Like older children, newborns are susceptible to allergies. Hives in newborns are not unheard of. Nor are other skin conditions that are readily recognized as allergic responses. Newborns can also experience the digestive problems and cold-like symptoms that are characteristic of some forms of allergy.
The factors that cause hives and other allergic responses in newborns vary. They can include pet dander, certain types of fabric, certain foods and other substances or situations. Hives in newborns can be a response to a contact allergen. The allergen in question could be something like soap or some other skin care product used on the baby’s skin, the detergent used to wash the baby’s clothes, any medication that the baby happens to be on or an insect bite.
If the allergen is one of the chemical components of a skin care product, then it is important to stop using that product and to substitute it with a mild or hypoallergenic product. If the baby’s caregiver knows what the chemical that triggers the allergic response is, making sure that it is not a constituent ingredient of the mild or hypoallergenic product is the responsible thing to do.
The Presentation of Hives in Newborns
The presentation of hives in newborns under the above circumstances typically begins with the sudden appearance of the hives. If the allergen has been removed, the hives remain visible for a period of time lasting from a quarter of an hour to a few hours and then they ultimately disappear. If the child is not exposed to the allergen again, then the hives are not likely to recur. However, if the newborn continues to encounter the allergen, then the hives will appear again and again.
How to Respond to Hives in Newborns
Caregivers can take a few steps to deal with hives in newborns when they do occur. First of all, when the characteristic rash and inflammation first become apparent, if the baby seems comfortable, then there may be no need for alarm. However, if the newborn has symptoms like vomiting or experiences difficulty breathing, he or she should be taken to the emergency room at once. In either case, the caregiver should make an effort to determine what might have caused the hives. This will likely involve making a list of the substances the newborn was exposed to before they developed and then consulting an allergist. It is important to discuss the hives with the newborn’s doctor as the baby might be reacting to medication or to something in the mother’s milk.
