Red cheeks/ Milk alergy ???

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

I have a question Somewhere I was reading about milk alergies and how kids will get red, cracked cheeks if they are alergic to milk or products made from milk. Lately sence Brooker is being switched from whole milk to 2% her little cheeks are so red all the time and are starting to crack. Almost like a big rash or something. At first I thought it was just her rosie glow, but now i'm really starting to get concerned. It almost looks like a burn. It's not but thats what it looks like. Here is a pic I got when she was not running from mom's camera. I hope you can see it. The redness all over her cheeks. You'd think it would have appeared when switching from Alimentum to whole milk but before I call up the doc and she say's i'm nutz, i'll ask the experts ;D

[Ericsmomma]

Eric has milk allergies...confirmed by blood tests. But I can't remember him having the red cheeks...just alot of nasal congestion and runny nose junk. Since he's been off dairy, he's 100% better. May be worth checking out.
p.s. You haven't switched soaps , detergents, any new meds, etc?

[Connie]

Collin had that up until about about 18 months ago. His would get worse because of sinuses. If, I could not keep up with the flowing snot it would make it worse. He was diagnosed with Exema. We used Elidile (sp) on it and it would clear up.

Connie

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Thx girls. Nope, no change in soap or meds. I use All free and clear and the only med type thing is her Miralax and her vitamins. She hasn't had but one cold w/ runny nose, KNOCK ON WOOD, awhile ago and one ear infection. I'm just stumped. YA know, I just thought of the new baby wipes I got at Target. Hmmmm, i'll get some of her regular kind and see if it goes away. Oh if that is it I will feel so bad trying to save a buck and to lazy to run to Wally world.

[lorraine]

William has got exactly the same thing his have been like it for months, I never thought it could be a milk allergy, I asumed it was the cold weather. I cover his cheeks in vasoline before we go out which seems to stop them getting any worse but no better



They're not too bad in this photo but I like it

Lorraine

[laurasnowbird]

It totally looks like eczema, and it will probably clear up with over the counter hydrocortisone. I'd start with 1/2% hydrocortisone, and if that doesn't work, switch to 1%. Keep her cheeks well hydrated, and if you are going to be out in the wind, put something like Aquaphor or vaseline on them to prevent chapping. If the over the counter stuff doesn't work, see a dermatologist and get the Elidel that Connie talked about if he agrees that its eczema.

It's really common in little kids, and more common in kids with family histories of hay fever and asthma. It commonly shows up on kids who are new at self-feeding because they make such a huge mess of themselves multiple times of day that they get their faces washed frequently and it strips their skin of the natural oils and emollients, leaving it vulnerable. My littlest bug, Aidan, is very fair skinned, and prone to it, so we can't let him suck on washcloths either, because that makes it flare up!

Use the mildest soap you can find on her face, use it as little as possible put the hydrocortisone on, and keep one of the greasier emollients on her face like aquaphor, Eucerin in a tub, or vaseline. Once you get it under control, you may have to continue to use the Aquaphor for awhile, at least until summer comes. It's much less prevalent once the warmer, more humid air of summer comes around!

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Thank you Laura I will get some tomorrow and see if it works. Are you gunna try it too Lorraine? By the way, William is so cute

[Kristin]

My daughter gets exema, too. However, she also gets bright red cheeks when she eats a food she is intolerant of, like gluten, casein (dairy) or eggs. Her entire cheeks look sunburned when it is food. During the winter she also has exema, which is around her mouth and chin. It is more rough and I'm still trying to find something that works. (Elidel didn't work for us.) I usually just wash it gently, and apply Eucerin and the hydration seems to keep it down. It takes constant care or it flares back up. I've been thinking about taking her to the pediactric dermatologist in town and see if she has any ideas.

[lorraine]

Thank you
I will defiantly get some hydrocortisone cream to see if that helps, we have got eczema and asthma in the family so I can't believe I never thought of that. ? LOL


Lorraine

[sandi]

Gee, looks just like Cassies cheeks. I thought it was teething, and it could be a bit, but I figured it was a bit of eczema. I am using Penaten cream on her cheeks and moisturizing constantly. If I didnt use the Penaten cream her cheeks would be just terrible and even under her chin a bit too.

[Connie]

Just a note....

I have and still do use cortisone cream (well not in the last 1.5 years or so)if needed usually if we have pictures, or something important that I want his face clear but I was told by our Genetics doctor that using it to much can be a cause of severe pimples in the teenage years. I've never found this link....but not sure I wanted to tempt fate either....So, is just used if very spairingly.....

Connie

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

That night I put some vasaline on her cheeks before we went to sleep. The next morning I was amazed! The cracking was gone, of corse, duhh me, but the redness was almost gone too. I went and got some cream and put some on. Within a couple of hours it was gone. Not all the way but nothing like it was. I'm so happy. You girls are so smart I also put some vasaline on her cheeks when we went to the farm today cuz we were goofin' off outside. I will use it sparingly Connie thx I'm just so happy I can't thank you girlz enuf

[victoriasdad]

all my kids use to do this from the baby wipes on all four cheeks, two of my kids have super sensitive skin and tomato paste will make them get a rash like that (tomatos are really acidy)

[Kristin]

My pediatrician cautioned against using hydrocortisone cream too strong, or too long. I don't remember a reason necessarily. By the way, I made an appointment with a pediactric dermatologist for Clarice at the end of this month to see if they have any better ideas. I'll try to remember to post back. Kristin

[laurasnowbird]

Hydrocortisone has the effect of thinning the skin, but not when used short term, as I suggested. That's also why it's best to start out with 1/2% hydrocortisone, and only bump it up to 1% if the 1/2% isn't effective.

After you've gotten it under control, daily application of things like Aquaphor, or the Eucerin that comes in a tub should keep it under control if it is a usual mild childhood case. It can be hard to keep in the habit of using the Aquaphor, but try to do it to minimize your need for hydrocortisone. We always load our kids up with Aquaphor or Vaseline if they are out in the winter, and use Aquaphor quite liberally in the windy Michigan spring when we are out flying kites!

I've never hear of childhooduse of topical hydrocortisone causing teenage acne, and I can't imagine that sporadic use would have that effect. Connie, have your doc tell us more!