Skin Allergies In Children

The appearance of a skin rash is generally what people think of when they talk about skin allergies in children. There are three types of skin rashes that are associated with skin allergies in children, each varying in cause and appearance.

True Skin Allergies In Children

The one rash that is considered to truly be an allergic skin rash in children is contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis appears when the skin has come into contact with either an irritant or an allergen (a substance which causes an allergic reaction in a person).

Contact dermatitis appears as a (usually) reddened, inflamed area that may have blisters which crust, crack, and ooze; contact dermatitis skin allergy rashes in children may also appear dry, thickened, and cracked.

The majority of contact dermatitis rashes are not caused by true allergies; rather, they are caused by irritation when a child has a sensitivity to a chemical, metal, or product. This type of contact dermatitis, called irritant dermatitis, resembles more of a burn than a blistering rash.

Blistering contact dermatitis rashes are usually caused by true skin allergies in children. The severity of a contact dermatitis rash caused by skin allergies in children can range from mildly irritating to painful, and is worsened by itching and scratching.

One of the most commonly recognized allergens, or triggers, for contact dermatitis skin allergies in children is poison ivy or poison sumac. In addition, the following allergens are common triggers for contact dermatitis skin allergy rashes in children.

* Plants
* Metals, especially nickel which is commonly found in inexpensive jewelry
* Medicines, especially topical medications and topical anesthetics
* Latex/rubber
* Make-up and cosmetics
* Fabrics
* Detergents and soaps
* Glues, solvents, and adhesives
* Perfumes and fragrances
* Chemicals

Contact dermatitis skin allergy rashes are localized and are limited to the area where contact was made with the allergenic substance. Fortunately, this makes testing for triggers of skin allergies in children easy, as a simple patch test can be performed (under the supervision of a physician).

Other Skin Allergies In Children

Two other types of skin rashes are associated with allergies in children-hives (medically termed urticaria) and atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema.

Hives presents as small to large swollen, red bumps. There may just be one or a few hives of varying shape and size, or many hives that occur together and may appear as one very large, swollen area. Often, angioedema, or swelling, presents along with hives; angioedema very often affects the face, lips, feet, and hands, and is more likely to tingle or burn rather than itch. Angioedema can present breathing problems and should be monitored.

Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a rash that results from itching of the skin. Itching may be caused by an allergen, and when scratched, a red, dry, flaky, possibly blistering and oozing rash results. Atopic dermatitis is limited to areas which can be reached to be scratched, as it is truly "the itch that rashes".

While hives may be a contact-related skin allergy in children, both of these skin allergy rashes often result from a systemic allergy; that is, the trigger is something that has been ingested or absorbed into the body's system, and the rashes result from the body's reaction to the allergic trigger. For this reason, determining a cause for these types of skin allergies in children is more difficult because the allergen could have been something that was touched, handled, breathed in, or eaten.

While all of these rashes by themselves can be caused by something other than a true allergy, it is very helpful-and in some cases imperative-to determine the cause of atopic dermatitis, hives, or contact dermatitis. Only when you know the real cause of an apparent skin allergy in children can you effectively treat it, and the treatment for an allergic version of one of these rashes will be different from the treatment for a virally induced or irritating skin rash. Furthermore, knowing what a child is allergic to helps parents, children, and caregivers avoid these substances so that future allergic reactions (which can worsen in severity) can be prevented.

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