Diaper rash treatment

 

DIAPER RASH

Diaper rash is a common form of inflamed skin (dermatitis) that appears as a patchwork of bright red skin on your baby’s bottom

DIAPER RASH HOME TREATMENT

Self-treatment can be done in case of diaper rash without affecting baby’s skin. Some simple steps can be taken when there is a sign of diaper rash

Maintain the skin dry and clean without contact with urine or stool

Always use a superabsorbent diaper and change frequently or when it is wet or soiled

Check every 3 hours whether diaper is wet or not in daytime and night .make sure you check at least 8 times in a 24 hour period

Do a gentle wash with warm water in the diaper area and dry the area completely. Use mild soap in case it is very soiled

Since the skin gets burned and causes spreading of bacteria avoid baby wipes that contain alcohol or propylene glycol if diaper rash is present

Blow dryer is not advisable in new-borns to dry the skin but can be used in elderly people

 

PREVENT OR MINIMIZE DIAPER RASH

If your baby does not have a problem with diaper rash, then you don’t need to be too strict with these preventative measures. However, if you are constantly battling rash, here are some helpful hints to minimize it:

  1. Change diapers frequently – at least every two hours in newborns. You can space this out as baby starts to urinate less often.
  2. Change poopy diapers right away – this is a lot of trouble at first since newborns often have small, frequent stools. This will slow down as baby grows.
  3. Try different brands – if using disposables, another brand may fit a little better and cause less friction.
  4. Rinse cloth diapers – add a half-cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. This helps remove alkaline irritants. Your diaper service can also do this.
  5. Wipe well – be sure to wipe all the stool and urine away.
  6. Use unscented wipes or just plain water – these are less irritating. You can even rinse out the wipes with water, although this takes more time.
  7. Diaper rash cream – some lucky babies don’t need any. More sensitive bottoms need cream with each new diaper. There are two basic types of barrier creams:
    • Petroleum ointment (Original A & D ointment) – this is an excellent preventative every-day ointment. It’s less sticky and less messy.
    • White zinc oxide – this is thicker and may be better for babies who are more prone to rash.

 WAYS TO TREAT FLARE-UPS

No matter how diligent you are with the above measures, your baby will still have a rash from time to time. Here are some tips to treating those rough spots:

  1. Wash off bottom with water – don’t wipe the sore areas. Instead, use a bulb syringe to gently wash baby’s diaper area.
  2. Gently dab or pat away any remaining stool. Blot baby’s bottom dry.
  3. Let it air out – leave the diaper off for a while, with no diaper cream on. Lay baby on a towel (with a waterproof pad underneath to catch accidents) with her bottom up. Do this as often as you can. This will help dry out the rash, which is important for the healing process.
  4. Diaper creams – when you do put the diaper back on, use generous amounts of cream. Here are some suggestions:
    • Zinc oxide – for the moderate rash.
    • Acid mantle – this is a brand name sold in stores. It is outstanding for moderate diaper rashes. Can be used with zinc oxide over it.
    • Butt paste or Triple paste – there are a variety of creams that a pharmacist can mix up for you that contain a variety of ingredients. These are good for severe rashes. One brand that is already mixed is called Triple Paste. Ask your pharmacist for some. It is non-prescription.
    • Clotrimazole anti-fungal cream – for stubborn rashes, yeast may be involved (see below). You can add this over-the-counter cream to help.
    • Hydrocortisone 1% cream – you can put this over-the-counter cream on twice a day beneath any of the other creams to help with severe rashes. It will help with the inflammation. Don’t use this for more than several days at a time as long-term use can damage the sensitive skin in the diaper area.
    • Soothe and heal by Lansinoh. This pure lanolin ointment is excellent for soothing sore bottoms.
    • Mix your own – if you can’t get a prescription, try mixing these together in the palm of your hand, then apply to baby’s bottom:
      • Zinc oxide
      • White petroleum ointment
      • Acid mantle
      • Aluminum acetate (Burrow’s solution)
      • If you cant find Acid Mantle, then use Lansinoh (a lanolin ointment). It is available in the diaper cream section of drugstores

 

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