Experts agree that the main cause of diaper rash is moisture, not food allergies. While diaper rash will strike half of all babies, a much lower percentage of those babies will experience diaper rash caused by food allergies. Six percent of children suffer from actual food allergies, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are other causes of diaper rash in babies that are not caused by food allergies. Diaper rash may be caused by other food-related physiological reactions including food intolerance.
What is a Food Allergy?
While the term food allergy is used to describe any physical reaction to foods by babies, kids and adults, the cause of the reaction, or of diaper rash, is not always an actual food allergy. A food allergy is an immune system response by the body, according to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.
When the body perceives a food as harmful, it reacts by releasing histamine. Histamine is a powerful chemical that affects many different parts of the body, including the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system. A person experiencing a true allergic reaction may have any combination of labored breathing, increased heart rate, nearly immediate diarrhea and a skin irritation.
Food Intolerance or Food Allergy?
While they differ in severity, both food allergies and food intolerances may cause diaper rash in babies. A food intolerance mainly involves the digestive system. When a person, including a baby, cannot properly digest a food product it is considered an intolerance, not an allergy.
One common food intolerance that is common in babies is lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance can cause gastric disturbance, stomach cramping, discomfort and diaper rash.
It’s important to distinguish between a food allergy and a food intolerance. A true food allergy can be severe and life threatening, and it should be treated by a professional.
When Diaper Rash is Most Likely to Occur
While half of all babies experience diaper rash at some point in their young lives, they most commonly suffer diaper rash between the ages of eight and 12 months. This is the time when babies are starting to eat more solid foods and learning to self-feed. As new foods are introduced to the baby, food allergies and a food intolerance may make their presence known in the form of a diaper rash.
Introducing new foods into the growing baby’s diet can also introduce diaper rash caused by food allergies, food sensitivities or a food intolerance. This is why it is important to introduce only one new food to a baby at a time, when the baby starts eating solid foods. Introducing too many new foods at once will make it difficult for parents to find the food culprit.
Diaper Rash: Treat the Obvious First
Before rushing out to the local allergist, follow these basic precautions when a baby has frequent or continuous diaper rash. If the rash is accompanied by labored breathing or swelling of the lips or tongue, call 911.
1. Change the diaper frequently. The longer a baby’s skin comes in contact with a moist or soiled diaper, the greater the chance of diaper rash.
2. Buy the right size diapers. Diapers that are too small may create a situation in which there is no room between baby and the soiled diaper. Since even the most diligent parent does not always detect a soiled diaper immediately, it’s important to buy the right size diapers to keep baby’s bottom free of rubbing against the moist diaper.
3. Dry baby’s bottom thoroughly. Think about how it feels to put socks over wet feet. Try to dry baby’s bottom thoroughly after a bath, before putting on a diaper.
4. Use perfume-free soap, lotions and laundry detergents and fabric softeners. All of these household chemicals could be the cause of diaper rash, not food allergies.
5. Do not rub the affected area. Pat it dry and be extra gentle.
6. Give the baby some diaper-free time. Place the baby on a towel before bath, and allow him or her to have some air drying time, free from any diaper or cloth covering his or her bottom.
Food Allergies: Common Culprits
A food allergy will cause what is called an “allergy ring” around the anus. The skin will appear red and irritated. A food intolerance may also cause diaper rash.
The two most likely culprits of diaper rash caused by food allergies are citrus foods and protein foods.
Citrus Foods and Diaper Rash
This could include any tomato or tomato-based products, such as spaghetti sauce. Other citrus include any fruit mixtures or juices containing oranges, pineapples or grapefruits.
Other fruits with a high-acid content include sour varieties of apples, peaches and plums.
For babies that get diaper rash from high-acidic fruits, consider feeding them these fruits that have a low-acid content: apricots, blackberries, sweet apples, sweet peaches, raspberries or sweet plums.
There are also foods with a high-acid content that can cause diaper rash in babies. These are not food allergies, but they could be considered food sensitivities if they cause diaper rash. Artificial sweeteners, breads, cream of wheat, pasta, white sugar, whole wheat bread and sweetened yogurt all contain high levels of acid.
Food Allergies to Protein Foods
In addition to citrus foods, food allergies may also include protein foods. Protein foods make up the largest type of foods that cause allergies in babies and adults. Food allergies and a resulting diaper rash may be caused by milk protein, soy protein, eggs, specifically egg yolks or products with whey (milk plasma) in them. Whey is a milk product that is a common product in processed foods, even foods for babies.
Other common food allergies are caused by peanuts and wheat.
Another food that may cause diaper rash in a baby when consumed by a nursing mother is actually a spice. Cinnamon is one spice that babies may react to with a diaper rash. Cinnamon may also be in foods fed to babies learning to self-feed, including graham crackers or cereals.
Remedies
Elimination of the suspected diaper rash causing foods can be easily eliminated from the diet of the nursing mom, or from the baby’s diet. After a few days of avoiding the suspected foods, the rash should not worsen or continue. A use of a topical diaper rash cream will help alleviate baby’s skin discomfort.
Yeast and Diaper Rash
In addition to a true food allergy or a more mild food intolerance, yeast is actually the most common cause of a severe and perpetual diaper rash. A yeast diaper rash may be caused by excess moisture or use of antibiotics. Yogurt with acidophilus should be consumed by nursing moms, or babies eating solid food when a yeast diaper is suspected.
Sources
Dr. Greene, “Diaper Rash,” http://www.drgreene.com/21_1069.html
Dr. Sears, “Childhood Illnesses,” http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t081400.asp
Eclectic Physician, “Diaper Rash,” http://www.eclecticphysician.com/treatment/childrens_health/diaper_rash.shtml
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, http://www.foodallergy.org
Fruit Pages, “Acidic Fruits,” http://www.thefruitpages.com/acidsweet.shtml
Kids With Food Allergies, http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org
Mayo Clinic, “Food Allergies,” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-allergy/DS00082
USFDA, “Approximate pH of Foods and Food products,” http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/lacf-phs.html.html
University of Iowa, “Diaper Rash,” http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/newborncare/newb4803.html
WebMD, “Diaper Rash,” http://children.webmd.com/tc/diaper-rash-topic-overview
World’s Healthiest Foods, “Food Sensitivities,: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid;=30
