Effective Diaper Rash Treatments, Home Remedies, and Care Tips for Newborns & Babies
Parenting is a rewarding experience with the inexplicable joys of parenthood and the accompanying challenges. One of the most common problems many parents face with their babies is diaper rash, which tends to make the babies uncomfortable, and parents worried. Thus, it becomes crucial to know the proper diaper rash treatment and prevention methods so as to ensure that your newborn remains comfortable and happy. In this blog, we will share a few effective home remedies for diaper rash and ways to prevent it and protect your baby's delicate skin.
Understanding Diaper Rash
Diaper rash is a common form of inflamed skin that makes the skin surrounding the baby’s diaper area appear red or bumpy. It is usually caused by prolonged exposure to a wet or dirty diaper. Moisture irritation on the skin, added friction and contact with irritants such as urine and stools can also cause diaper rashes in babies. Other contributing factors may include new foods, antibiotics or sensitive skin. While diaper rash is universal, knowledge of its causes and symptoms helps parents determine the right diaper rash treatment. Let’s take a deeper dive into understanding the causes of diaper rash in babies.
What Causes A Diaper Rash?
Parents of young ones frequently worry about diaper rashes. Although most babies will get diaper rash before they are toilet-trained, the severity and incidence of diaper rash have decreased over time due to advancements in ultra-absorbent diaper technology.
Prolonged urine and faecal contact with the baby's delicate skin in the diaper area is typically the cause of diaper rashes. Additionally, when the baby starts eating solid food or has diarrhoea, diaper rash is more common.
By changing diapers often, cleaning the diaper region carefully after each bowel movement, and applying a barrier ointment, parents can reduce the likelihood that their infant will get a diaper rash. If the diaper rash continues or worsens then parents should consult their healthcare provider.
To know more check out our article about symptoms and preventive tips for diaper rash.
What else can cause a rash in the nappy area other than nappy rash?
What you think is nappy rash on your child's bottom may very well be another mild childhood skin condition. For this reason, it's important to recognise the difference between nappy rashes and other common ailments so you can treat each one effectively. Impetigo, Seborrheic dermatitis and prickly heat are the conditions most commonly mistaken for nappy rash.
Impetigo
A contagious bacterial skin infection that appears in the nappy area and on the face and hands, with pimples and scabby, honey-coloured sores that blister and itch. Because this condition is contagious, all family members should wash their hands often with anti-bacterial soap to keep it from spreading. If you see this type of sore, call your paediatrician or GP, who will probably prescribe an antibiotic cream or oral antibiotic.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
A common skin condition that can affect infants in their first year. You'll find raised, rough red patches covered with thick white or yellow scales on your baby's groin, genitals and lower abdomen; when similar patches appear on the scalp, the condition is known as cradle cap. Try applying an over-the-counter cortisone or hydro-cortisone ointment to the affected areas, and keep your baby clean and dry. Use Pampers Baby Wipes for best results. If the condition doesn't clear up soon, see your paediatrician, who may prescribe a stronger cortisone cream.
Prickly Heat
Heat and humidity can lead to prickly heat, caused when perspiration builds up on the skin and is unable to evaporate. Less common after three months, this condition looks like an acne breakout, with very small pink bumps, and can show up in the skin folds in the nappy area, especially where the plastic lining of a diaper or diaper cover touches the skin. Try using Pampers Baby Dry Pants for newborns to avoid humidity. Moisture and humidity are the main causes of prickly heat, so make sure that your child is not overdressed and that his skin remains dry. If prickly heat seems severe, it's time to contact your healthcare provider. Read more about baby heat rash and its remedies.
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Home Remedies For Diaper Rash
To treat diaper rash, it's important to change your baby's diapers frequently to reduce moisture on the skin. Here are some other tips to help treat your baby's bottom:
Air out the skin by letting your baby spend a little time each day without a diaper.
Consider whether you've recently changed the baby's diet or if there is anything else in the baby's environment that could be causing a rash.
Call your healthcare provider if the rash doesn't clear up after a few days, or if blisters or pus-filled bumps appear.
To learn more about nappy rash treatment, click here.
Care Tips To Prevent And Treat Diaper Rash
While diaper rash is pretty common, here are some tips to keep your baby’s bottom rash-free:
Clean your baby's bottom thoroughly after each bowel movement and allow the area to dry, being careful not to rub the skin too much or too harshly.
Coat your baby's bottom with a thin layer of protective ointment or petroleum jelly.
When putting on a fresh diaper, secure it comfortably, not too tight and not too loose, allowing some air to circulate.
Consider using a diaper, such as Pampers Premium Protection New Baby, which has a thin layer of lotion on the top sheet to help keep your baby’s delicate skin dry.
If your child is taking antibiotics or has diarrhoea, keep a close watch on the nappy area and change diapers more frequently.
For more information read our article on prevention of diaper rash using baby wipes.
Conclusion
Diaper rash does not have to be a cause of stress for you and your baby. Knowing what causes it and the correct cures for diaper rash home remedies can help soothe and prevent such conditions.
Be it using home remedies for diaper rash, ensuring thorough diaper changes or consulting a professional when you need it, the only important thing is sticking to a routine. With the right approach, you'll be able to keep your baby comfortable, happy and rash-free, so you and your little one can live through these precious moments of parenthood.