Toddler with Hives on Face

I get hives when I get too hot, it started in college. It's usually on my elbows and knees, but when it started it was all over. The doctor recommended lukewarm oatmeal baths and I took allergy meds (claritin and allegra, I think) until it got under control. Now I just try to avoid getting really hot or taking really hot showers/baths. He also recommended using the free and clear laundry detergents and stuff, which I do, and I don't know if it helps but it makes me feel better.

Hives are one of the crazy things some people just get and often we never find the exact cause. My Mom had them as a kid, so did I, one of my kids and two grandchildren. They are miserable, it's like having hundreds of mosquito bites all over. The biggest problem with hives is --- if they go into the throat -- you now have anaphylactic shock and they can't breath. So you really need to treat them. Benedryl is the only thing I know that treats them. My granddaughter spent a couple of days with me last year when she had a breakout. It sucked for her a shot of Benedryl and she started to feel better then knocked out from the Benedryl only to wake up as it wore off and she started to itch again, to take more Benedryl only to be knocked out again. At least she was well rested.
Unless you have great insurance or really feel the need don't bother with running him to a doctor. You can call and ask advice but a doctor won't tell you any more than your MIL or I did.

It could be your laundry soap, fabric softener, dryer sheets, the fabric in his clothes, his shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, fabric in the towels, milk that gets on his face, the plastic in his tippy cup, no telling. The doc can give little guy something to counter the allergen that isn't so drying to the lungs and sinuses.

I suggest it's s matter of finding out to what he's allergic and thus prevent them. Consider what is touching his face and try removing things. I most often get hives from having touched something with my hand and then scratching myself. For me it's plants, chemicals, raw fruits and veggies.

He may have developed a food allergy. If this continues to happen the doctor can test for allergies. I suggest it's too early for that now. I think the doctor would advise you to wait and see if this continues to happen.

I would at least call the doctor. Since he's so young and since it's near his mouth and nose I would want to check with the ped. If it's bad enough they will also prescribe an oral steroid for a short period of time to reduce the inflammation. It is likely an allergic reaction, but kids can also get hives from a virus. Has he been sick lately? My younger son had a horrible case of hives that the doctor attributed to a virus when he was 4. There are also prescription antihistamines that might be more effective and/or more appropriate than the Benadryl. So if it was me I'd call the doc.

I would call the pediatrician and send a photo if your doctor does email. And look around what he might have had contact with that was new, including foods. If he keeps getting hives or they won't go away, then this may be more than a minor reaction. FWIW, my DD is allergic to apples and we did not realize it til she had raw apples at a friend's house. So when you consider food, consider all food.

Our son got hives a few years ago. It started on the back of his neck with what looked like mosquito bites. Within two days he was covered pretty much head to two with them. Thank goodness they weren't itchy because he would have been a miserable little man! It took about a week before they were all gone.

Yes, it probably an allergic reaction to something. We saw a peds dermatologist because our doc had never seen such a bad case. We were told it was probably an allergic reaction to something he had eaten. She said hives don't typically form from a contact allergy. But, I think it was a new lotion that I was using. He started getting the hives a day or two after I started using the lotion. I only used it for about a week before I decided I really didn't like it and stopped using it. That's about when his hives all went away.

Probably the most the doc will do it prescribe something to help,with the itch. But watch him very closely! If he starts to have swelling on his face or throat or trouble breathing get him to the ER as soon as possible!! Also, be very careful not to give him more then the recommended daily doses of any over the counter meds.

I am assuming he is eating solid food. Sounds like a food allergy or intolerance. Keep a food journal of the foods he eats every day for a week. Look to see--what type of food does he eat most often? Cow dairy? Gluten? Eggs? Citrus/Orange juice? Take out anything with those ingredients in for one week. See if you notice a difference in whether or not he gets hives.

Then, on the 8th day, add one of the foods you took out. Watch him during the day. Notice what happens the next morning. On day 9, take that food away and introduce another one of the foods you took out. Again, observe. Continue doing this until you get through all the foods you took out. This is called an elimination diet. You'll likely find one or two likely culprits that are causing this. You can continue doing this with anything: peanut butter. Bananas. Apples. Raisins. Etc.

It takes a bit of time and observation and recording on your part, but you will find the culprit.