It adds a delicious warming flavour to your seasonal baking, but if you have a little one you may be wondering-can cinnamon cause diaper rash?
Just continue reading this blog to find out!
Is Cinnamon Good for Babies?
Cinnamon is generally considered acceptable to feed to your kid in modest amounts once they reach the age of six months. Cinnamon seldom causes allergy reactions in either children or adults.
Rarely, and with excessive consumption, cinnamon can induce stomach discomfort, skin or mouth irritation, and possibly bleeding issues owing to a reduction in blood coagulation. A sprinkling of cinnamon on your baby’s food, on the other hand, is unlikely to cause an issue.
It’s worth noting that cinnamon can occasionally create a harmless rash on the skin it comes into contact with, such as around a baby’s mouth.
Finally, it’s wise to understand the difference between cassia and Ceylon cinnamon. Inhaling cinnamon powder can create a considerable cough reflex and even cause inflammation inside the lungs. The bulk of cinnamon sold in the United States is cassia cinnamon, which has more coumarin, a plant chemical found in cinnamon that can be poisonous and cause liver and kidney damage- but only in big doses.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon for Infants
Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory effects that aid in the recovery of injuries and the prevention of illness.
This delicious spice is a powerful antioxidant that defends the body against free radical damage. It boosts their immunity and protects their key organs.
Cinnamon aids digestion and increases a baby’s digestive ability. It preserves the lining of the stomach, preventing the digestive acids from injuring it.
Cinnamon contains chemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties, which help to treat asthma. It promotes optimum respiratory health by reducing airway obstructions.
It strengthens the immune system and protects youngsters from sickness. Cinnamon can help to prevent common diseases such as colds and stomach viruses.
Can a Baby’s Skin be Allergic to Cinnamon?
The most common sort of adverse reaction a newborn will have to cinnamon is contact dermatitis.
This allergic reaction is topical, meaning it appears on the skin soon after it comes into touch with it. Cinnamon isn’t commonly consumed in big quantities by babies, thus it’s unlikely to be a food allergy.
Call your doctor right away if you give your baby a food product that contains cinnamon and triggers common food allergy symptoms. Cinnamon can irritate the skin or induce an allergic reaction if consumed in large amounts.
How Can I Know If My Baby is Allergic to Cinnamon?
Although rare, some babies may be allergic to cinnamon because their developing immune systems see it as a threat to their health. Antibodies are produced by the immune system, as are histamines, which cause inflammation and discomfort in the body.
The symptoms of a cinnamon allergy might vary considerably from one person to the next. A food allergy can impact the skin, and cause swollen lips, and irritation in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems, among other things.
Skin Symptoms
An allergic reaction to the skin can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Contact dermatitis is a form of allergic reaction that causes a rash within minutes of contact with the allergen. Ingesting an allergen can also cause skin responses.
Symptoms on the skin caused by an allergic reaction may include:
- itchy skin
- hives
- rash, blisters, or eczema
- irritation
- redness
- tingling or itching in the mouth
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
A food allergy can also cause an upset stomach or the following symptoms:
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- stomach cramping
Cold-Like Symptoms
Other common food allergy symptoms mimic the symptoms of a cold, like:
- cough
- wheezing and shortness of breath
- itchy throat and tongue
- runny or blocked nose (nasal congestion)
- red and itchy eyes
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention. If you experience an anaphylactic reaction, you should get epinephrine (adrenaline) shot right away, and someone should phone 911 for help. It can be fatal if left untreated.
What Causes Cinnamon Food Allergy?
Spice allergies can be difficult to identify, and they are frequently misdiagnosed. Sensitive people eating, smelling, or even touching this spice might cause an allergic reaction. Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic alcohol are two chemicals found in cinnamon that give it its distinctive aroma. In hypersensitive people, both chemicals are responsible for allergic contact dermatitis. Cinnamaldehyde is more effective than cinnamic alcohol as a skin sensitizer.
Allergies are frequent in newborns due to their weakened immune systems. In newborns, cinnamon exposure might trigger an allergic reaction or skin irritation. In babies, such an allergic reaction is mainly topical, and allergic symptoms might emerge minutes after skin contact with cinnamon.
What To Do if You Think Your Baby is Allergic to Cinnamon
A doctor may want to undertake a skin patch test on your baby to see if the response is caused by cinnamon. For 20 to 30 minutes, a doctor will apply a tiny patch containing cinnamon to your baby’s skin. If your baby’s skin returns to normal when the patch is removed, he or she is unlikely to be allergic to cinnamon.
Meanwhile, if your baby is allergic, your baby’s immune system creates antibodies which show up as allergy symptoms. Your doctor may also take a blood sample to check for a cinnamon allergy.
If your infant has a cinnamon allergy, your doctor will advise you to avoid cinnamon and eliminate it from the baby’s diet. It’s critical to check all food labels, especially for items that use spices frequently. When buying food in a store or restaurant, anyone with a food allergy should be cautious.
Make sure cinnamon isn’t a component in goods like toothpaste or creams as well.
There are no drugs available to prevent or treat food and spice allergies. You should, however, consult your child’s doctor about any sensitivities he or she may have.
If your child is not sensitive to cinnamon, you may be confident that administering modest amounts of cinnamon to your infant will be both safe and delightful.
Does Cinnamon Cause Diaper Rash?
Yes, excessive cinnamon exposure can cause skin irritation. Cinnamon allergies are quite uncommon. Giving your kid a lot of this new food, on the other hand, could result in skin irritation, tummy distress, and, in rare situations, an allergic response.
Giving your infant too much of anything, on the other hand, is rarely a good idea.
Cinnamon can cause contact dermatitis, a non-life-threatening allergic reaction, according to a clinical trial. Redness, peeling, and itching are common symptoms of the rash, which resembles a sunburn. The easiest way to cure this rash is to avoid it and cinnamon-containing foods.
How to Treat Diaper Rash Caused by Cinnamon Allergy
The most important thing to remember while dealing with a diaper rash baby is to keep the diaper region clean and dry at all times. To do so, keep an eye on your baby’s diaper and replace any that are moist or soiled with a new one.
Avoid scrubbing or rubbing the diaper region dry while changing the baby’s diaper. Instead, use scent-free, mild baby soap to clean gently. Scrubbing is bad for your baby’s skin, which is already delicate.
When your kid gets a diaper rash, don’t use baby wipes to dry off the diaper region. Wipes for babies can irritate the rash even more.
Bathing is an effective approach to hasten the healing of diaper rash. For this, use warm water and a fragrance-free, mild soap. Alternatively, you can give your baby an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal baths are recommended by many doctors since they help to relieve the rash.
If you normally use cloth diapers, give disposables a try. Also, if you’re using disposables, try a new brand to see if it makes a difference. You can read our blog post if you’d like to learn which is better?- cloth or disposable diapers.
If you wash your baby’s clothes yourself, search for detergents that are gentle on the skin, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic.
Precautions
If you’re giving cinnamon to your baby for the first time, it’s a good idea to run a skin patch test at the pediatrician’s office to rule out allergies. If an allergy to cinnamon is detected, you will be advised to eliminate it from your diet. Also, if the child is on any blood-thinning medicine, cinnamon should be avoided.
Check the labels of any supermarket products that have cinnamon in the ingredients. Because there are no cures for allergies, you’ll have to work with a doctor to manage the baby’s allergies. As with many herbs and spices, moderation is crucial; too much cinnamon can lead to serious gastrointestinal issues.
Summary
Cinnamon is not a common food allergy in children, although it can rarely cause problems in infants and toddlers. Cinnamon allergies are frequently linked to diaper rash, which is a sort of allergic reaction.
If your baby or toddler gets an itchy bottom after eating cinnamon-flavored food, examine if they have any additional reactions or symptoms of allergies, such as coughing or sneezing. Because allergen exposure may be making them feel worse than they would otherwise, you may want to consider removing the delightful spice from their baby food for a while until things clear up.
Remember, if the symptoms persist or worsen over time, don’t hesitate to consult with your pediatrician as well!
