Rash/eczema but not an allergy

Swesting03

I took my 8 month old last week to the allergist because she was breaking out with cheerios, puffs, apples, rice krispies...to name a few.  He didn't seem all that concerned since there are no gastrointestinal issues but he did do a scratch test on her.  Everything came back negative with testing the top 8 allergens.  I question the validity somewhat because I was not thinking at all and took a claritin either the day before or two days before and she's breastfed.  My nephew also has severe allergies (that he is finally growing out of now that he 6 1/2) and my bil said some of his only showed up with the blood test when he was a baby.  I guess it doesn't matter that much either way what the results said- we are avoiding wheat especially for now since it usually turns into dry eczema patches on her cheeks, mouth, and thumb.  Has this happened to any of you where the skin test didn't indicate an allergy but the blood test did?  I'm okay with avoiding the foods for now and don't really want to go through the blood test but am just wondering if that's common? 

fairyfey10

DD's face breaks out from wheat, she did not test positive for an allergy but we are testing for celiac next week.  She was around the same age as your LO when this started, and the GI symptoms came later.  Good luck.

g_belle

the tests can have false positives and negatives.  If you've seen direct reactions (like pulled the food for x amount of days, reintroduced and got a reaction) then I'd absolutely continue to avoid and ask for blood tests to confirm.  If your allergist isn't being helpful- I'd find a new one.  If you can find an allergist that specializes in kiddos that will probably help.. 

klyann

DD is allergic to rice which is not Top 8.   Its apparently very rare, but not impossible. 

Swesting03

Thanks- My BIL was surprised that they didn't do a blood test.  I felt like I was just overreacting after going to see the allergist and now I'm right back to where I started!  At this point we've seen the ped (who recommended cutting wheat out for now) and then the allergist whose only recommendation was to coat her face with vasoline before she eats as he thinks it's probably just a contact food sensitivity.  I'm not so sure about that with wheat because her reaction is different.  Her cheeks get much redder and she gets patches of dry, red, bumpy skin on her face as well as it affecting her thumb.  The fruits that bother her probably are from contact and you can tell it is more just irritating to her skin with small bumps.  We will definitely continue to avoid wheat and maybe I'll ask her ped for a blood test when she turns a year. 

SoonToBeMasters

DS has had eczema since 3 or 4 months... he tested positive for corn and cottonseed (both very rare) on a skin test.  We removed those foods from his diet (he is now 20 months) for 5 weeks... his eczema remained the same (no gastro issues, either), so we reintroduced slowly.  His eczema still remained the same.

We want to do a blood test, as well... but if he *is* allergic but the eczema isn't caused by the allergy, and there are no other allergic reactions- I see NO reason why we should limit DS' diet (especially when corn products and cottonseed oil is in practically EVERYTHING!)

GL!

julandjo

Bear in mind that regular Rice Krispies contain gluten (in the form of malt flavoring, which is barley).  You could be dealing with gluten as opposed to just wheat.  A gluten intolerance does not show up in allergy testing.

Swesting03

I should have put that they were the gluten free rice krispies so I was surprised when her face broke out from that.  She had had rice cereal a few times before just to thicken up a puree I had made but that usually had apple in it, too, so I never knew for sure if the rice cereal caused a reaction with apple and just haven't tried it with a fruit that I know she is fine with.  We did give her a few pieces of plain white rice one night when we had it for dinner and she was fine with that so I'm not sure??  The only difference I saw in the GF Rice Krispies was they are made with whole grain brown rice. 

Ruby_Tuesday

Are you saying that you give a food and then her eczema immediately flares?  If so that does seem like a possible allergy.  But I don't know, I usually hear of eczema flaring over time and then subsiding over time when an allergin is eliminated.  All three of mine have eczema and allergies and we are off of egg, wheat, & garlic but still have seen no change in the eczema.

I did see the eczema immediately flare for one of my boys but that was the beginning of an ana reaction for us so it's kind of a different scenario than what you are describing.

And to answer your question...  Yes, DS3 had an ana reaction to eggs.  He tested positive on the blood test for an allergy but negative on the skin test.  The tests have  a high false positive and negaive rate.  I have read that the false positive is between 50-80%!  That is why allergists are IMO rightfully hesitant to test prior to a reaction.

Swesting03

Yes, with wheat (or what I assume to be the cause) it immediately flares up.  Her cheeks get red and bumpy and one spot by her mouth.  After eating she sucks her thumb and that gets red.  Then it's all dry and red for a few days.  With everything else that I think I have pinpointed her being sensitive to, she just gets random bumps on her face that take a couple days to clear and sometimes get a whitehead to them.  The rest of her skin is always fine, though.

Wow- that is a high rate for a false positive!  I think we will continue to avoid wheat for a while and then try reintroducing in a month or two.  I'll see what happens and possibly consult her ped for a blood test at a year (and make sure not to take Claritin myself so that she doesn't have any antihistamines in her system). 

Ruby_Tuesday

Swesting03:

Yes, with wheat (or what I assume to be the cause) it immediately flares up.  Her cheeks get red and bumpy and one spot by her mouth.  After eating she sucks her thumb and that gets red.  Then it's all dry and red for a few days.  With everything else that I think I have pinpointed her being sensitive to, she just gets random bumps on her face that take a couple days to clear and sometimes get a whitehead to them.  The rest of her skin is always fine, though.

Wow- that is a high rate for a false positive!  I think we will continue to avoid wheat for a while and then try reintroducing in a month or two.  I'll see what happens and possibly consult her ped for a blood test at a year (and make sure not to take Claritin myself so that she doesn't have any antihistamines in her system). 

Our ana reaction with the instant eczema flare was to wheat...interesting huh.  They can do the blood test even if an antihistamine has been taken recently.  But it's probably a good idea to stear clear as they might want to re-do the skin test, you never know.  Good luck with everything.

Swesting03

Thanks! That is interesting!