Looking for Advice for Possible Allergic Reaction

I grew up with eczema and I also have a neice that suffers from it and it may be a form of that. Try using only fragrance free or non-allergenic lotions, shampoos, and soaps for a while to see if it clears up. Eucerine is really good brand that you can buy at any drug store.
It seems to be in the areas that he may sweat,his fingers, back of neck and inside of elbows and the warmth of these areas may cause it to flare up. Stress is also a big factor of eczema. Sometimes it's really hard to detect what is going to make it flare up, even as an adult. So you have to be careful when intoducing new products that have fragrance in them.
I hope this helps some! Good luck

Hello,
A good thing to help relieve the itching is use some baking soda with water and make a paste to put on it. Maybe taking some benadryl would help too. Good luck!

maybe try switching laundry detergent. some allergies take time to develope. I developed an allergy to a medicine after being able to use it any time it called for when I was younger.

E., I would take pictures, and use a daily track log to see if you can narrow it down. But usually an allergic reaction does not blister up unless maybe if you are using some kind of bleach to clean in your household or laundry. There are so many things but still just not sure that it would do that.R.

Hi Erica. I'm new here too but I am a Mom of grown children. I'm sorry that I can't guess just what is going on with your 7 yr. old but I do know products that you can use to ease the symptoms. Most times with things like this, that's about all you can do. These are pure, safe & beneficial.I can get you a sample to use for several days if you'd like. There's never any harm in that. It could be in the mail tomorrow. ____@____.com

You might try looking up Fifth's Disease, thats what it sounds like. My son who is a diabetic had the same syptoms and his nurse said something about it, so I looked it up and thats what it was. Nothing real serious and there is nothing you can do for it, it just looks real bad. Try looking that up on line so you'll have better info. Hope this helps,
Trish K

My son had eczema and what the doctor told me to do is to eliminate different foods and then begin reintroducing them one at a time to see if any of them triggers a reaction. It could also be a new laundry detergent or fabric softener.

E. I would say if you can take him to a dermatologist if it doesn't clear up. I had a similar rash like that happen to me and after several trips to my family doctor, there were no answers. With that I saw a local dermatologist and he concluded that it was a horrible bacterial infection, that he felt I had attracted through airborne particals. I had to take antibiotics for 4 months because mine had gotten so bad. And now I am faced with the scars that it left all over my body.

You need to take your child to the doctor to see if they can figure out what is going on. They will probably refer you to an Allergist.

Hi. My son is allergic to eggs and peanuts. I would:
1. Have Benedryl at home, in purse, and car. Give him some to relieve the itching and to help stop outbreak of more hives. The biggest fear is that his airway could close.
2. Start keeping a food/environment (soaps, detergents, if he was around pets, playing in the grass, etc.) journal so you can keep track of what he has eaten a day or two before outbreak etc.
3. Call your child's Dr. for advice and see if you can set up a blood and skin prick allergy test--best if you can report your suspicion list--have him tested for things from your food/environment journal. Once you know what he is allergic to you can start reading labels, asking how things are prepared/cross contamination risks, etc. and avoid those things.

Kids and adults can develop an allergy at any time--even if there was no reaction in the past.

We carry an epipen just in case he has a bad reaction and cannot breathe. It can be scary. We belong to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network and receive their newsletter--lots of helpful information.
Their website is: ____@____.com or www.foodallergy.org

good luck!

S.

Hi E.,
I am K., mother of 3 boys and I do have those skin issues with my youngest one too.
Over time I have realized, he does break out on some laundrydedergents, and soaps even some cloth. Avenoo or the generic is a great bathing solution and I put Zinkointment in the face even to heal the skin. .. Also food colorings worsen the conditions, so I really watch what I buy and cook. This time of the year, which drys out the skin anyway will make it worse too. The less brake outs we have in the summer, when he can be a lot in the sun.
I wish you luck. this is no fun.
I am also new to Mamasource, but what I see I like it and also go bring it on. :-)

Have you switched your detergents?
I experience itchy skin when my husband buys the wrong detergent.

E.,

You might want to ask these questions to investigate what it could be..........WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING IN A JOURNAL TO KEEP FOR THE NEXT TIME OR TRIP TO THE DOCTOR.

What did he eat? (Specific ingredients in things if you feel it could help)

Any new foods he has never eaten before?

Was he wearing new clothes.......new detergent?

New body soap?

Keep a journal of his foods, activities, etc......anything you think might be pertinent info to share with the doctor if a trip is warranted.

I have heard the Aveno lotions are pretty soothing for rashes. Good luck.

D.

I am also new to mamasource, I saw your need for advice, it may not be the same thing but my daughter occasionally breaks out like that, our doctor told us she was allergic to cats, that wasn't it, she only breaks out when she gets really hot or cold, we still have not found out what it is but we use aquaphor lotion on her every night after her bath and she hasn't broken out in over a year.

It sounds like a food allergy. Have you had him tested yet? It's a very simple blood test now, I had to have my son tested several years ago, and the list was unbelievable. He's allergic to peanuts, fish, etc, etc.... but then the results also show the severity of the allergic reaction as well. For example, my son's allergic to milk, but it's not severe. So, he can have small amounts of cheese or milk products at a time. Also, I was told that if a child has lots of allergies, they're more likely to have skin problems, such as dermatitis, ichthyosis, etc. My son had ichthyosis as a baby, long before we realized he had so many allergies.

Hope this helps!

I have very sensitive skin too. The laundry soap has to have fregrance, All clear is the best. It also might be something he ate. My niece breaks out in a rash on her fingers, face, and arms when she ate something that she is allergic to. An over the counter allergy meds always helps with the itching. Have you changed anything, such as soap, shampoo, or even your lotion. Just a few thoughts I hope it helps.

The first thing go to is to ask yourself if you have change anything in the house different food, different wash soap or body soap. IF you can think of something stop useing it until your son skin is heal. Then intod it back to him again, that will tell you if you have a problem or not.

I too have very sensitive skin, as do my three kids. So many times the dye in clothing will bring on such a reaction. One time I had to go to the ER myself due to an allergic reaction to my laundry detergent being reformulated. Keep a running list of all the environmental issues that was in play during the break out, as well as clothing, pets, people, and food. Did you use any type of topical gel to relieve the itching or OTC medication by mouth? A nice bath with baking soda will help the itch. In a pinch, use cold compresses, this will stop the histamine in the area. You could also run past your local pharmacist for some quick advice. If he/she can advise if you should seek medical treatment. Of course, if your son has any swelling in the face/neck area, or is having problems breathing with one of these "allergic" reactions, seek medical attention immediately.

go it confirmed with a doctor, but in the meanimte go get some oatmeal bath it's made be Aveno it'll help with the itching.

Hello Erica C,

The first thing I would suggest is taking him to a pediatrician or family doctor. My guess would be that it is an allergic reaction of some sort, as well. Poison Ivy and Poison Oak - would spread in most cases - from the original rash site. Given the areas the rash appeared, and guessing that his hands were the primary source of exposure, I would guess that he is coming in contact with something he is allergic to. Think of of anything new he has been doing or been around since the rash first appeared. The doctor will likely ask the same question. Also, consider a new pet or if you have changed laundry soaps, personal soaps or other hygene products and or anything else that may have changed since the rash frist appeared.

Hope this helps

You want to make sure if it is reddened and streaked that it is not infected. I would take him to a pediatric dermontologist. They may refer you on to an allergist which will be able to test him to see what he is allergic to.

Could be Eczema. If a topical antihistimine doesn't work (try this first), try treating it with Shea Butter (try an unscented kind, and be sure it doens't have mineral oil in it). If you'd like, my company carries this kind of lotion, and it is WONDERFUL for helping keep eczema at bay. Eczema is a skin condition, and is a rash, but usually reacts to environmental allergies & stresses, not necessarily something you ingest. Lots of times it's from a soap, laundry detergent, or just plain stress, or getting too hot. So you may want to try going to an unscented soap & laundry soap, as well.

LMK if you want to try the unscented Shea Butter.
S.
www.jordanrep.com/5845

I've seen that people have pointed out that he might have excema. My sister has had to deal with it her entire life. When she was younger it was so bad that she had to use a cream perscribed by a doctor. As she's gotten older it's become better and she keeps it under control by using unscented soaps. She sticks to Dove which is very gentle on the skin and always comes with unscented as an added bonus it moisturizes so you might not have to use lotion. I have another friend whose son has excema and it flairs up when he eats eggs. You might want to take him to a doctor and get him checked out for different food allergies.

As horrible as this sounds, have the doctor check for scabies. (It can happen in the cleanest of kids & houses!!) It leaves blisters and little paths (streaks) and really itches!

Hi. i have a 9 year old that also has very sensitive skin. When he breaks out like that, it is usally do to something that i have changed, like laundry soap. made the mistake and mixed his clothes with my babys clothes and found out that he is highly allergic to Dreft!! simple mistake, but he was broke out for days, so bad the school sent him home. rule all that out and then take him to the doctor. my son is also allergic to grass, dustmites and other small bugs. good luck. good to know that you have four boys! i also have four boys, however i work outside the home.

Wow!!! Poor guy. Just so you know if this were an alergic reaction to the same thing it would have been more severe the second time around. I would suggest taking him/her in to make sure that this isn't some kind of skin condition. In the mean time use some of those over the counter medicines to see if they help. You can also try so Aveeno oatmeal bath, it helps soothe itchy skin.

I have really bad allergies and got some herbal stuff frm www.angelcarearomatherapy.com. they have lots of natural stuff that actually works! It is nice too because you can consult with the person who prepares the stuff.

My daughter has extremely sensitive skin too. She breaks out in a similar fashion as to what you are describing. I took her to her pediatrician and was told it is contact dermatitis. I was already using an unscented laundry detergent (FYI: Tide is the worst). And then switched to bounce unscented dryer sheets (Downy is terrible for the skin). I was also told to switch to Delsym Blue for her shampoo (who knew?) and aveeno baby wash or Dove unscented soap. And to wash and shampoo her at the very end of the bath.
While she was broken out in the rash, I had to apply a thin layer of hydrocortizone cream on the itchy parts and a thick cream like Eucerin or aquaphor immediately after toweling off. She healed up nicely in about a week.
Best of Luck,
D. R.

my child was playing at a fast food resturant in the ball pit, a very nasty place for a child, he had scabies twice after visiting the ball pit, we never allowed him to go there again and did report the unsanitary condition to the health department,this was a very popular chain for kids, scabies are small red bumps that look like a rash,and they the size of a pin head, treated with a prescription liquid applied to the skin, it is caused by mites or parasites depositing feces under the skin, they have actually reported finding dirty diapers, needles, etc. in ball pits, beware

your description sounds more like hives than an allergic reaction. has something changed in your lives recently? has your child had something happen that is upsetting at school? just a thought. M.

My oldest did that when I used Tide laundry soap. As soon as we switched, it went away and has never come back.

I would look at anything you have recently started using, although allergies can be developed over time as well.

I'd just slowly switch out products you use for/on your son and that should work...I'd use the allergy testing as a last resort unless you are extremely worried, those tests are soooooo painful!

If the rash is itchy,use benedryll and /or hydrocortizone or your doctor might prescribe some anti-itch medicine like hydroxyzine. Hope you get it figured out soon!

I had similar problems when I was young myself. It seemed like I was breaking out at odd times, but once I figured out what was wrong, it all made sense. I was allergic to Tide with Bleach! Naturally, it depended on which of my clothes, sheets, etc my mom had washed in it. I also found that I was allergic to various kinds of body soaps and shampoos. If you have changed any of these items in your home or shop by sales and coupons and switch them (as my mom did) it could explain why it comes and goes. Just an idea, it could be a food or something too!

E.,

It may be an allergy to something your child ate, or possibly the detergent and/or softener you are using to wash/rinse/dry your clothes with. Have you possibly changed the detergent or softener you use? Are you eating something the child has not had before?

You could keep a log of the incidents, and look at things like; what was the child doing just before he/she broke out, did he/she just eat something, is he/she wearing something freshly laundered etc... That might help you narrow it down to what is causing the rashes.

Chris S

My 7 month old broke out with something like that. Not as bad mind you, but something of the same thing. I talked to my Dr. and he said he had sensitive skin and I started reading the tags on the clothing that he wore when it happened. I noticed that it happened when he wore polyister of any type/blend. It could be his clothes or maybe a furniture fabric. I hope this helps or at least points you in the right direction.

might be lunduary soap take him to doctor

I would say look for a food allergy or perhaps an animal that he is around alot. My son did that 5 times and they sent him to an allergist. whom said he was allergis to our indoor and outdoor cats. So we started keeping him away and no more rashes. We also gave him benadryl for the rash and that really helped it makes then tired but it keeps them from itching. I hope this helps.

I have very sensitive skin, too. That sounds like the exact same thing I got after we burned a big pile of brush in our backyard this fall. It's a long shot, but have you burned anything around him lately? If so, my doc told me that we probably burned some old poison ivy and that I inhaled it. It came out throughout my body in random places. I had to do a 5-day regiment of steroids to get rid of it.

I'm with the other moms who said it could very possibly be a laundry soap and that you should take pictures of it. My brother used to get hives from Tide. Try going to something else. Wisk and Purex worked for us.

Good luck and welcome to Mamasource!
A.