What to Use to Help Baby Diaper Rash

Everything you need to know to treat—and prevent—that dreaded diaper rash

Past Katie Sweeney

Special thank you to Michael Cosimini, MD, for contributing to this commodity.

If your child is in diapers, at some point y'all will probably bargain with a diaper rash. At least half of all babies develop diaper rash.

But while diaper rash is a common problem, at that place is plenty you can do to assistance your baby. With a few uncomplicated steps, you lot tin soothe that peel, speed healing—and help foreclose another rash in the future.

What causes diaper rash?

The two biggest causes are wetness and friction. Basically, urine and stool from the diaper can irritate your baby's skin over time. Diapers tin can also chafe or rub against your baby's bottom, creating friction.

Changes in the pH of the pare from pee, poop or some pare products tin cause rash.

In addition, soaps tin can suspension downwardly skin over time, but equally they break down germs and dirt. And, rarely, babies can exist allergic to a specific ingredient in a diaper, wipe or soap.

While diaper rash tin occur at whatever age, it is most common in babies ix to 12 months former. It is also more likely to happen when your babe:

• Starts eating solid foods
• Begins sleeping through the night (with fewer diaper changes)
• Has a common cold or diarrhea
• Is taking antibiotics

Tips for treating diaper rash

A diaper rash tin can range from balmy to astringent. With a mild rash, you might see small pink or reddish spots or patches. In more severe cases, the spots will be brighter red, or the skin may be cracked, broken or blistered. The rash may spread down to the legs or up the belly, and your baby may be crying or in distress.

The sooner y'all start treating the rash, the better. Beneath are some fourth dimension-tested tips to help that diaper rash disappear. These same tips tin can as well aid forbid futurity rashes, or at least make them less frequent and less severe.

• Ditch the diaper. Giving your babe some "naked time" out of diapers can help speed the healing procedure. Basically, this allows babies to stay dry and avoid friction, so their skin can breathe.

  One idea is to purchase disposable waterproof pads (sometimes called "chux") and let the baby play on that pad without a diaper. Or, remove the diaper when your infant is sleeping. The more time with the diaper off, the better, peculiarly in severe cases.

• Change diapers more often. Don't allow your baby sit long in a wet or soiled diaper. Changing diapers oft is a skilful fashion to prevent diaper rash or decrease its severity. Yeast loves to abound in warm wet areas so keeping the expanse dry out can prevent rash from these infections.

• Use a barrier cream—and use a lot of it. A barrier cream protects your baby's skin from urine and stool. A zinc oxide foam or a petroleum jelly ointment are good options. You tin can too use these creams to try to prevent a rash in the first identify.

  The fundamental? When the baby has a rash, apply a very thick layer of information technology—similar icing on a cake. Many parents under-apply these creams.

• Be gentle when you clean. You lot want to reduce the friction on your babe's bottom, so don't scrub or rub your babe clean. Gently pat the skin with a soft washcloth in warm h2o, or dip the baby briefly in a bath. Pat dry with a towel—don't rub.

  Warm water is often enough to clean pee and poop. Soaps tin can be hard on babies' skin; if warm water is not enough, employ a not-soap cleanser (most "baby washes" fall into this category). If you use baby wipes, cull ones that are free of dyes, scents and alcohol.

• Switch to disposable diapers. If your baby is currently in material diapers, information technology'southward a good thought to switch to super-absorbent disposable diapers until the rash is healed. This will assist keep your baby's peel as dry as possible.

• Check the size. Make sure the diaper fits. A diaper that is too big can rub back and forth on your baby'south bottom. If it's besides minor, it traps in moisture and brings the pee and poop also close to the skin.

When to call the doctor

Most balmy diaper rashes tin be treated at dwelling house. Information technology might accept a few weeks for the rash to completely get away. But it should beginning to improve subsequently just a few days of following the above tips.

If your kid's rash is severe or does not improve after several days or gets worse, call your doc. A fungal infection might be involved. Your child'southward doctor might give yous a fungal medicine or a mild steroid cream.

You should also telephone call the physician if your child:

• Has a fever (over 100.iv) with the rash
• Has bruises, bleeding or open sores in the area
• Is in a lot of pain or discomfort
• Is losing weight or seems sick

Diaper rash is a normal role of babyhood, but your infant doesn't have to endure. Watch for rashes so you tin treat them early. And if you have any concerns, phone call your doctor.

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Source: https://www.chla.org/blog/health-and-safety-tips/how-heal-your-baby-s-diaper-rash

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