Is this a milk allergy?

[Jobean]

My 14mth DS has developed really dry red rashy patches on his cheeks so i didn't think this could be eczema. He does not have these anywhere else on his body. His no.2's are also loose but not diarrohea. I have recently moved him from formula to cow's milk as his main drink although he has had milk on his cereal since about 9 months. Are these patches due to the increase of milk in his diet or could they just be a reaction to the colder weather/central heating etc.?? His skin feels rought o touch and despite moisturising I have not seen any improvement - should I be doing anything else. I have thought of applying a mild HC cream but did not want to in case this aggravated the condition. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds more like eczema to me, especially given the time of year, but is there any chance he could have a virus such as slapped cheek. I'd keep applying a good moisturiser and wouldn't go for hc unless it really flares up as it could thin any healthy tissue.

go speak to your gp. to me it sounds like eczema, both my dd's have eczema, older one is worse, but dd1 gets red dry cheeks and the odd patch here and there. what moisteriser are u using? whatever u are using if it eczema then apply it a lot thro out the day.

Hi Misdee I was using E45 but it did not seem to be having an effect. I am now using one for Atopic skins, some french name (can't remember off the top of my head but was recommended in Mother & Baby mag) but only put it on am and pm.

His cheeks feel rough to touch and have very red patches, this won't scar will it??

I think he is more likely to vomit with a milk allergy...and I believe that formula milk contains cow milk (but is just fortified and supplemented with other ingredients) so if he was allergic to milk it would probably have manifested itself before....

Agree with everyone else - probably eczema

Thanks everyone, I thought eczema affected the whole body and that's why I had my doubts, I cut and paste a bit in my original message and put it in the wrong place! I'll keep up with the moistrusing.

Eczema can appear in one or two places only, not necessarily all over. An outbreak might be fuelled by the cold weather and/or central heating. Both really dry out exposed skin (ds always has sore hands when it is cold). E45 can really irritate if it is eczema (I think it contains lanolin), you should sk tp a gp but I'd recommend trying something like diprobase ointment (it's like vaseline and you can get it on prescription for eczema).