What Causes Diaper Rash In Newborns

Apply A Barrier Cream Or Ointment Regularly

Another way to prevent diaper rash is to protect your little ones skin by applying some ointment, or barrier cream on their skin. Barrier creams help reduce the chances of inflammation and irritation. Pay attention to the brand that you are using to ensure that it is not laden with chemicals that can further irritate their skin.

Wash your hands regularly. Always wash your hands well after changing a diaper to prevent the spread of bacteria or yeast to other parts of the body, your children, or you.

What Is Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is a common condition that typically forms when the sensitive skin around your babyâs diaper area is in contact with urine or stool for too long.Diaper rash can make your babyâs skin red, very tender, and flaky. With proper treatment, it will usually clear up within three or four days. However, if the diaper rash doesnât noticeably improve within a couple of days, or, if it gets worse, call your babyâs healthcare provider for guidance.Protecting your baby against diaper rash means regularly changing his diapers. Fortunately, you can turn all those diaper into rewards and deals. to get access to special offers.

Diaper Rash Treatment And Prevention

The steps for treating diaper rash and preventing it are very similar, so if you want to know how to get rid of diaper rash as well as how to help prevent it from reoccurring in the future, follow these guidelines:

See our Diaper Rash 101 below for an overview of the symptoms, causes, and treatments for diaper rash:

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Newborn Diaper Rash Tips: How To Treat & Prevent Diaper Rash & Causes Of Diaper Rash

8 minutes

01/04/2021

Newborn diaper rash is, unfortunately, something that most babies experience. The skin on your babys bottom is sensitive and delicate, so it can become sore with all that regular but necessary changing and wiping.

We know it can be worrying to find a rash on your babys skin but diaper rash is a fairly common issue and were here to help. In this guide, we share expert advice from the likes of dermatologist Dr. Cairine Wilkinson and Dr. Pixie McKenna, as well as newborn diaper rash tips to help you understand, prevent and treat diaper rash effectively so you can keep your baby happy and healthy.

• 1. What is newborn diaper rash?

• 2. Diaper rash symptoms – What does newborn diaper rash look like?

• 3. What are the causes of newborn diaper rash?

• 4. How to prevent newborn diaper rash

• 5. Diaper rash tips – How to treat newborn diaper rash

• 6. How long does newborn diaper rash last?

• 7. When to see GP for newborn diaper rash

Fruits That Slightly Distort Acid Balance

When your baby develops very nasty angry-looking diaper rashes, acidic food items are most likely the cause. These food items are capable of triggering diaper rashes in babies because they are inherently acidic. Upon introduction into the babys body, such food item slightly causes the body to attempt an acid-base balance reset. This occurs, especially in the intestine.

This may sometimes cause an inability of the digestive enzymes to process the food item. The result of that is an acidic stool. In addition, an acidic poop when excreted over time is capable of causing rashes in the childs buttocks.

Examples of fruits that fall into this category include pineapple, strawberries, oranges, tangerines, tomatoes, raisins, grapes, peaches, plums, tarts, apples, and other related food items.On the other hand, food items may trigger diaper rashes indirectly without necessarily triggering an immune response or altering the bodys acid-base balance.

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When To See A Doctor For Newborn Baby Diaper Rash

If you’ve done all you can to clear up that case of diaper rash but it doesn’t seem to be going away or has got worse, it may be time to visit the doctor’s office. Here’s when to consider booking that appointment.2

• If your baby’s skin bleeds, itches, or is oozing.

• If your baby has a fever.

• If your baby appears to be experiencing discomfort when peeing or pooping.

• If the diaper rash gets worse after home treatment.

You know your baby better than anyone, so if you feel that something isn’t right, get them to a professional as soon as you can for guidance. Your doctor may prescribe you a mild steroid cream if home remedies aren’t working or topical or oral antibiotics for more severe infections.

We know that dealing with newborn baby diaper rash is never a fun job and all the above questions are very normal to have. But now you know what diaper rash is, what diaper rash looks like, diaper rash symptoms, diaper rash causes, how long diaper rash lasts, and how to treat and prevent future diaper rash so now you can face that dreaded irritation with ease. If you found our newborn diaper rash tips useful, be sure to take a look at our other baby skin articles on our Parenting Hub below, or find out more about why WaterWipes are the No.1 wipe against the causes of diaper rash:

How Do I Manage Symptoms Of A Yeast Diaper Rash

There are several ways that you can manage yeast diaper rash symptoms on your baby. Treatment options include:

• Cleaning the rash often: Since the rash causes discomfort, gently clean the diaper area with water and a soft washcloth. Disposable diaper wipes are helpful, but avoid wipes that contain alcohol and fragrances. Delicately pat the diaper area dry rather than rubbing or allowing the area to air dry.
• Applying an ointment or cream on the rash: After treating the rash with an antifungal medication, apply a thick layer of protective ointment or cream, like one that contains zinc oxide or petroleum jelly to create a barrier between the diaper and the skin. Ointments are usually thick and don’t have to be completely removed at the next diaper change.
• Frequently changing your babys diaper: Yeast thrives in warm and damp environments, so it is best to keep the diaper area as clean and dry as possible. Changing diapers often makes sure that there is less moisture on your babys skin. Change your babys diaper at least once during the night and, if possible, leave your babys diaper off for a short amount of time to increase airflow between diaper changes or during nap time. Keep the diaper loose so that the soiled area doesnt rub against their skin as much.

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Complications Of Nappy Rash: Thrush And Other Infections

It will take weeks for your childs skin to repair itself. While this is happening, your childs skin might be more easily irritated.

Your child might also be more likely to get other infections like thrush. Thrush looks like bright, inflamed patches with clearly defined borders in the nappy area. You might also see a lot of dots or pus-filled bumps beyond the outer edge of the rash. Thrush can affect the skin folds too.

Treat thrush with an antifungal cream prescribed by your GP. Thrush can take longer to clear than regular nappy rash and often comes back. Treatment can take a long time.

Nappy rash also increases the risk of urinary tract infection and vaginal infections in girls. This is why its important to treat nappy rash and prevent it if you can.

When Do Babies Start To Get Diaper Rashes

However, one of the most common causes of diaper rash in babies from around 4-6 months onwards is the introduction of solid foods and certain foods in particular. If your little one is suffering from a diaper rash and you are fairly certain that none of the above causes are responsible then its time to take a look at his diet.

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Use Healing Protective Products

After cleaning your baby, keep their diaper area dry and apply a cream, ointment, or paste. Certain products like petroleum jelly work as occlusives to protect the skins barrier while also guarding against moisture. If its still intact, you can leave this protective layer in place at the next diaper change.

If youd prefer to remove the protective layer and reapply at every change, make sure you dont scrub the product off. Scrubbing can worsen your babys rash and irritate them more. To remove products like petroleum jelly, try using some baby oil on a cotton ball.

Products containing zinc oxide are also useful while healing your babys diaper rash. You typically dont need to use mucha thin covering should work fine.

If you have any questions about diaper rash ointments and products, call your childs doctor for a recommendation.

What Causes A Diaper Rash

• Friction: Most diaper rash is caused by friction that develops when sensitive baby skin is rubbed by wet diapers. This results in a red, shiny rash on exposed areas.
• Irritation: The skin under the diaper gets red from irritants such as feces, urine, or cleaning agents. Irritation can be caused by the diaper or by the acid in urine and bowel movements. This rash appears red in the area where the diaper has rubbed and is normally not seen in the folds of the skin.
• Candidal infection: The rash of a candidal infection, also known as fungal or yeast infection, usually has a bright, beefy red appearance and is very common after the use of antibiotics. Candida is a fungal microorganism that is typically found in warm, moist places such as in the mouth. In fact, Candida is the same organism that causes thrush.
• Allergic reaction: The rash may be a reaction to diaper wipes, diapers, laundry detergent, soap, lotion, or the elastic in plastic pants. Children who have a previous history of eczema may be more susceptible to diaper rashes.
• Seborrhea: This is an oily, yellow-colored rash that may also be seen in other areas of the body, such as the face, head, and neck.

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How Do I Treat A Candida Infection

• Candida skin infections are treated with an antifungal cream that is prescribed by a doctor.
• When you change your babys diaper, wash the diaper area with mild soap and warm water, rinse and pat dry. Apply the cream to the rash.
• Wash your own and your childs hands carefully after the diaper change.

Choose The Right Diaper Size

When youre trying to get to the bottom of how to help diaper rash, pay attention to sizing: Choosing the right diaper size for your baby can be a big factor when it comes to their comfort, especially when diaper rash is an issue. A diaper that is either too small or too big can cause chafing on already irritated skin.

Heres a quick guide to ensure youre getting the right fit for your babys bottom:

• Check the size chart While diaper sizing isnt universal, most diaper manufacturers provide some kind of chart on the package to help you determine the right size before purchasing. Most charts use the babys weight as the main factor of diaper size.
• Look for signs of tightness If the diaper is too small, you may see red marks or lines around the waistband and leg bands, as well as increased leakage. Any tightness can cause rubbing and discomfort, so if you notice these signs, its definitely time to size up.
• Make sure its not too loose On the flip side, a diaper thats too big can rub against their skin and slide around, causing more chafing than a well-fitting one. If you find youre having to overextend the side tabs to secure the diaper, or it keeps sliding down, you might need a more snug fit.

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How Can I Treat Diaper Rash

• When you change your babys diaper, wash her bottom with mild soap and warm water or unscented baby wipes, rinse and pat dry. If the skin is really sore and red, it may be less painful to wash the area in a warm bath.
• Use an unscented barrier ointment, such as petroleum jelly or a cream with zinc oxide, to protect and lubricate the area after each diaper change. Wipe off any stool-contaminated cream with soap and water after each change and reapply.
• Do not share creams and ointments with other children and dont touch the affected skin and then put your fingers back into the jar. Use a different finger if you need more ointment.
• Do not use baby powder or talc.
• If possible, keep your babys diaper off for short periods to expose her skin to open air. This can help your baby feel better and heal the rash faster.

Manifestations Of Diaper Rash

Diaper rash generally presents as a bright red irritation on the scrotum and penis in boys and on the labia and vagina in girls.1It includes a wide range of dermatoses, such as scaling, blistering,ulcers, large bumps, pimples, or purulent sores. Children who are ableto do so may scratch the area during diaper changes. If the areaexhibits a beefy-red appearance, if there are small red bumps at theouter edges of the affected area, or if the child cries violently whenurine touches the skin, candidal colonization is likely and a physicianreferral is mandatory.2,3

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What To Look For In The Best Baby Diaper Rash Products

Although hydrocortisone cream is useful in banishing some rashes, it is not recommended in newborns due to possible side effects. Talk to your pediatrician first before ever applying any kind of medicated ointment, including those that are an over-the-counter treatment for your little ones red rashes. The use of medicated creams can worsen or further irritate your babys rash. There are different types of diaper rash cream and ointment that can be used on your little one. Heres what you need to look for:

When To Get Help For Your Babys Diaper Rash

Diaper rash happens. While its tough to see your little one so uncomfortable, you both will get through this.

At-home remedies are usually enough to help babys bottom to heal but not always. If you dont see improvement within three days of consistent at-home treatment, or you notice what could be signs of severe diaper rash, call your babys doctor or a nurse line right away. This is especially important if your baby has a fever of 100.4° Fahrenheit or more.

HealthPartners patients can call our CareLine at . Park Nicollet patients can call their clinic directly during regular business hours, or if its after hours. For questions and advice on new baby care, you can also call our 24/7 BabyLine at .

If you want to speak with a doctor, go ahead and make an appointment. Both in-person and virtual appointments are available.

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