Diaper rashes grow in warm, moist places. Inside your child’s diaper is the perfect environment for a diaper rash to grow. Babycenter.com (2016) says that, "diaper rashes have a lot of different looks to them, they can look like red splotches on your baby’s bottom, the skin can become puffy and red, or there can be red scales in the genital area." According to Babycenter.com (2016), “Diaper rash can be mild, with just a few prickly red spots in a small area, or extensive, with tender red bumps that spread to your child's tummy and thighs.” It is important to remember that diaper rashes happen all the time and are a curable condition.
How Do Children Get Diaper Rashes?
There are many ways a diaper rash can happen, such as:
- Wetness: Whether your baby is wet from water, urine or stool, it is important to keep your baby as dry as possible. When a baby pees in their diaper their urine can cause skin to become irritated.
- Antibiotics: Sometimes when a baby takes antibiotics to treat one thing, the antibiotic kills the bad and good bacteria that helps keep yeast in control.
- Sensitivity: Sometimes diaper rashes could be caused by the type of diaper being used. Some babies are just more sensitive than other babies so they need to use special diapers.
- Yeast Infections: A baby’s genital area is the prime environment for bacteria to start to build which could later turn into a yeast infection. Female babies tend to acquire this type of infection more than male babies.
- New Foods: Diaper rashes can start to happen once your child starts to eat solid food or whenever they try a new food. Different types of food can change their stool which can cause them to get a diaper rash more easily.
The most important way to prevent a diaper rash is to keep a child’s diaper area clean and dry. If your baby has just started to develop a diaper rash a parent can use wipes to clean them, just make sure to be gentle. If your child already has bad diaper rash healthline.com (2016) recommends, “Clean the diaper area gently with a soft cloth or a squirt of water from a bottle. Be sure to pat — don’t scrub — the area dry.”
When Should I Worry?
If a parent is taking the proper steps to help their baby’s diaper rash, it can clear up within 4 or 5 days. See a doctor if your baby starts to develop a fever or starts to show signs of infection in their diaper area. Signs of infection include:
- Blisters
- Pus-filled pimples
- Oozing yellow patches
- Open sores
A baby’s diaper rash can develop into a secondary fungal infection or a yeast infection that appears raw and red. According to healthline.com (2016), “It can sometimes be found in the creases of the skin with spots of the red rash outside of the diaper area on the abdomen or thighs. These are known as “satellite lesions.” If your baby develops these kind of infections your pediatrician can prescribe some antifungal cream to use when changing your baby.
Ways to Treat Diaper Rash
There are many ways to treat a diaper rash, but just remember that less is more. Avoid using creams that have a lot of perfumes to them and make sure to use creams that have iron in them since iron soothes irritated skin. Vaseline is one way to treat diaper rash and it is inexpensive and normally contains few perfumes and dyes. Some different types of diaper rash cream include:
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A + D
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Triple Paste
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Balmex
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Destine
Healthline.com (2016) says that using creams is not the only thing that parents can do to treat diaper rashes. Parents can make sure their baby’s clothing is breathable and make sure to change their baby every 2 or 3 hours.
References:
Ashpari, Z. & Nall, R. (2016, October 28). Tips for Treating Diaper Rash. Retrieved October 4, 2017, from https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-diaper-rash