Safe Treatment Of Diaper Rash
Obviously, infants are very vulnerable to dangerouschemicals applied to the skin. This is especially true considering thatthe diaper is an occlusive dressing, enhancing absorption of anytopically applied, pharmacologically active ingredient. Additionally,the skin of the infant with diaper rash is often damaged or broken,further increasing the extent of absorption. For this reason, only thesafest and most thoroughly investigated ingredients have been approvedas protectants. Some protectants are chemically inert, but all cover andprotect skin surfaces. They provide a mechanical barrier to excludeirritants, exclude or remove wetness, and protect skin that contactsopposing skin .2
When To Call The Doctor About Diaper Rash
Let your baby’s doctor know if:
- The rash gets worse or doesn’t respond to treatment in 2-3 days
- Your baby has a fever or seems sluggish
- You see yellow, fluid-filled bumps and honey-colored crusty areas. This might be a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.
- You notice symptoms of a yeast infection:
- A swollen red rash with white scales and lesions
- Small red pimples outside of the diaper area
- Redness in the folds of your baby’s skin
Your pediatrician can prescribe an antifungal medicine to clear it up.
Show Sources
Diaper Rash Treatment Tips
These basic steps can help hold off diaper rash:
- Wash your hands before and after every diaper change.
- Check your baby’s diaper often, and change it as soon as it gets wet or soiled.
- Use plain water. When you need to get poop off your baby’s skin, use a mild cleanser.
- Gently pat the area clean and dry, rather than rubbing.
- If you use wipes, choose mild ones. Try to avoid those with fragrances or alcohol. Or use a clean, soft washcloth.
- Be sure the area is completely clean and dry before putting on a fresh diaper.
Bad rashes call for extra measures:
- Try a squirt bottle to wash the area well, without rubbing sore skin.
- Let your baby go diaper-free as much as you can. Airing out the diaper zone helps their skin heal faster. To avoid a mess, do it right after a bowel movement.
Diaper switches and laundry tips
Some parents find these changes lead to fewer diaper rashes:
- Change the type of diaper. If you use cloth, try disposables. Or try a different brand of disposable diaper.
- If you wash your own cloth diapers, change your detergent. Choose a mild, hypoallergenic detergent. Or add a half-cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Also Check: How To Heal Cut In Mouth Fast
How To Prevent & Treat Adult Diaper Rash
If youve ever had or cared for a baby, you know how irritating a diaper rash can be. But, unfortunately, this kind of rash isnt something only infants deal with. For adults who use bladder protection products like adult diapers or pads, a diaper rash is likely something youve dealt with at some point. Itchy, raw skin is painful and can interrupt your daily life. Thats why we want to share some tips for the best ways to treat and prevent adult diaper rash so you can get on with enjoying your life, free from irritation.
Allow Diaper Area To Dry
One key step to healing diaper rash is keeping the area clean and dry. Once you have finished cleaning your babys bottom, pat it dry before applying a thick barrier of protection. Better yet, allow your baby to go without a diaper for a little while to let her bottom air-dry and then apply a thick barrier of protection when you do re-diaper.
Don’t Miss: Life Healing Center Of Santa Fe
When To Get Help For Your Babys Diaper Rash
Diaper rash happens. While its tough to see your little one so uncomfortable, you both will get through this.
At-home remedies are usually enough to help babys bottom to heal but not always. If you dont see improvement within three days of consistent at-home treatment, or you notice what could be signs of severe diaper rash, call your babys doctor or a nurse line right away. This is especially important if your baby has a fever of 100.4° Fahrenheit or more.
HealthPartners patients can call our CareLine at . Park Nicollet patients can call their clinic directly during regular business hours, or if its after hours. For questions and advice on new baby care, you can also call our 24/7 BabyLine at .
If you want to speak with a doctor, go ahead and make an appointment. Both in-person and virtual appointments are available.
What Causes Diaper Rash In Adults
There are a few main causes of adult diaper rash, and it is often caused by a combination of factors. Chafing, dampness, and skin sensitivity all contribute to this skin condition.
- Friction: The friction caused by wet skin rubbing against an adult diaper causes chafing and skin irritation, which can easily lead to diaper rash. Additional chafing can occur if the protective underwear or incontinence briefs youre using are too tight. Heres how to find the right fit. Those with sensitive skin and eczema are particularly prone to the irritation of chafing, and therefore developing diaper rash.
- Improper Washing:When the genital area isnt washed properly and/or regularly, a rash can occur in the area where bladder protection products are worn. Thats why its important to bathe regularly, as well as thoroughly clean your genital area every time you use the bathroom.
- Infrequent Diaper Changes:Waiting too long between changing your incontinence products, and therefore exposing your genital area to excessive moisture and chemicals found in urine and stool, can result in irritation and rashes. This also leads to chafing and the skin irritation we mentioned above. More frequent changes can also help prevent unexpected leaks.
- Bacterial Infections or Fungal Infections: Bacteria and fungus grow in warm, moist environments. Candida is a common culprit of causing diaper rashes in older adults.
Read Also: Can Carpal Tunnel Heal On Its Own
What Causes A Yeast Infection In The Diaper Area
Yeast can be present on the skin and in other parts of the body with no symptoms or negative effects. However, if the yeast overgrows, it can cause an infection in the area. Overgrowth often happens in warm, moist areas or where a regular diaper rash already exists.
The goal of treating a yeast infection in the diaper area is to heal the skin and reduce exposure to yeast.
The following home remedies may help treat the infection.
How Do You Care For Diaper Rash
Most babies will get a diaper rash at some time. Their bottoms are in frequent contact with moisture, bacteria, and ammonia, and there is rubbing from the diaper. Babies and toddlers are at risk as long as they are wearing diapers. Rashes are much easier to prevent than to cure. Many rashes can be treated by the following:
Also Check: How To Heal From Codependency
What Treatments Might A Doctor Recommend
Most diaper rashes can be treated without prescriptions. Rarely, a diaper rash may be serious and affect other parts of the body. Severe yeast infections may be treated with medicated suppositories or oral antifungal medication.
Sometimes what appears as a yeast rash can actually be a bacterial infection. This is a serious issue. It may require antibiotics to treat and prevent further complications.
Treatment For Nappy Rash
The aim of nappy rash treatment is to repair the damaged and irritated skin and protect it from any dampness and friction that might cause more damage.
Change your babys nappies frequently Frequent nappy changes keep the nappy area dry and give your childs skin a chance to heal. Check your child every hour or so to see whether their nappy is wet or soiled. Change wet or soiled nappies straight away.
Clean your babys skin Use lukewarm water and cotton wool or a light cotton cloth to gently clean your babys skin after each nappy change.
When you bath your baby, use a gentle, soap-free wash. Pat your babys skin dry and gently apply a simple moisturiser.
Use a protective cream after each nappy change Apply a simple, cheap barrier cream at every nappy change. You could use a zinc cream or a petroleum jelly like Vaseline. You can get these creams from a supermarket or your pharmacy without a prescription.
You should apply the cream thickly enough to create a barrier that stops wee and poo from getting onto the skin. Youll know youre putting the cream on thickly enough if you can still see some of the cream at the next nappy change.
Nappy-free time Give your babys bottom some air for as long as possible every day. Let your baby play or sleep without their nappy just put a towel underneath them.
To allow air to circulate freely and reduce friction, you could also fasten your babys nappy loosely or use a larger nappy.
Also Check: How To Heal Ankle Sprain Fast
Complications Of Nappy Rash: Thrush And Other Infections
It will take weeks for your childs skin to repair itself. While this is happening, your childs skin might be more easily irritated.
Your child might also be more likely to get other infections like thrush. Thrush looks like bright, inflamed patches with clearly defined borders in the nappy area. You might also see a lot of dots or pus-filled bumps beyond the outer edge of the rash. Thrush can affect the skin folds too.
Treat thrush with an antifungal cream prescribed by your GP. Thrush can take longer to clear than regular nappy rash and often comes back. Treatment can take a long time.
Nappy rash also increases the risk of urinary tract infection and vaginal infections in girls. This is why its important to treat nappy rash and prevent it if you can.
How To Diaper Your Baby
New parents often feel awkward trying to diaper a squirming baby. It can be frustrating not knowing how to hold the baby or where to place the diaper the first few times. However, it does not take long to get comfortable changing a diaper, and most parents get plenty of practice.
To diaper your baby comfortably and correctly:
While this sounds very technical, it does not take long to change a diaper once you have done it several times. Some special tips to remember when changing a diaper include:
- Keep a boy baby’s penis covered at all times. A free stream of urine can go through the air over the changing table and onto the floor, or into your face. With messy bowel movements, hold the baby’s legs carefully to prevent feet from kicking into the diaper.
- Some diaper changes may require clothing changes if the diaper has leaked. A bath may also be needed if there is bowel movement on the baby’s back or legs. Try talking or singing during diaper changes as a distraction. Older babies can hold a special toy reserved for diaper time.
- Diaper sizes and shapes vary among manufacturers. Your baby may fit a certain brand for many months, then suddenly start leaking. Try a different brand if the one you are using is not working.
Read Also: Bible Verses On Health And Healing
Coconut Oil For Diaper Rash:
Coconut oil has become increasingly popular in recent years. It can be used for some things, such as cooking, teeth whitening, moisturizing, hair conditioning, and many more.
As coconut oil is a natural product, it has often been recommended as a suitable treatment for diaper rash.
Coconut oil has been known to reduce redness and irritation on the skin.
However, this may not be true for all cases, and there isnt any specific research that backs this.
Despite this, researchers have found that coconut oil can help promote wound healing, moisturize the skin, and provide a protective barrier, and provide some relief for your baby.
Should You Use Diaper Cream At Every Change
Its up to you how frequently you apply diaper cream. Some parents like to use diaper cream or ointment with every diaper change to help prevent rashes, but this is not necessary.
However, you will want to use diaper cream any time you start to see signs of redness or irritation to prevent a rash from getting worse.
Recommended Reading: Will An Ear Infection Heal On Its Own
Does Baby Powder Help
Theres mixed information about whether or not its safe to use baby powder to try to keep the diaper area dry and help prevent a yeast rash. Many believe yeast will feed on cornstarch. Cornstarch is the main ingredient in many baby powders.
As part of an er study from 1984, researchers tested for this and found no correlation between cornstarch use and increased yeast growth.
However, baby powder hasnt been shown to treat a yeast diaper rash thats already present. In fact, its not recommended to use baby powder on children, as inhaling it can damage their lungs.
Other Natural Remedies For Diaper Rash
In addition to the tried-and-true diaper rash treatments recommended by doctors, there are homeopathic remedies that you may consider, too. These treatments havent been scientifically proven to treat and heal diaper rash, but theyve been around and used by many parents for a long time.
Before starting anything new, call your childs doctor or clinician. Or make it one of your questions at babys next wellness check. That said, here are some popular options that can be used in combination with those tried-and-true methods.
Don’t Miss: Healing Crystals And Stones Meanings
Whats The Safest Diaper Rash Cream For Infants
Skin protectants such as petrolatum, zinc oxide, allantoin, calamine, dimethicone, and lanolin are the safest choices for treating infant diaper rash.
Babies are more susceptible to absorbing chemicals through their skin especially through broken skin that occurs with diaper rash. The best bet is to choose a simple cream with as few ingredients as possible, as long as the active ingredient is a barrier such as zinc oxide or petrolatum.
Last medically reviewed on August 9, 2022
Easy Ways To Treat Diaper Rash At Home
Diaper rash, or diaper dermatitis, is one of the most common skin problems for babies and children, mostly affecting those between 4 and 15 months old.
More than half of babies of this age have diaper rashes at least once in two months.
Diaper rash can occur when the skin is exposed to moisture against the babys skin, causing red bumps or large inflamed areas around the babys bottom, skin folds, and under the diaper area.
Diaper rash can often be treated at home. However, if you suspect it may be infected, or your baby seems to be in pain, you should consult your pediatrician.
Although many remedies can be used to treat diaper rash, keeping your baby clean and dry is important for diaper rash prevention.
Not only is diaper rash caused by moisture, but if you add in sensitive skin and chafing as your baby is constantly wriggling around, it is no surprise that some irritation may be caused!
There are several types of diaper rashes, so dont panic if you find that your babys bum is suddenly looking a little angry!
However, it is important to identify which type of diaper rash your baby has to ensure that you can correctly treat it.
Also Check: How Can I Heal My Gums
Which Ingredients Are The Most Soothing In A Diaper Rash Cream
The safest, most soothing ingredients for diaper rash are skin protectants such as petrolatum, zinc oxide, allantoin, calamine, dimethicone, and lanolin.
While a number of diaper creams have plant-based ingredients that claim to soothe the skin, it is always possible that these ingredients will actually irritate broken or already irritated skin. If you prefer to try more natural ingredients first, an ointment with beeswax may also be an effective skin protectant.
When To See A Doctor:
Diaper rash can often look a lot worse than it is, and in most circumstances, your baby wont be affected by the irritation.
However, certain cases will need to be looked over by the pediatrician, who may want to prescribe antibiotics.
If you suspect that your babys diaper rash may be infected, book an appointment as soon as you can.
Read Also: How Long Does It Take Whiplash To Heal
How To Prevent Diaper Rash
To prevent diaper rash, keep your baby’s skin as clean and dry as possible.
Every time you change your baby’s diaper:
- Clean your babys bottom from front to back with diaper wipes or warm water and a soft washcloth. Avoid using wipes that have alcohol or fragrances.
- Make sure to clean between the babys skin folds.
- If possible, let the skin air dry without a diaper for a little while .
- Apply a thick layer of an over-the-counter skin barrier cream, such as petroleum jelly or a cream with zinc oxide like Desitin®, Triple Paste®, A+D®, or Balmex®.
- Put the new diaper on loosely.
Diaper Rash Treatments And Remedies:
There are various treatments for diaper rash, including at-home remedies or prescribed medication that can help to ease the symptoms and heal the skin.
You should try to avoid heavily fragranced products and always consult your doctor if you are unsure how to treat your baby.
Lets go through some of the treatments below!
Recommended Reading: Bone Graft Healing Stages Pictures
