Awful Rash - Please Help! - PIC

[bblejwas]

Hi Everyone,
DD got an awful rash for the 3rd time this week. She is 11 months, eats solids and still nurses about 5 times a day. Thetimes she got the rash she was 6 months(no solids), 9 months(solids, but nothing new), and now 11 months(only new food mango 4 days earlier). The 1st two times she got the rash I had eaten take out from the SAME Chinese restaurant. After realizing this, I assumed that the rash was from something like MSG, or another food additive. The 3rd time though, I had not eaten anything that out of the ordinary, I did have some Chips Ahoy cookies and made soup from canned broth. Could it be something in those? Does anyone have any idea what this could possibly be from? Oh, and DD has not seemed at all bothered by it, so I don't think the rash is itchy or anything. And all 3 times Benadryl has cleared it up over a few days. Her ped. says don't worry....but I do, wouldn't you? Please help! Here is a pic... poor baby
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/P1070777.jpg

[naturals]

ohhhh thats so sad.Seems like she is reacting to artificial ingredients in ur diet.Since u are feeding her I would try to avoid processed food. I know its very hard to do avoid but it will help in the long run. Eczema need not be itchy it can always appear as rashes.More the incidences more benadryl u will have to give, so best is to avoid.
Hope others can chime in as well.

[RasJane]

I think you are on to something with the MSG. I know it is a main ingredient in canned broth (try pacific or imagine brand if you need ready-made broth--or make it yourself), and I know a lot of snack foods use it--check the label.
You could also keep a food diary-but that usually only works well if it is a reaction occurring frequently.
Naturals is right-avoiding processed food is your best bet. And your dd will develop a tolerance to benadryl rather quickly. And really, it only hides the symptom, it doesn't get rid of the problem. Skin rash is the body's way of dumping toxins. If you get rid of the rash and not the cause, those toxins will build up in the body. Yucky.
Good luck Mama!

[JaneS]

What about peanut contamination?

[bblejwas]

Jane S - I don't *think* it has anything to do with peanuts because I have eaten them throughout prengnancy and nursing. I have also eaten them the past few days with no further rash.

Originally Posted by RasJane

Naturals is right-avoiding processed food is your best bet. And your dd will develop a tolerance to benadryl rather quickly. And really, it only hides the symptom, it doesn't get rid of the problem. Skin rash is the body's way of dumping toxins. If you get rid of the rash and not the cause, those toxins will build up in the body. Yucky.
Good luck Mama!

RasJane and naturals - I have never heard this about benadryl! So is it just better for me to let DD break out?

I really do think it has to do with processed foods. I think I eat pretty well, and I try to avoid processed foods, but it is very difficult, they are everywhere! I checked the soup can, and it said No MSG with a tiny * next to it, so I searched the can, and it said, "except for naturally occuring" Do you think this "naturally occuring MSG" could be the source of the rash? Also, will I have to be extra wary when DD is totally exposed to the world of processed foods(school, parties, friends, etc.)? Could she react worse when she is ingesting the offending ingredient directly, rather than through my breastmilk?

Thank you for your responses. I just want to get to the bottom of this!