Hi. My 3-year-old has had spots around her mouth since she started drinking milk from a big girl's cup and it dribbled onto her chin and it wasn't washed off properly [I think] I've tried various creams, such as E45 and Aquaeous and I've introduced a cleanse and moisturise routine morning and night but they still haven't cleared up. It's been several weeks now, she's happy and healthy otherwise so I'm reluctant to bother the doctor. Do you think she has an allergy?

Siany - your baby would be best on a completely milk free formula such as neocate - these don't taste great so need to be introduced as early as possible. If soy is to be used (never advisable under 6 months of age) then you should be using soy infant formula eg Wysoy and not the shop bought stuff that will not have the right levels of Calcium etc for infants. Soy yoghurts would be fine but if he is not getting on with soy then none of this will help! You really should be getting specialist advice from a dietician in this instance and I would advise you call the paediatricians secretary and ask for this asap as you have otherwise been left int he lurch a little.

Siany - seem to have lost my first reply but....if he is soy intolerant, he should not be having soy formula. There are more appropriate formulas eg neocate which unlike nutramigen is completely milk free. They don't taste good so it needs to be introduced asap or won't be accdepted. If soy formula is a problem then whilst ok for infants, the soy yoghurt/cheese is also no good. To be hionest, you really need specialist advice froma dietician which should have been offered to you via the paediatrician. I would advise you call the paediatricians secretary and ask for a referall to be sorted asap,

hi thanks, yes he is on wysoy now as so far it's been the milk he's been less sick with. the dietician was the one who put him on nutrimagen but that didn't work out and when we finally got to see the paedeatrician last week he said to stick to the wysoy because he shld start to grow out of that intolerance.. so i'm at a loss what to do now, do i have to just wait it out?, we're booked into see the paedeatrician again but it's another 12 weeks, took 9 weeks to get the last appointment. thanks again

Today's webchat has now closed. Please do not post any more questions. Thanks so much to Dr Fox for such informative answers.
Dr Adam Fox is one of the UK's few specialist Paediatric Allergists and is a consultant at Guy's & St Thomas' Hospitals, London. For more information log onto his website at www.adamfox.co.uk

siany - if she is well on wysoy - stick with it but if there is still symptoms eg belly ache, loose stools, eczema then you need the new formula

leakyloolah - doesn't sound liek it but i would recommend using a thicker cream as a barrier even vaseline!

Thanks for the all the messages today. If you are concerned that your child may be suffering from either an allergy or intolerance then please discuss this with your GP.

If you want to find out more about the lactose free milks mentioned earlier, please have a look at www.lactofree.co.uk

Thank you once again Dr Fox.