Most babies get diaper rash at-least once. Babies who are between 8 and 10 months, or those who started to eat solid foods are more likely to get it. Formulas fed children tend to get diaper rash more often than breast fed children.
Causes of Diaper Rash:
Mostly diaper rash is caused due to too much contact with moisture urine or feces. Skin lotions, soaps and detergents used to wash cloth diapers also can cause rashes. If home remedies don't help get rid of the diaper rash in 2 to days, then the baby may be having a fungal or bacterial infection. Babies on antibiotics are also very prone to fungal rashes.
Symptoms of Diaper Rash:
Some of the major symptoms of diaper rash are:
- Red skin or small bumps on a baby's buttocks, genitals, lower abdomen, thigh folds or any place in contact with wet or soiled diapers.
- In the same areas there is shiny, bright red skin or tight, paper like skin.
- Strong ammonia odors.
- The skin area around the diaper is warmer than the other skin.
- More severe cases of rash can mean open sores which are very painful.
Prevention of Diaper Rash:
- Change soiled or wet diapers as soon as you can.
- Expose your baby's butt to the air whenever possible.
- Don't use plastic pants or paper diapers that are tight around the legs or tummy.
- If you wash cloth diapers yourself then use a mild laundry soap and avoid fabric softeners.
- Put the diapers through at-least 2 rinses to remove all the traces of soap.
- Add at-least 2 table spoons of vinegar to the rinse water. This helps in fighting bacteria
- Use diapers which allow some air flow and change the size according to the weight of the child.
- Try to avoid using disposable baby wipes, they irritate or dry the skin.
Home remedies for Diaper Rash, Natural Remedies diaper rash
Listed below are some of the effective home remedy for Diaper Rash:
- Keep your baby's bottom as clean as possible. When possible let the baby stay diaper-less.
- Use a hair dryer set on low to blow warm dry air on your baby's bottom.
- After washing and drying your baby, apply an over the counter, zinc oxide ointment.
- Avoid using baby powders as they can cause harm to the lungs if inhaled.
- Avoid using adult products on the child's skin.
If Natural home remedies can't cure, call a doctor when:
- the rash doesn't improve after 3 days of home treatment.
- your baby's rash covers more than the diaper area.
- the diaper area has red or pus filled blisters that crust over.
- a baby boy's foreskin becomes very red and inflamed.
