustified transfer to feeding with milk formulas. For various reasons, the baby is transferred to formula milk. This may be either the mother’s reluctance to breastfeed or the baby’s health condition.

  All formulas are only an adapted version of mother's milk. Most often, an unreasonably early transition to artificial feeding creates food hypersensitivity to cow's milk proteins;

  In children under one year old, food allergens come to the fore - cow's milk proteins, cereals, eggs.

  In children after two years of age The appearance of a rash can be caused by:

  • epidermal and household allergens (house dust mites);
  • animal allergens (epithelium, fur, secretions);
  • pollen of wind-pollinated plants;
  • fungi;
  • Staphylococcus allergens.

  Examination of a small patient with symptoms of an allergic rash

  What can an allergist offer you if you suspect an atopic rash in a child? First of all, this is skin testing with allergens. But in case of a pronounced skin process and exacerbation of the disease, it would be advisable to perform a blood test for antibodies to causally significant allergens - specific immunoglobulins E.

  The Internet contains a huge number of photographs of various rashes in children with allergies. If you know the main types of morphological elements in various atopic rashes, you can easily suspect an allergic process.

  With atopic dermatitis, before the age of 2, the rash takes on the character of bubbles with liquid and is often accompanied by weeping. Subsequently, a crust forms. The rash spreads over the entire surface of the body.

  

  In some cases, the baby's skin becomes rough with the formation of cracks.

  After 2 years of age, the rash moves to the folds, behind the ears, and on the flexor surfaces of the hands. The child is bothered by severe itching. The skin in the area of ​​the rash becomes lumpy and uneven. From the age of 10, the elements of the rash take on the character of nodules. The area around the mouth and eyes is involved. The skin is dry, scratchy.

  Features of rashes with urticaria

  With urticaria, the rash looks like blisters surrounded by an area of ​​redness. Most often they are accompanied by severe itching and burning.

  Allergic dermatitis

  The rash is bright and itchy. The largest number of them is located at the site of exposure to the allergen. More often you can observe the presence of bubbles.

  Toxidermy

  The nature of the rash is characterized by a variety of elements - blisters, papules, vesicles, spots, redness of the skin. But the manifestations are often fixed.

  Basic methods of treating allergic rashes in children

  Before treating skin manifestations of allergies, it is simply necessary to eliminate the child’s interaction with possible allergens around him.

  So first Eliminate household respiratory allergens:

  1. If you are sensitized (allergic) to various household allergens, it is forbidden to place upholstered furniture, carpets, or heavy curtains in the baby’s bedroom.
  2. It would be better if the floors were wooden or covered with laminate. Furniture should be easy to clean; curtains should be in the form of blinds.
  3. Items stored in closets must be packed in plastic boxes and vacuum bags.
  4. Wet cleaning is done daily. It is better to use washing vacuum cleaners.
  5. Pillows should only be made of synthetic anti-allergic materials. Pillows and bed linen must be washed every week at temperatures above 60 ºC.
  6. Mattresses must be packed in zippered covers.
  7. It is better to replace soft toys with plastic or wooden ones.
  8. The presence of animals in the house is unacceptable.
  9. It is better to remove indoor plants because they are dust collectors and fungi can live on them.
  10. Shelves must be glazed.
  11. It is prohibited to use air fresheners, chlorine-containing household chemicals, and deodorants.
  12. It is better to install an air conditioner and an air purification device. This will reduce the allergen content in the air.
  13. Optimal air humidity is recommended within 35 - 50%.

  Eliminating pet allergens

  Any animal can cause allergies. Therefore, it is better to refuse them. After parting with your pets, you need to do some general cleaning.

  Even after removing the animal from the apartment, allergens persist for up to six months.

  What to do if your child has a food allergy?

  Parents should take into account the so-called obligate food allergens, that is, the foods that most often provoke the appearance of a rash in an allergic person. These are dairy and fermented milk products, wheat, coffee, spices, and smoked meats.

  What medications are used to treat allergic rashes in children. Features of therapy

  Help eliminate itching, swelling, and redness at the site of rashes.

  

  Modern effective drugs include drugs such as desloratadine (Erius), ceterizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin). The drugs have an effect for 24 hours and are prescribed once a day.

  Membrane stabilizing agents

  Prevents the development of an immune reaction. The effect is noticeable after 10 days from the start of use. The drugs are excellent at relieving inflammation. Such medications include montelukast (Singulair).

  Corticosteroid ointments. Modern ones are good at eliminating weeping, burning, discomfort and redness in the affected area.

  

  In pediatric practice, Lokoid, Elokom, and Advantan are more often used. Ointments are prescribed in a short course for 5 - 7 days.

  Pay attention to the drug prescription form. When the process is acute, emulsions, lotions, and aerosols are used. For sluggish flow - lipocrem, ointment, fatty ointment.

  External therapy options:

  1. Step therapy. Glucocorticosteroid drugs are applied to different affected areas.
  2. Tandem therapy. Combined use of hormonal creams and skin care products.
  3. Descending therapy. We start with strong drugs (Elocom) and end with weak ones (hydrocortisone ointment).

  Key questions for parents:

  1. Is there an alternative to hormonal ointments? The answer to this question is yes. Calcineurin inhibitors have been used for two decades. A representative of this class of drugs is Protopic, used in children from 2 years of age. The drug is famous for the fact that it does not have systemic side effects and can be used in the remission phase 2 times a week for a long time.
  2. How to care for your skin? The skin must be moisturized using medicinal cosmetics.

  Hygiene and skin care products with a softening effect are called emollients.

An allergy in a child is a reaction of a child’s fragile immune system to an irritant that enters the body. As a result, a protective reaction to dangerous substances occurs, which manifests itself as a rash, rhinitis and severe cough.

Some theories describe allergies as a hereditary disease that is passed on to children from their parents. However, an allergic reaction can occur in absolutely any child.

Types of allergic rashes in children and a list of allergens

In most cases, childhood allergy symptoms appear after exposure to an allergen. A sign of an allergy can be not only a rash, but also body itching, fever, burning eyes and runny nose.

The younger the child, the greater the danger allergies pose to his health.

Most often, an allergic reaction in children occurs to:

• food;
• medicines;
• household dust;
• insect bites;
• plant pollen;
• household chemicals.

Food

Food allergies are a type of food intolerance. It has a great influence on the further development of children's allergic reactions and can cause some diseases. In children, food allergies manifest themselves in the form of diathesis.

The beginning of treatment for food allergies is to eliminate the allergen. The baby will be prescribed a diet in accordance with the individual characteristics of the body.

Medication

A drug allergy is a reaction of a child's immune system to medications.

Symptoms are as follows: rash, itching of the mucous membranes and skin, redness of the eyes, watery eyes, swelling of the face, tongue or lips. These may include a runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing and joint pain.

Prevention of an allergic reaction in a child to medications comes down to careful selection of medications, especially for children with allergic diseases.

If a child has already had a reaction to a particular drug, it is necessary to prevent repeated administration of the medication. To do this, information about allergies is entered into the child’s medical record.

Aeroallergy

Aeroallergy in a child is caused by environmental factors that are allergenic. These can be natural components: plant pollen, dust, insect poison, animal epidermis, molds and other elements.

In order to determine what factor the child is allergic to, special allergy tests are performed.

Factors that provoke allergies

Any substance, as well as some physical factors such as sun and frost, can potentially cause an allergic reaction and give rise to the development of an allergy.

Drug allergens

The development of drug allergies in young children is provoked by vaccines, serums, foreign immunoglobulins and dextrans. Even antiallergic medications can cause reactions to medications.

Symptoms occur after taking the drug and manifest themselves as urticaria, asthma, Quincke's edema or rhinitis. There are also more dangerous symptoms such as anaphylactic shock and lung damage.

A carefully collected anamnesis helps to accurately diagnose allergies and carry out the necessary treatment.

Food allergens

Doctors associate the development of food allergies with genetic predisposition, short duration of breastfeeding, and decreased child immunity.

The most common food allergens:

• cow's milk;
• fish proteins;
• eggs;
• wheat and rye;
• citrus;
• nuts;
• berries.

The main reason for the appearance and development of food allergies is the introduction of new foods into a child’s diet.

When the first symptoms appear, you need to show your baby to a doctor, who will make an accurate diagnosis and give recommendations.

You can't start diathesis and allow it to progress as it will lead to bad consequences.

Physical factors

Some natural phenomena can cause an allergic reaction in a child, whose body reacts sharply to them.

An allergic reaction in a baby may occur to the following physical factors:

• freezing;
• cold;
• sun rays;
• high air temperature.

This allergy manifests itself as a rash, redness of the skin, and anxiety in the child caused by itching and discomfort.

After examining and diagnosing allergies, the doctor will prescribe an antihistamine, adjust the baby’s menu, and prescribe a soothing cream or ointment that will protect the skin from negative environmental influences.

Chemical factors

The problem of contact allergies in children with a predisposition to it remains one of the most important in the practice of allergists. Children who constantly wear clothes treated with allergenic detergents are especially susceptible to allergies.

During the first months of a baby’s life, you need to protect him as much as possible from household chemicals, using only baby hygiene products for washing and cleaning.

Forms of manifestation

Symptoms of allergies on the skin of a child manifest themselves in the form of severe itching, dry skin, burning, increased sensitivity and various types of rashes. Most often these are rashes and blisters, but there may be other changes to the skin.

Hives

With urticaria, light pink or red blisters appear on the child’s body without a clear shape. The spots are very itchy and when scratched, the affected area increases.

The rash moves around the body, not staying in one place for more than a couple of days.

It is very important to immediately identify the allergen that causes hives in order to eliminate further contact of the baby with it.

Dermatitis

Allergic dermatitis in children is common, since immediately after birth the child is faced with an aggressive environment to which immunity must be developed. Until the necessary changes occur in the body, it is susceptible to allergic diseases.

The child’s mother will immediately notice signs of dermatitis on his skin: red dots, peeling, ulcers and cracks. The baby will also complain of itching.

At your appointment, your pediatrician will rule out skin diseases with similar symptoms and infections. After this, treatment for dermatitis can begin.

Eczema

Eczema in a child is chronic and is characterized by the presence of rashes of various shapes. Basically, the rash appears as bright red blisters.

This disease comes in three types: microbial eczema, seborrheic and true.

Signs of eczema appear on the face and then spread to the arms and legs. An allergic reaction in the form of eczema can be caused by any allergen, including food and household chemicals.

Neurodermatitis

An inflammatory process on the skin that is immunoallergic in nature is called neurodermatitis. This disease has a second name - atopic dermatitis.

This is a chronic problem that has various causes and requires long-term treatment. Symptoms of neurodermatitis are similar to psoriasis: spots on the skin with thinning, thickening of the skin in the affected areas, severe itching.

To successfully treat the disease, comprehensive measures are used, which include maintaining child hygiene, using special ointments, taking medications, and ultraviolet irradiation.

Symptoms

Children's allergies take many forms, but in many cases the body's response to allergens is similar.

At the first suspicion of an allergic reaction, you should be examined by a pediatrician, who, if necessary, will give a referral for tests.

Erythema

Redness in certain areas of the skin is usually temporary and is caused by enlarged capillaries.

Physical erythema is a child’s skin reaction to adapt to the environment. Usually it goes away within a day after its appearance, if you take appropriate measures: ventilate the child’s skin and use a special baby cream.

Erythema toxicum is an allergic reaction and requires treatment.

Slight swelling at the site of the rash

If your child develops a rash with swelling, this may indicate a food allergy.

Also, swelling at the site of the rash may indicate Quincke's edema and other dangerous diseases.

Small papules - blisters

The presence of papules (nodules) on the skin can be both a sign of allergies and a symptom of measles, exanthema, infectious mononucleosis, psoriasis, urticaria and chickenpox.

Itching, sometimes very severe

An itchy rash in a child is in most cases an allergic reaction, but can also be caused by a skin disease. Itching without a rash is caused by diseases such as eczema and fungus.

Locations

Visually, you can determine a child’s disease by the nature and location of the rashes on his body. Final the diagnosis must be made by a doctor after inspection.

Face

Signs of a rash caused by allergies include symptoms such as flushing, rashes, swelling of the cheeks and dryness. These signs may be accompanied by sneezing, irritation of the eyes and nose.

Facial rashes are most often caused by allergens in the form of chemicals, insects, medications and food.

Ears

The appearance of skin changes in this area indicates dermatitis, poor hygiene or other problems, such as candidiasis or seborrhea.

Back

On a child's back, the rash often resembles a nettle burn and is very itchy. This is how an allergic reaction to clothing or food manifests itself.

Neck

A rash on a baby's neck is most likely... During the hot season, you need to pay special attention to your child’s hygiene to avoid irritation in the neck area.

Breast

If the localization of the spots is the child’s chest, then this may indicate the presence of an infection. It is imperative to show your baby to a doctor to rule out measles, rubella, scarlet fever and chickenpox.

An allergic rash in this area most often appears due to contact dermatitis.

Stomach

A rash on a child’s stomach can appear from animal hair, food and household chemicals.

Rashes on the abdomen should not be scratched as this may cause scars.

Buttocks

Redness and rash on the buttocks in most cases is a reaction to the diaper or cream.

You should temporarily change the brand of diapers and leave the child without them more often.

Hands

An allergic reaction on the extremities manifests itself in the form of red spots, which can be of different sizes and even merge into one.

If you stretch the fold of skin under the rash, it will turn pale.

Hips

If a rash on the thighs is accompanied by a high fever, this may indicate meningitis. The rash in this case will have the shape of stars. Meningitis requires immediate hospitalization.

"Diaper area"

This area is one of the most sensitive in children, so rashes appear there quite often.

You need to constantly monitor the baby’s hygiene, use soothing creams and ointments, powder and try to use diapers less until the irritation goes away.

Diagnostics

To make an accurate diagnosis and identify the allergen, you need to contact a specialist allergist-immunologist, who will take a detailed medical history and refer you for tests.

Two diagnostic methods confirm the presence of allergies: immunological blood tests and skin allergy tests. Sometimes the result of both types of tests is false negative.

An allergy may not appear immediately after contact with an allergen, but after some time. At an early age, the test may not be accurate.

Basic treatment methods

Confronting allergies in children primarily consists of accurately determining its type (food, contact, etc.), finding out the type of allergens to which the child’s body reacts. This is followed by the use of modern drugs as prescribed by the doctor, sometimes in combination with folk remedies.

Basically, allergy treatment includes a specially selected diet, the use of antihistamines and ointments.

It is also very important to completely eliminate the child’s contact with the allergen. Drugs are prescribed according to the age of the child.

Modern allergy medications have a pleasant taste and do not cause addiction or sedation in children.

Skin manifestations of an allergic reaction are relieved with ointments and creams that contain anti-inflammatory substances.

In cases of rhinitis, children are prescribed corticosteroids, which reduce swelling and make breathing easier.

For conjunctivitis, eye drops are prescribed as an addition to antihistamines.

Folk remedies and recipes

The positive aspects of using folk remedies for allergies in children are safety and financial savings. However, natural ingredients should be used with caution so as not to provoke a reaction to a new allergen.

The following components are most often used in recipes:

• nettle;
• mumiyo;
• series;
• celandine;
• calendula;
• mint;
• chamomile;
• hawthorn;
• birch.

Decoctions are prepared with the above ingredients, which are taken orally or used to treat the affected area of ​​the skin. As a rule, folk remedies require long-term use with periodic repetition of the course of treatment.

You should use folk remedies only after an accurately established diagnosis and exclusion of contact with the substance or product that caused the reaction.

It is optimal to combine modern methods of treatment and natural remedies.

Prevention

If your baby has a predisposition to allergies, you need to follow several rules:

• increase the duration of breastfeeding;
• minimize the risk of possible allergens entering the children's diet;
• Do wet cleaning of the room as often as possible and periodically carry out antifungal treatment;
• do not smoke around the child and in the apartment where he lives;
• use an air purifier;
• keep closets with clothes and books closed;
• buy bedding and baby clothes from non-allergenic materials;
• avoid child contact with animals;
• When washing, use harmless household chemicals.

At the first suspicion that the child has an allergy you cannot self-medicate. This will not only not help eliminate the problem, but will also make it worse.

A timely visit to an allergist will help to detect the disease earlier and begin to take action.

When choosing a clinic, it is better to give preference to specialized institutions that treat children.

Young children often suffer from diseases due to their weak immune system. Some of them do not pose a serious threat to health, others require immediate treatment. Currently, many children experience pathological reactions to certain stimuli. Allergies can manifest themselves in different ways. Parents must be able to distinguish the first signs of an allergic reaction from dangerous diseases in order to provide the child with the necessary help.

Causes of a rash on a child's body

An allergy is the body's response to an irritant. Children with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to allergies. Most often it appears as a rash on the body; In addition, lacrimation and nasal congestion may occur. It should be noted that allergies are most dangerous for newborns; The older the child, the less harm it causes to health.

A pathological condition can be caused by any irritant that enters the body or has an external influence. The main causes of the rash:

Types of allergic rash

The allergic rash looks like small red spots that affect the baby's cheeks, forehead, legs and arms. Manifestations of allergies, depending on the irritant (what the rash looks like, see the photo below with a description and explanation) can be as follows:

During intrauterine development, the baby's skin does not come into contact with external irritants. After birth, the upper layer of the epidermis encounters an aggressive environment. At the same time, the body does not yet have stable immunity to allergens. During the period of establishing the functioning of the immune system, spots, peeling and cracks appear on the skin. In newborns, dermatitis most often occurs, which has the following varieties:

• Contact. Occurs when the epidermis comes into contact with various irritants. Most often these are wool, creams, and washing powder. It is characterized by the appearance of swelling and redness on the skin. Sometimes characteristic bubbles filled with liquid form. There are cases of re-infection after the bubbles burst. The affected areas itch, which forces the child to scratch the skin until it bleeds.
• Atopic. It is chronic in nature with exacerbations in winter and periods of remission in summer. It is distinguished by the appearance of bright red spots, covered with a dense crust and protruding above the skin. The formations look like lichen or spots with liquid. They form on the bends of the arms and legs, in the groin area, on the cheeks, forehead and head.

Urticaria is a form of allergic rashes in which red spots of various sizes and shapes appear (we recommend reading:). If you press on the problem area, white spots will form on it. In appearance, the spots are similar to nettle burns and are very itchy, which is why the rashes got their name. Localization is constantly changing, staying in one place for 1-2 days.

Hives occur when taking inappropriate medications or foods that can cause allergies.

It can occur in several stages:

• mild (initial) – characterized by the formation of a small number of spots that disappear after a few days;
• medium – the rash lasts for several weeks;
• severe - swelling of the face and larynx is added to the spots, which is dangerous due to the development of suffocation.

Exudative diathesis affects babies from 6 months to a year. At the same time, red spots appear on the skin of the face (cheeks and forehead) and body (we recommend reading:). As the disease progresses, a hard crust forms on them. Pimples itch and cause severe discomfort to the baby. In addition to the spots, the child’s irritability, crying for no apparent reason, and sleep disturbances are observed. Diathesis is dangerous due to damage to the nervous system, so it is necessary to start therapy when the first spots are detected.

Eczema is characterized by the presence of fluid in small pimples. The first spots affect the face, then spread to the whole body. They are very itchy, and scratching increases the risk of developing a secondary infection. A few days after appearance, crusts form. Eczema is chronic.

Features

If spots are detected on the skin, it is necessary to exclude the development of infectious diseases, the main signs of which are a rash. First of all, you need to consult a pediatrician and undergo the necessary tests. If a child has an allergy, he or she will experience the following symptoms:

• redness of the skin;
• swelling;
• formation of blisters and papules (we recommend reading:);
• inflammation;
• severe itching.

When an allergic rash develops, the child’s body temperature does not increase. The appearance of fever is possible in case of secondary infection due to strong scratching of the spots.

Changes in general health, body aches and weakness indicate an infectious disease. Allergies are often accompanied by runny nasal discharge; with other pathologies, the mucus thickens and changes color after a few days.

Depending on the location of the spots, the type of disease can be determined:

Diagnostic methods

To determine an accurate diagnosis, you need to contact an immunologist, dermatologist or allergist. The doctor will examine the rash and refer you for the necessary tests. Basic diagnostic methods:

• complete blood count;
• blood test for immunostimulants;
• samples of the upper layers of the epidermis for the presence of an allergen.

There are cases when test results turn out to be false negative. This is due to the fact that allergies may not appear immediately after contact with the irritant. How long acne lasts depends on the chosen therapy.

Treatment of skin rashes

Therapy methods are selected by the doctor individually, taking into account the nature of the spots, their number and the age of the patient. You cannot use medications on your own, as the use of some drugs can aggravate the situation and cause serious harm to the child’s health. Parents must treat the child, following all the doctor’s recommendations; it is prohibited to increase or decrease the dosage of medications and the course of treatment.

In infants

The main rule of therapy is to avoid contact with the allergen. It is necessary to find out what irritant the body reacted to with the appearance of a rash. Attentive parents quickly cope with this task.

If you cannot identify the allergen, you must:

• adhere to a special diet, do not introduce new dishes into the diet;
• stop using household chemicals;
• When bathing a child, use proven products.

Drugs used:

• antihistamines - against itching and swelling (Suprastin, Zyrtec, Claritin) (we recommend reading:);
• sedatives - calm the nervous system (infusion of valerian and motherwort);
• diuretics – to relieve swelling and remove the allergen (Furosemide);
• antihistamine ointments - reduce itching with severe rashes (Advantan, Fenistil-gel);
• sorbents - for rapid removal of toxins (Enterosgel, Polysorb, Laktofiltrum);
• corticosteroid ointments - used in extreme cases (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone).

In older children

Treatment methods for allergic rashes in older children do not differ from those used for infants, but different drugs are used. Stronger agents can be used to treat older children. As a rule, such drugs can cause side effects, so you must strictly follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

If the allergy does not go away for a long time, children over 3 years old are prescribed a solution of Diphenhydramine and calcium chloride to relieve tension in the nervous system and cleanse the body. For newborns and one-year-old babies, this drug is prescribed only in extreme cases, for example, with the development of swelling of the face and larynx.

Folk recipes

You can use traditional medicine only after consulting a pediatrician. Many herbs are strong allergens, so before using recipes, you should exclude the baby’s pathological reaction to this irritant. So, several effective folk remedies:

• Bathing in a decoction of medicinal herbs speeds up the healing process. Adding string, chamomile, and calendula to water helps dry out stains and disinfect their surface. The herbs must be poured with boiling water and left for 30 minutes. Strain the broth and add to water.
• Nettle infusion is used to cleanse the blood. To prepare, pour a teaspoon of plant leaves into a glass of boiling water, leave for 2-3 hours, cool and strain. Give your child half a glass every day for a month.
• Some dry calendula leaves need to be boiled for 3 minutes and left for about half an hour. Give your child water three times a day before meals. The decoction will help remove stains from the body.
• Rubbing the affected areas with a decoction of chamomile, celandine, hawthorn, birch, and string. You need to apply compresses to the affected areas - this will help quickly remove the rash.

What not to do?

Parents should remember that an allergic rash may not cause discomfort to the child, but it needs treatment. Without the necessary treatment, rashes can develop into a chronic form and cause harm to the entire body. If stains appear, you should absolutely not:

• Apply skin coloring agents to the rash. This way you can hide the true nature of the rash, which will affect the diagnosis.
• Comb. It is difficult to explain to infants that they should not scratch an itchy area. You should ensure that your nails are clean and long so that your child does not introduce an infection into an open wound.
• Squeeze out pustules. This is dangerous due to secondary infection.

Preventive measures

To prevent allergies from bothering your baby, you must follow the following rules of prevention:

• protect your baby from allergens: wipe dust daily without using household chemicals, refuse to have pets;
• follow a special diet when breastfeeding;
• adhere to natural feeding (the pediatrician will tell you how long to breastfeed);
• strengthen the child’s immunity (walk in the fresh air every day, carry out hardening procedures);
• correctly introduce complementary foods and monitor reactions to foods;
• dress the child in clothes made from natural fabrics;
• carefully change bathing and care products;
• use special products for washing children's clothes and washing dishes;
• take vitamins allowed at a certain age;
• Do not smoke while in the same room as your baby.

Every year the number of children with allergies to medications, food, physical and chemical irritants increases. In rare cases, allergic reactions that manifest as rashes on a child's skin are one of the symptoms of life-threatening diseases. Allergies in a child must be treated in any case.

The body's reactions in the form of allergies are associated with a malfunction of the child's immune system. The occurrence of an allergic reaction provokes the entry of allergens (substances that the body, for some reason, considers dangerous) into the child’s body, which triggers immune defense. The risk of such a reaction increases if one or both parents have allergies.

The causes of allergic skin rashes in children are:

• Medicines– most often an allergic reaction occurs to antibiotics, in particular the penicillin group. Ointments and creams can also trigger allergies.

• Food products- are the most common cause due to the incomplete development of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common foods that cause allergies are citrus fruits, fish, eggs, chocolate, berries, nuts, tomatoes, and exotic fruits.
• Physical factors, which include animal saliva and fur, dust, insect bites, cold or sunlight. An allergic reaction is mainly caused by animal proteins contained in dust, fur and saliva. Through bites, in addition to animal protein, toxins enter the bloodstream, which is fraught with the development of severe forms of allergies.
• Household chemicals and exposure to chemicals from the environment often provoke an allergic reaction. An excessive desire for a child’s cleanliness, as well as the use of low-quality cleaning and detergents, increases the risk of allergic reactions.

Forms of manifestation and symptoms

Allergic skin rashes in children are one of the forms of allergic reactions.

Main skin manifestations:

• Hives. It is characterized by the sudden appearance of red spots, occasionally with slightly protruding blisters, with pronounced itching. The cause of urticaria is the ingestion of one of the allergens into the body or onto the skin.

Hives are one of the causes of allergic skin rashes in children.

• Contact dermatitis appears when the skin comes into regular contact with an allergen.
• Atopic dermatitis. It is formed due to a hereditary tendency to allergies. It is characterized by clearly defined contours of the skin reaction. Initially, the rash appears in one area of ​​the body, but later it may appear in other places. The most common locations for the rash are the cheeks, upper and lower extremities, chest, back and abdomen.
• Eczema. It is characterized by the appearance of swelling, redness, bubbles filled with liquid on the skin, and the formation of crusts in places where the blisters break out. Accompanied by painful itching and burning.
• Neurodermatitis. The initial sign is the appearance of severe itching, then redness of the skin occurs with dryness and peeling, and a rash in the form of small blisters appears. The most common places where neurodermatitis is localized are the knees and elbows, neck, and face. The main reasons: exposure to allergens on the skin, but also occurs as a manifestation of food allergies.
• Quincke's edema- a dangerous allergic reaction, characterized by swelling of the skin and mucous membranes, pain, burning and itching. The main sites of localization are the face, larynx and genitals.
• Lyell's syndrome– one of the most dangerous skin diseases of toxicodermic nature in children. It is characterized by very rapid development. After 2-3 days from the moment of onset, the condition becomes extremely dangerous, and death is possible. After the temperature rises to 39° C and above, abundant and numerous rashes appear throughout the skin in the form of red spots with slight swelling, which subsequently grow and merge, forming large lesions. Within 24 hours, blisters of various sizes with an easily torn surface appear on the affected areas. In addition to pain, when you touch the skin, the outer layers of the skin begin to peel off, and erosions form in these places. Over a short period of time, the entire skin becomes red. The disease is accompanied by severe pain even with a light touch. With Lyell's syndrome, severe dehydration occurs with its characteristic general manifestations in the form of severe thirst, headache, loss of orientation and drowsiness. In addition to bleeding of the mucous membranes of most organs, disturbances in the functioning of almost all organ systems of the child are observed. The main causes of the development of the disease are infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and taking medications.

Locations

The location of allergic skin rashes depends on the type of allergen and its effect on organ systems in children.

Main locations of rashes:

• Allergic rashes on the lower extremities. The location in one area indicates that a reaction has occurred to an external allergen - household chemical products, plants and other substances that could have come into contact with in everyday life.
• Allergic reaction on hands. Irritation on the hands indicates contact with chemicals, including components of low-quality toys, detergents or cosmetics. A food allergic reaction is characterized by the appearance of a rash, redness, swelling and itching at the bend of the elbows.
• Rashes on the face. The appearance of dryness, rash, redness, peeling and itching on the cheeks and chin indicates the occurrence of a food allergy.
• Rash on the buttocks characteristic of a reaction to allergens contained in laundry detergents and diaper rash creams.
• Allergic manifestations on the back indicate contact with an allergen in fluff, wool, products and a reaction to medications. In appearance, the rash differs from prickly heat because it is larger in size and does not depend on temperature and humidity.

Diagnostics

For allergic skin rashes in children, to make a diagnosis, the doctor initially visually examines the patient, asks about complaints, the time of occurrence of the skin reaction, its course, under what conditions skin allergic manifestations are most pronounced, whether the parents have allergies, finds out whether there have been contacts with possible allergens.

A prerequisite for diagnosis is biochemical and general blood tests.

Additional tests are used to confirm the presence of an allergic reaction and identify the allergen:

• If blisters and pustules are present, their contents can be analyzed.
• An allergy test, which is carried out by scratching or puncturing the skin with various types of potential allergens. Skin reactions at the site of penetration of a potential allergen in the form of redness or slight swelling suggest an allergic reaction to this substance.

• Blood test for the presence of antibodies in it by determining the quantitative amount of immunoglobulin E in plasma. If the reaction is positive, an additional test for specific antibodies is performed.
• A blood test for specific IG E antibodies, which are the cause of allergies, helps to identify groups of allergens that cause such a protective reaction in the body.
• Elimination tests. With constant contact with an allergen, a special method is used to confirm an allergic reaction to it, which consists in excluding the potential allergen for any type of contact with it. If the child's condition improves within 1-2 weeks after removing the allergen, this substance or food product can be considered the cause of the allergic reaction.

How to distinguish from other diseases: features of allergies

1. Allergic rashes in most cases do not cause an increase in temperature, unlike infectious ones. The only exceptions are cases of infection in places where the epidermis is damaged. During infections, the body temperature usually rises, signs of intoxication of the body appear, expressed in weakness, aches, headaches, increased fatigue and drowsiness.
2. Rashes caused by allergies are accompanied by itching and may be accompanied by clear nasal discharge or swelling of the face.
3. Infectious rashes first appear in one area of ​​the body, then move to another.
4. Allergic skin rashes in children upon contact with an allergen appear at the points of contact. Although the location of the rash with urticaria is varied.
5. Scabies is also accompanied by the appearance of itching and reddish spots, but the itching is most often observed at night, and white stripes from the mite are present on the skin.
6. With lichen, light pink scaly spots with clear outlines are present, the lymph nodes may become enlarged and the temperature may rise. With an allergic skin reaction, the spots are most often blurry.
7. There are some diseases in which skin rashes are very similar to allergies. These include chicken pox, tick-borne borreliosis and some others.

The symptoms of skin allergies are varied and in some cases similar to infectious diseases. In some cases, both are present. For correct treatment and correct diagnosis, it is necessary to contact specialists even with minor symptoms, otherwise the situation will develop for the worse. In addition, a rash can be a sign of a serious illness.

Treatment methods for allergic rashes in children

Allergic skin rashes in children in most cases require treatment.

The main methods of treating skin manifestations of allergies:

• elimination of the allergen;
• taking antihistamines prescribed by a doctor;
• applying ointments and creams to the rash sites to reduce itching and antiseptically the area;
• taking sorbents to remove toxins;
• taking sedatives, especially for itching and burning;
• taking diuretic medications for significant swelling.

First aid

The most dangerous allergic reaction is an allergy to medications. Red, swollen spots and itching appear on the skin. Then weakness, dizziness appears, the skin turns pale and breathing becomes difficult. Following the appearance of spots on the skin, swelling of the larynx, nose, lips, face and airways occurs.

Drug allergies can cause angioedema, as well as Lyell's syndrome, so you must immediately call an ambulance and provide first aid.

Actions for severe allergic symptoms:

• sit the child in an upright position to facilitate breathing;
• If an antihistamine is available, give it to the child. If he cannot swallow the tablet on his own, he must crush it and put it in his mouth, followed by a small amount of water;
• calm yourself and your child;
• in case of loss of consciousness, constantly monitor the pupils, breathing and pulse;
• in the absence of breathing and pulse, it is necessary to carry out artificial respiration and indirect cardiac massage until breathing is restored and the pulse resumes.

Diet for allergic rashes

Allergic skin rashes in children can occur as a reaction to certain foods, so it is necessary to follow a special diet even if allergens are identified. In addition to the elimination diet, which involves excluding a specific allergen from the diet, it is necessary to follow a hypoallergenic diet.

The following foods are completely excluded from the child’s diet:

• citrus;
• berries and fruits in red and orange shades;
• nuts of all kinds;
• chocolate;
• confectionery and butter products;
• fish and meat products (except for chicken and turkey fillets);
• pineapple, pomegranate and melon;
• eggs;
• honey and jam;
• beans, peanuts and soybeans;
• tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplants;
• seasonings, with the exception of a small amount of salt;
• mushrooms.

Allowed foods for a hypoallergenic diet:

• lean boiled beef, turkey and chicken fillet, beef tongue;
• vegetarian soups from permitted products;
• olive and sunflower oil;
• rice, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge;
• fermented milk products;
• green pears and apples;
• fresh cucumbers;
• cabbage;
• boiled potatoes;
• green peas;
• dried fruits and compote from them;
• unhealthy bread;
• sugar.

Antihistamines and ointments

Eliminating allergens and special diets help with allergies, but the effect does not occur immediately, and moreover, all allergens are not always identified. To relieve acute forms of allergies or treat current ones, it is necessary to use antihistamines in different forms.

For small children, drugs in the form of drops and syrups are used for oral administration.

The following medications are often used internally for allergic rashes:

• 1st generation antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, Pheninsil) with a pronounced sedative effect - used for all types of allergic reactions;
• 2nd generation antihistamines (Loratadine, Claridol, Terfenadil, Astemizole, Cetirizine, Zyrtec, Claritin) - due to the lack of sedation and addiction, they are recommended for the complex treatment of allergic reactions such as atopic dermatitis and others in children over 2 years of age ;
• 3rd generation antihistamines (Levocetirizine, Erius, Xyzal, Suprastinex) without side effects - used to treat children over one year old, suitable for long-term therapy.

Among antihistamine gels, ointments and creams, the following are popular:

• Fenistil gel;
• Gistan;
• Wundehill;
• Bepanten;
• Epidel;
• Nezulin gel.

Treatment with folk remedies: recipes

From birth, baths with herbal decoction are recommended for the treatment of allergic rashes. In addition to alleviating symptoms, such procedures have a beneficial effect on the child’s nervous system.

To be effective, herbal baths must be taken in a course every other day, 5-7 sessions in total. Before the procedure, it is necessary to test for an allergic reaction, because herbal decoction can also cause allergies. First of all, decoctions of oregano, chamomile, string, dandelion, sage, and wormwood are recommended. You can combine herbs for water treatments.

1. Helps well with skin allergic reactions bath with a decoction of blackcurrant branches and leaves, boiled for 9-12 minutes and infused in a dark place for an hour.
2. For a bath with infusion from the string you need 6 tbsp. Pour a liter of boiling water over the herbs and leave for 15-20 minutes.
3. Helps with severe itching bath with oregano infusion. 50 g of dry grass pour 4 tbsp. boiling water and let it brew for 2-2.5 hours.
4. Allergic rashes in infants can be cured by lubricating the affected areas freshly squeezed carrot juice.
5. It is recommended to give until the rash disappears raspberry root decoction in proportions 1:10, boiled for 35-45 minutes. It is taken 1 tbsp. twice a day.

What not to do

If you suspect an allergic reaction, self-medication is prohibited.

If you have allergic reactions to medications, taking new medications is possible only after consultation with a specialist. If you have known allergens, you should not eat food that contains them, even in minimal quantities.

In case of contact allergies, it is necessary by all means to avoid getting the allergen on the skin or inside the body. If you suspect angioedema and other dangerous forms of allergic reactions, you should never ignore their symptoms. It is urgent to call an emergency medical team.

Despite the prevalence and relative harmlessness of allergic skin rashes in children, some of them are life-threatening. Any type of allergy must be properly treated with medications, a hypoallergenic diet, and allergen exclusion.

Video about allergic rashes in children, symptoms and treatment methods

The main causes of allergies and how to deal with them:

Dr. Komarovsky about allergy medications:

About two-thirds of children under one year of age and about 30% of children over one year of age suffer from allergies. An inadequate reaction of the body to an allergen in children most often manifests itself in the form of a rash. You will learn how allergic rashes in children are treated by reading this article.

Species

The tendency to allergies is often inherited. This fact is no longer in doubt among doctors. However, the mechanisms of development of an allergic reaction are still not fully understood, because it is not always the mother or father of an allergic child who also suffers from allergies.

The essence of the processes taking place is quite simple. A certain antigen protein enters the child’s body and cannot be absorbed. The baby’s immunity “remembers” the foreign protein and, when it comes again, gives an immune response in the form of an allergic runny nose and cough. Skin rashes are also an immune reaction to an antigen protein.

Hundreds of such proteins are known to medicine. Those that occur most often cause the types of allergic rashes in children:

• rashes due to food allergies (to certain foods);
• rash due to drug (drug) allergies (to specific types of drugs, individual substances and their compounds);
• rash due to seasonal allergies (to pollen, flowers);
• rashes in response to insect bites;
• rash due to contact allergies (to household chemicals, cosmetics);
• rash due to household allergies (to house dust, feather pillows, pet hair).

An allergic rash can appear in response to an allergen at any age, in children of any gender, race and health status. The manifestations of skin rashes do not depend on the climate zone in which the child lives, or whether he or she receives sufficient or insufficient care. An allergy rash is only an external manifestation of a violent internal process.

Causes

An allergen is almost always a molecular structure of protein origin. Not all allergens cause an immune response when they enter the body. Some are able to bind to proteins that are found in all human tissues. Usually these are elements that are found in medications or chemicals.

After the first entry into the child’s body, the allergen causes sensitization, during which the sensitivity and susceptibility of histamine receptors increases, and sensitivity increases specifically to a specific allergen. Subsequent contacts with this allergen are accompanied by a whole cascade of immune processes with the formation of skin rashes.

The non-immune mechanism is associated with the release of histamines, which, when exposed to immune cells, cause swelling of the skin layers, dilation of capillaries (cause of redness), and blistering.

The number of children suffering from skin allergies is growing every year. Doctors believe that the main reasons lie in the deterioration of the environment and the consumption of genetically modified foods. In addition, doctors say that children at risk are most susceptible to allergic rashes.

It includes:

• Babies born from a pregnancy accompanied by pathologies (preeclampsia, oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios, carrying twins or triplets, threatened miscarriage, severe toxicosis at the beginning and end of gestation).
• Children who at an early age (up to one year) suffered severe viral infections.
• Children who, by coincidence, are transferred to artificial formula from birth or from the age of 3 months.
• Babies who lack important vitamins, as well as those who are undernourished or malnourished.
• Children who were forced to take medications for a long time.

Symptoms

The symptoms of different types of allergic rashes have significant differences. For example, contact allergies are never common. Elements of rashes (usually blisters) are localized precisely on that part of the body that had contact with the allergen (chemical). The blisters are accompanied by itching.

For food allergies the rash usually develops as atopic dermatitis. It is localized on the body, face, neck, and sometimes on the scalp, on the back of the head. The rash does not have clear outlines; fragments can be scattered far from each other - throughout the body.

Hives- these are reddish spots of varying color intensity on the skin. When you press on them with your finger, you can see whitish spots. The urticaria spots are slightly swollen, visually reminiscent of nettle burns. Giant urticaria (the most severe form of such an allergy) is accompanied by swelling of the larynx, neck, and Quincke's edema. Hives often occur with drug allergies - on the body, face, arms and legs, on the back and abdomen.

Exudative diathesis most often appears on the cheeks, chin, arms and neck, as well as on the ears and in the space behind the ear. At first these are bubbles filled with a clear liquid, which cause a strong judgment. The child is anxious, scratches the skin or rubs it on the bed, as a result, the blisters easily burst, leaving behind red crusts. If eczema develops, then these crusts become wet, itchy, and complicated by an associated infection, which becomes noticeable by the presence of pustules.

An allergic rash may be completely colorless, manifested as “goosebumps”. It is usually not accompanied by itching and is not severe. This happens if the inflammation process stops when the papillary layer of the dermis is damaged.

How to distinguish an allergy from an infection?

Parents who have discovered strange rashes on their child’s skin first of all want to know what the problem is - an allergic reaction or infectious diseases that also occur with skin manifestations. Only a called doctor can answer this question with a high degree of confidence. Laboratory diagnostics can confirm or refute his conclusion. However, attentive parents are also able to recognize the difference between infections and allergies. In fact, it's not that difficult.

With allergies there is no high fever. In case of infections, fever and fever are most often obligatory “companions” of the initial stage of the disease. An infectious rash usually has clear outlines - papules, vesicles, pustules and other elements of the rash have certain boundaries and shapes. With an allergic rash, the shape of the blisters and blisters is quite blurred.

Swelling of the face and lips, the appearance of puffiness with allergies is common, but with infections such a symptom is usually not observed. With allergies, the rash itches and itches, but with infections this does not always happen.

Weakness, intoxication and body aches always happen with infectious diseases, but with allergies - almost never. A runny nose that accompanies infections changes its character - first, a liquid secretion is released from the nose, then it thickens and changes color. In case of allergies, the child’s snot is constantly liquid, the nature of the course of rhinitis does not change over time.

An allergic rash tends to merge and swell the skin; an infectious rash usually does not swell, and all its elements are clearly visible. The first usually manifests itself as spots and blisters, the second - vesicles, pustules, papules.

First aid

Allergists and pediatricians should treat allergies. But all parents should be able to provide first aid to their child at home, given that skin allergies can happen suddenly - at any time and with any child.

When a rash appears, first of all you need to carefully examine the baby’s skin, notice the features and locations of the spots. It is important to remember what new things the child ate, drank, and took over the past 3-4 days.

If there is a suspicion of a food allergy, then the child is given enterosobrents in an age-appropriate dose (“Enterosgel”), and the skin with rashes is washed with cool water without soap. You should not give anything else until you see a doctor.

If you suspect a drug allergy, you should stop taking the medication and take your child to see a doctor. The exception is situations when the medicine is given to the baby for health reasons. Then there is no need to interrupt the course. It is better to immediately go to see a specialist.

For any form of allergy, first aid is to interrupt contact with the allergen. If it is not known what the child has a skin reaction to, then it is better to protect him from a wide range of potentially dangerous common allergens. This includes whole cow's milk, chicken eggs, nuts, citrus fruits, some types of sea fish, sweets, honey and other foods, house dust, animal hair, fish food, all perfumes, cosmetics, pollen and medicines.

If the cause of the rash is clear to parents, then it will be easier to limit contact with the allergen.

In any case, the affected area is washed with water without soap. If the rash is severe, you can give your child antihistamines (in a single age-appropriate dose). After consultation with a doctor, the main treatment begins.

Treatment

The basis of treatment is exclusion of the allergen. Modern diagnostics, which include laboratory methods, as well as allergy tests, can help find it. After eliminating the allergen, the doctor decides on the use of medications. Everything will depend on the degree of damage to the skin and general symptoms.

For mild forms of the rash, remedies that have a sedative effect - motherwort tincture, valerian decoction, lemon balm decoction - help well. Taking these drugs orally will allow the baby to suffer less from itching, and will also improve the child’s sleep.

Antihistamines eliminate the internal cause of the rash - free histamine. Erius, Loratadine, Cetrin, Zirtec, Diazolin, Suprastin, Claritin, Fenistil (drops) are widely used in pediatric practice.

Sorbents help remove toxins caused by allergens from the body; such products include “Polysorb” and “Enterosgel”, as well as “Lactofiltrum”.

Locally, the rash sites can be treated with Fenistil (in gel form). For an extensive itchy rash, the doctor may recommend hormonal medications with a small content of glucocorticosteroid hormones - for example, Triderm or Advantan ointment. They will relieve itching and gradually remove all rashes. In case of severe allergic process, hormonal drugs (“Prednisolone”) are also prescribed for internal use.

If the rash is accompanied by severe swelling, the doctor will definitely recommend diuretics along with calcium supplements so that frequent urination does not lead to “washing out” of this essential mineral from the body.

A child with allergies should be bathed without foam, shampoo or soap. You can add a small amount of chamomile or calendula decoction to the water. Washing a child in water with added essential oils is unacceptable.

If you need to use other medications, it is important to call your doctor and ask about the possibility of taking them during the treatment of an allergic rash. Some antibiotics (for example, Tetracycline), as well as the nootropic drug Pantogam, often cause severe allergies, which is undesirable when treating a rash.

Lubricating an allergy rash with baby cream is inappropriate and harmful, because under a layer of greasy cream the skin will become “wet,” which will slow down recovery. You shouldn't use powder either, because it dries the skin too much.

In addition to medications, a child with skin allergies is prescribed a special hypoallergenic diet, which completely excludes foods that can aggravate the baby’s condition. For children under one year old, the doctor corrects the mother’s diet if she is breastfeeding, or replaces the baby with an adapted milk formula.

Simple and effective preventive tips will help prevent the development of skin allergies for the first time (as well as recurrence in children who have already undergone treatment):

• You should not give your child large amounts of medications. This undermines his immunity and provokes mild allergic reactogenicity. If it is possible to reduce the temperature without a pill, it is worth taking advantage of it. If you can avoid giving cough syrup and instead provide warm, plenty of fluids and massage, then it is better to take advantage of this opportunity.