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Skin reactions vs. GI reactions (long, sorry)

shotzieshotzie member
in Food Allergy

We discovered DD was allergic to dairy when I tried introducing cheese and yogurt shortly before 1 year.  She got hives on her skin where cheese touched her and her skin turned red where yogurt touched her. (I introduced them on different days).  I told her pedi about DD's reactions and she ordered a blood test which showed DD was severely allergic to dairy and eggs and moderately allergic to soy.  Then we took DD to the allergist for a scratch test, which showed the same results.

We cut those foods out of her diet and have an epipen jr on hand just in case (and Benadryl) which we've never had to use thus far.   Here's what I don't understand...I still nurse DD 4-5 times a day and she doesn't seem to be bothered by my diet, she only had a skin reaction when I introduced those foods to her diet.  I asked both her pedi and the allergist if I should cut dairy, eggs, and soy from my diet and they both said no. 

Is a skin reaction worse than a GI reaction?  Is she less likely to outgrow her allergies because it doesn't appear to be a digestive thing?  On the one hand, it's been convenient for me not to have to restrict my diet, but on the other hand, I wonder if I'm doing harm by exposing DD to these foods through my breastmilk (though she doesn't show any reaction).  Then I wonder if maybe it's good she's getting second-hand exposure to these foods via breastmilk and it'll potentially help desensitize her....??

Neither DH nor I have any food allergies so this is all new to us.  I'm so glad this board exists now because I hope to learn more about allergies.  It's so frustrating that nothing is cut and dry.  It seems there are different philosphies about how to handle allergies, it's hard to know which one to go with. 

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Re: Skin reactions vs. GI reactions (long, sorry)

  • shouldbworkinshouldbworkin

    I may get this wrong, it's been awhile since the allergist explained it to me.  IgE allergies create immune responses like inflammation in the airway.  IgG causes a GI response, although, in my kids it eventually causes so much mucous to build up in their systems that they eventually experience difficulty breathing.  The difference is that IgG is not as fast and is not treated with antihistamines.  It's my understanding that milk allergies are usually not as life threatening as nut allergies, but I doubt any parent is willing to test that out on their DC.  Also, I've been told that many people will show an IgG response with no physical reaction to exposure, whereas the same is not true for IgE responses.  There is a lot of debate over whether you should expose a child with an IgE allergy to allergens.  From my experience, an IgG allergy will not get better with more exposure, but will not get worse.  Kids can grow out of either at any time.   

    DS1 age 7, DD age 5 and DS2 born 4/3/12
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  • g_belleg_belle
    imageshouldbworkin:

    I may get this wrong, it's been awhile since the allergist explained it to me.  IgE allergies create immune responses like inflammation in the airway.  IgG causes a GI response, although, in my kids it eventually causes so much mucous to build up in their systems that they eventually experience difficulty breathing.  The difference is that IgG is not as fast and is not treated with antihistamines.  It's my understanding that milk allergies are usually not as life threatening as nut allergies, but I doubt any parent is willing to test that out on their DC.  Also, I've been told that many people will show an IgG response with no physical reaction to exposure, whereas the same is not true for IgE responses.  There is a lot of debate over whether you should expose a child with an IgE allergy to allergens.  From my experience, an IgG allergy will not get better with more exposure, but will not get worse.  Kids can grow out of either at any time.   

     This was the explination we got also.  (with some room for error on which one is IgE and IgG- I can never keep them straight.)  It's fantastic that you can still breastfeed with no issues. 

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  • shellshavintwinsshellshavintwins
    My girls did have GI reactions from my diet when nursing. As my allergist has made it seem skin allergy is much more serious then a GI reaction. She did want us to avoid any possible exposures though.
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers Photobucket Lilypie Second Birthday tickers <a href="http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i208/shelltodd219/?action=view
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  • funchickenfunchicken member

    My older DD had skin reactions (hives) to foods (eggs, peas, citrus, and sometimes we couldn't figure out what caused it) many times before she turned two, but she seems to have outgrown them.  She never had a problem with my breastmilk either.

    It's really scary--I'm sorry.  I hope your DD outgrows them, too. 

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