Mystery rash. Allergies?

[NJ*Doula]

I think I might know what it is, but I'd like some opinions so that I can be sure. He'll see his ped next Monday, but I'd like to start treating it in the meantime, so I want to pin it down.

It's all over his head, face, and neck too. His cheeks don't show a ton of redness right now (it comes and goes) but they're stll bumpy and scaly. His scalp is super flaky. The red bumps are raised, and do not have any white in the center.

I've been working on my diet, trying to eat healthy whole foods, but yesterday I went out with a friend and ate fast food (Popeyes) and this is the rash today, much worse than yesterday. His poop is green, too.

Any ideas?

[changingseasons]

I would say that with green poop and the rash, it's definitely possible for it to be food allergies. It looks similar to DD's eczema. I've been on and off ED's for months now, and we're still finding occasional problem foods. We're now off dairy, beef, soy, eggs, nuts, green peas, and yellow squash.

Be sure to keep a detailed food journal for a while to help you pinpoint which foods might be causing a problem for your LO.

There's a lot of super helpful mamas in this forum that I'm sure will chime in with lots more good advice for you. But I wish you luck! I know it's hard limiting your diet... I've eaten out ONCE in the past 3 months, and DD had a reaction, so now it's all home cooked meals. Not even any packaged foods for us. But after a while you get used to it, and the cravings go away.

[2goingon2]

This looks like my 7 month old son's rash too. He has seen a dermatologist and is also going to an allergist that specializes in skin allergies at the end of the month. The dermatologist recommended I of course watch my diet and eliminate the obvious baddies. He said we need to bath our son in luke warm water and when we do use soap, to use Cetaphil or Dove unscented. Also, laundry should be washed in something like All Free and Clear as Dreft has fragrance added to it. We are to double-rinse our laundry too. Let's see - oh yeah - Crisco. Yep, he said Crisco is a great lotion substitute and to grease him up morning and night...a thick coat especially after his bath at night. No wool or synthetic blends, just 100% cotton. He also said we could use Benadryl and I double-checked with our pediatrician for his weight and age, and yes, we can use it. We don't like giving him medicine but the doctor explained to us that the itching is indeed maddening and it is the scratching (he does scratch) that leads to more itching and a possible infection. We are supposed to get rid of our cat too but we are going to double-check that with the allergist at the end of the month as well as double-check possible food allergies. I hope your little one is not too uncomfortable and that the rash does not last long. Unfortunately, if it is eczema they will be prone to flare ups and controlling the itch is the most important part. Good luck to you.

[changingseasons]

I don't know why allergists tell people to use All Free & Clear detergent. :
Those 'free and clear' detergents have a lot of additives to kill dust mites and things- and those additives can leave a residue on your clothes which can irritate the skin. We use Planet and CountrySave- both are just very basic, no added chemicals, no detergent residue. Someone posted a link in another thread (I wish I could remember which one...) that showed a chart for all the best & worst detergents for residue and additives. I bet if you Googled detergent residue you could find some info.

[2goingon2]

Changingseasons...thanks so much for the information. I'll definitely look it up.

[FoxintheSnow]

Did you find out what it is by any chance? My baby has a very similar rash and my ped basically said it's nothing, but of course that answer didnt leave me very satisfied.

[LoisLane]

The rash on its own looks like what my DDs get when they are overheated/sweaty (wearing a sweater in the carseat, or a raincoat and then running around). But with the other symptoms, I would be concerned about food, too. Has your babe just been in a sweaty situation? They might not be related...

[mommydancer]

I agree with the PP who said the green poop sounds like a food rxn. I tried to find ingredients for popeye's chicken with no luck. You can pretty much guess that wheat, milk or egg could be involved, so that gives a place to start.

The rash does look like it is in the right places for the "heat rash" proposed by another posting mama, but that won't help us explain green bm's. I would also throw in that it was at two months my DC started to have little red flecks in his green poos...(this was blood) and that around 2-4 mos. seems to be a common time that moms are posting about diet concerns for their little ones. You rock for being vigilant and posting to ask for help.

I wish you all the best, and remember not to let anyone turn you away from your inner feeling when something seems wrong.