Diaper Rash Treatment Guide
What Is Diaper Rash?
The term diaper rash refers to an uncomfortable condition that appears on your baby's skin that is covered by a diaper. It is one of the most common skin conditions in infants and children. It can happen if your baby's skin is extremely sensitive or if urine or stools in the diaper touch the skin for an extended period, causing irritation and redness.
Learn about diaper rash's causes in this blog and efficient ways to treat it.
Indications Of Diaper Rash
Your baby's genitals and bottom skin will appear inflamed and sore. Children with darker complexion may have a brown, purple, or grey rash. The swelling may seem red on babies with lighter skin. Some areas of the skin might be raised or swollen, and there might be breaks in the skin.
Diaper rash can occasionally spread to your baby's back or stomach. Your baby may get irritated due to the rash, which can be uncomfortable and even painful.
What Causes Diaper Rash?
Skin problems like nappy rash are extremely common. It takes place when your child's bottom skin becomes inflamed and damaged.
Diaper rash is primarily caused by prolonged use of a wet or soiled diaper. This is because ammonia, a substance found in urine and stool, might irritate your baby's skin. This wetness can sometimes be a pain.
Other factors that may contribute to diaper rash include:
- Rubbing the diaper against the skin.
- Plastic pants as they prevent normal airflow and maintain moisture in the diaper area.
- Soaps, detergents, fragrances, and plant or culinary ingredients have been used to wash cloth diapers but not removed from the skin after bathing.
- Diaper rash is also more common in breastfed babies whose mothers take antibiotics.
- Starting solid food for the newborn may result in diaper rash as the frequency of stools changes with meals.
How Can Diaper Rash Be Avoided?
Changing your baby's diaper frequently is an ideal approach to prevent diaper rash, especially if they have diarrhea. If your baby has diarrhea, clean the affected area with water and pat it gently and apply baby rash cream or powder to the baby’s diaper area two or three times a day.
Diaper Rash Treatment
Parents can use the following methods to help prevent and treat diaper rash:
Frequently change your infant's diapers
Frequent diaper changes keep the diaper area dry and give your baby's skin a chance to heal. Check your baby's diaper every hour and observe if it is wet or dirty. Change diapers that are wet or dirty right away.
Clean your baby's skin
After every diaper change, gently clean your baby's skin with warm water, cotton wool, or a thin cloth. Make sure to bathe your baby softly and without soap. Apply diaper cream after gently patting your baby's skin dry.
Nappy free time
Let your baby's bottom breathe for as long as you can daily. Place a towel under your baby and let them play or sleep without diapers. To maximize airflow and reduce friction, you could use a bigger diaper or fix your baby's diaper loosely.
Apply the rashes cream after each diaper change
Use a nappy rash cream after each diaper change. Ensure that the diaper is loose because a tight diaper may irritate rashes and disturb the baby.
The cream should be applied thick enough to form a barrier preventing waste from getting on the skin. If some creams are still visible at the next diaper change, you have used the nappy cream properly.
Avoid touching the affected skin when treating a baby heat rash and then putting your fingers back into the jar. Use another finger if more cream is required.
Use rash-free powder for treating rashes
Use baby rash powder for rashes and itching. Apply a generous amount of nappy rash powder to your infant's bottom. The baby rash powder can interfere with breathing if accidentally breathed, so be sure to only use powder in the diaper area by putting it on your hand.
You can use baby oil to treat a rash
Baby oil is most frequently used to moisturize babies' skin, cure diaper rash, and give babies routine massages. You can use baby oil for infants to treat a rash since it moisturizes and nourishes a baby's skin.
Use baby rash wipes
Rash wipes are a useful solution for treating, preventing and curing rashes, inflammation, and itching. It is advised to gently wash the diaper area with water and pat it dry. It is best to pick rash-free wipes, which are easily available in pharmacies, departmental stores and online.
When Do You Need to Take Your Baby to The Doctor for Diaper Rash?
After a week of using the aforementioned treatments, you should take your baby to the doctor if;
- The baby has blisters or pimples
- The baby is upset and unable to sleep.
- Baby has an unusual fever.
- The rash is spreading more.
- Or has swelling, redness, or a sore at the end of their genitals.
Despite a parent's best efforts, diaper rash can sometimes still happen to babies since their skin is delicate. Consult a doctor if your baby's diaper rash is prolonged or if you have any questions or concerns about how to care for your baby's skin.
