rash from dairy intolerance?

elizabethwig

pretty new to this and hoping you guys have some advice. sorry for this being lengthy.

our LO has had a diaper rash since about 5 days old (she's now almost 7 weeks). this was right around the time we started supplementing with formula due to my low supply (she gets about 50/50). the docs thought it was yeast but we've tried everything we can to combat it with no results - in fact it keeps getting gradually worse.  it's red and raw and i feel so bad for her!

since the rash is isolated to around her anus, one doctor (who admitted she didn't know what else to do) suggested switching her to a soy formula to see if that helped. she's currently on similac advanced.

my question: does this really sound like it could be a dairy intolerance? i'm skeptical since she doesn't seem to have any other symptoms. she does spit up and has gas, but not an abnormal amount. she doesn't seem upset during or after eating, either. she does poop *constantly* but our docs say it's normal and the color/consistency doesn't seem abnormal (no mucus or visible blood). 

i'd gladly switch if i thought it would help. i've just cut out dairy myself just in case as i figured it would take some time to get out of my system. but like i said, i'm skeptical... 

greyt00

DS1 had dairy (and probably soy) allergy and never had a diaper rash.  DS2 had a diaper rash since 2 days old, only around the anus.  It was horrible for about 3 weeks, and then we got it to where it was not so bad.  We could get rid of it for a day or two and then it would come back.  We dried his butt with a cotton ball and then applied Aquaphor every time he was wiped.  He got the green mucousy poo (microscopic blood) at 7.5 weeks old.  By this time his diaper rash was not very bad anymore.  I eliminated dairy and soy and shortly after his diaper rash is completely gone.  His stools went back to mustard though we still have some mucous.  Is his rash related?  Not sure.  Soy formula might help but MANY babies with dairy allergy/intolerance have the same with soy.     DS1 spit up a lot and had reflux (and was upset) but DS2 is very happy.  He spits up a normal amount, IMO, and has no symptoms besides the poo.

kris_kelsey

DS was mildly intolerant to dairy and he always got diapers rashes unless we used a cream or ointment with every change.  It wasn't until he was 1 yr old and eating dairy directly himself (he was EBF) that he got the true allergy rash on his bum.  Eliminated dairy and the rash was gone.

DD was much more reactive to dairy/soy and other things that I was unable to pin down.  She developed a rash on her bottom before 2 weeks old that NOT ANY cream would resolve, not any yeast cream either.  I tried disposable diapers and cloth diapers and it was bad either way.  Her rash was red and open with some dots mixed in there too.  She had other symptoms that pointed to food intolerances as well.  I eliminated various foods and her rash still did not improve.  I held the breastmilk and gave her alimentum and her rash (which had been there for weeks) disappeared in 36 hours.  She also pooped a couple less times per day which helped.  I stayed on the elimination diet and gave her my breastmilk again and the rash came back with a vengeance.  Cried and stopped breastfeeding (gave her alimentum) and the rash was gone and has never come back.  

There are a few reasons why food intolerances cause rashes...

1. The food siting against the skin (on the bum) creates a local reaction.

2.  They poop more frequently which makes it harder to keep the butt clean and dry.

3.  If there is any blood in the stool it makes a nasty rash.  Blood is highly irritating to our body's tissues.

 To me, it does sound like food sensitivity.  Another person was right that soy formula doesn't necessarily make it better because there are so many babies who have trouble with soy as well.  You can try soy but if it doesn't get better then you should try alimentum or nutramigen.  Also, if you are still breastfeeding you should eliminate dairy (and soy) as well.  

greyt00

Unfortunately, I don't think Alimentum is going to help my son.  I supplemented yesterday (stomach virus from hell) and he got a green mucousy poo right away.  Ugh.  I guess we will have to do Neocate if we need formula.

elizabethwig

thanks to both of you. i've eliminated dairy and i think we are going to try the soy formula. if that doesn't work, then maybe we can try eliminating soy as well. i really hope we don't have to though... really not looking forward to that possibility as soy seems to be in just about everything and we've tried so so hard to breast feed at least partially!

greyt00

Giving up soy is hard if you're not used to cooking, which we aren't.  We're doing it more and more, but we don't like it.  At any rate, if you have to do it, check out the MSPI Moms Weekly Check-In and look at the archives.  In doing so I discovered that ChickFila french fries are soy free!  I will probably go there twice per week just to get fries! (and sweet tea, mmmmm)

I'm going to try adding soy-free peanut butter to my diet soon.  Having peanut butter would help.  I found some without soy at Whole Foods.

Shortcake2675

Red raw rash around the anus was the first and last indicator that my son was reacting to both dairy and soy.  Dairy, soy and soy lecithin were gone from my diet 7 weeks ago. I gave up soybean oil 7 days ago and he's been clear for 2 days.  He came home from the hospital with the rash because he was started on formula while I recovered from complications. It never responded to rash remedies.

He also had a crusty rash on his eyebrows and ears that was around during the worst of the reactions.   Flared cheeks during and just after nursing and mucus and blood streaks in his stools were other reactions. 

I'd try the switch, but realize it might not help because milk intolerances and soy intolerances are often linked. 

With the addition of the soybean oil avoidance, I can eat at home if we cook from scratch, but can't eat out anymore.  And I can find potato and tortilla chips that are ok to eat.  Earth Balance makes a soy free margarine that isn't too bad.  

sassyfirechick

Yep.  Not all reactions to food will be obvious.  DD has dairy issues and as a newborn it was gas, spitting, and rashes.  When I thought I was off dairy she got a patch of ezema on her cheek and oddly so did I. Turns out the fke butter I was using wasn't so fake and when I stoped we both cleared up.  My pedi claims there's no way it was related, but I'm not an idiot.  I understand not all bodies react the same and allergies can have some pretty odd effects: Case in point, my husband has gluten sensitivities that mimic the symptoms of diabetes - severe blood sugar issues if he eats something whole wheat.

 

Dairy takes up to 3 weeks to clear your system.  I buy vegan products to be sure they are dairy free since most will say 'lactose free' but still contain the casein which is the dairy protein that causes the allergy.  I never had an issue with supply BUT when I kicked the dairy my supply was through the roof!  We're still going at almost a yr and it looks like DD is allergic to oats so I'll have to avoid that too, but to me it's worth it.  Soy is pretty similar in composition to dairy so many times the two go hand in hand for allergies and sensitivities.  Do you have any nursing friends with excess that would be able to help you out to avoid the formulas?