Food allergies can trigger  variety of symptoms including diarrhea. Frequent diarrhea associated with undiagnosed food allergies  as well as the allergen itself in the stool can irritate the child’s delicate  skin. This can result in diaper rash.

What are the symptoms ?

The most recognizable symptoms of diaper rash caused by food allergies includes a bright ring around  the baby’s anus.  Tiny blisters, welts or pimple like bumps may appear around the  the buttocks, genitals and lower belly  after the baby consumes  foods like eggs, wheat, soy or cow’s milk. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as excess gas, constipation, nausea, loose stool, diarrhea  and vomiting may also be present.

Mucus or streaks of blood  can sometimes be found in the baby’s stool. The baby can also be colicky and fussy.

How can this be prevented ?

The best key to prevention is to determine the food that your child is allergic to and avoid it as much as possible. Your child’s pediatrician can perform a test called RAST, or the radioallergosorbent test, as well as skin tests to detect the food culprit. You also need to change your baby’s diaper as soon as there is a bowel movement. You can also apply corn starch to prevent friction.

How to treat diaper rash connected to food allergies

The only way to truly avoid diaper rash is  to stop feeding the baby the suspected food allergy. If you are a breastfeeding mother , eliminate the diet from your food as well. You can try  to reinforce the  food  after a month with your doctor’s permission.

You can also treat the rash  by gently washing the affected area with warm water and mild soap. Apply a barrier of ointment that contains zinc oxide  to your baby’s bum to help protect his skin while the rash heals.

You can also allow your baby to go diaper free  for as long as possible to increase the air exposure  to the rash.

When  to call your doctor

Call  your child’s doctor if your child has the following symptoms :

• Extremely colicky
• Rash smells bad, is bright red and looks  infected
• Rash does not respond to home remedies , covers the whole diaper area  or doesn’t go away after 5 days.
• A food allergy that causes a life threatening reaction known  as anaphylactic shock.

You should also seek immediate medical care if your baby experiences  abnormal breathing,  facial swelling , wheezing or heart palpitations.