Diaper rash is a common issue for all babies to experience at one time or another. The good news is there are time-tested ways to help. While all babies sometimes experience diaper rash, babies with sensitive skin may struggle more.
Causes include:
- New products, especially those that are scented
- Changes to a child’s diet (like with high quantities of acidic foods), or in response to what a breastfeeding mother has eaten
- Increased time in contact with feces, like during a bout of diarrhea
- Increased time in a moist environment
- Chafing from a tight diaper or pants
To prevent and treat diaper rash:
- Do frequent diaper changes to avoid constant moisture
- Gently pat or let skin air dry
- Wash hands before and after diaper changes, especially when using tub diaper creams
- Use a larger diaper to allow for airflow
- Allow baby to go diaper free when possible
- Use wipes without alcohol or fragrance
- Use a petroleum-based cream at every change, and especially at night
The best creams will be thickly formulated without unnecessary fragrance additives. When you apply cream, add a thick layer – like frosting a cake. When changing the next diaper, wipe away the dirty layer, leaving any remaining cream, and add another layer. Unnecessary rubbing to remove all cream before reapplying may prevent healing. Creams with a maximum strength of zinc oxide (like Desitin) are best used for acute treatment compared to petroleum-based creams which are best for prevention.
Talk to a healthcare professional if there is no improvement after a few days of home treatment, the rash is severe or unusual, or if the rash coincides with a fever, bleeding, oozing, or itching of the area. A healthcare professional can determine if there is another cause or can prescribe a treatment that is not available over the counter.
More information can be found at:
Causes and Treatments: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/diaper-rash.html
Best Creams: https://www.thebump.com/a/best-diaper-rash-cream
Causes and Treatments: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diaper-rash/symptoms-causes/syc-20371636