Q: What is the best way to deal with diaper rash?

The Mommy Panel’s Advice:

As moms we have hands-on experience that tells us that those diapers can be real messy. When you think about it, it is no surprise, given the amount of ick down there, that diaper rashes occur fairly often. Most children will experience at least one diaper rash and many more will have frequent breakouts. To help you be prepared for the battle, here’s a crash course in diaper rash care.

Our experience and research has shown that there are basically two different kinds of diaper rash. The most common is an irritant rash related to something that has come into contact with your little one’s bum. The other type is a yeast infection. You’ll know the difference between the two because the yeast infection is quite stubborn and won’t clear up with typical diaper rash creams.

Treatment

When your little one has a diaper rash, start off by carefully cleaning the area with unscented wipes (or better yet a warm, wet washcloth then let your baby’s bum air dry for as long as you dare. Before diapering, apply a diaper rash ointment with zinc oxide, petroleum or beeswax that will create a barrier to protect the irritated skin and give it a chance to heal. Reapply the ointment at each diaper change until the rash clears up. It is important that once the rash is gone you stop using the diaper creams because constant use of these creams prevents the skin from breathing properly and can actually contribute to diaper rash.

If after a day of the above treatment your little one’s bum is not noticeably better, it is highly likely you’re dealing with a yeast infection. Stop using the diaper rash creams and instead apply an over-the-counter anti fungal cream. You should notice improvement after only a few applications and the rash should be gone within a few days. If after all this things just aren’t getting any better, it’s time to visit with your child’s pediatrician.

Causes & Prevention

When it comes to an irritant diaper rash, possible culprits are new foods that have passed into the stool. In this case, try taking the questionable food out of your child’s diet while you clear up the rash. Once the rash is gone, try reintroducing the food and watch closely for signs of irritation.

If the rashes are repeated and don’t seem to be food related, baby might have a sensitivity to something in the diaper or wipes you use. Try changing brands of diapers or wipes and particularly try switching to unscented varieties. If you use cloth diapers, try switching detergents used to wash the diapers, and do regular white vinegar rinses (run a full wash cycle with a cup of white vinegar and no detergent or fabric softener to reduce the amount of detergent build up in the diaper fabric.

Frequent diaper changes are essential to preventing and curing diaper rash, but many pediatricians also suggest that reducing the amount of wiping can help prevent rashes. For only-wet diapers, consider skipping the wipes altogether. Let baby air dry or gently pat dry with a cloth, then diaper. The idea here is that applying too much of the detergents used in wipes and over-rubbing can break down the natural oil barriers that protect baby’s skin, making it more susceptible to irritation.

– Bettijo B. Hirschi

NOTE: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.