A Guide to Diaper Rash

Diaper rash in infants is common and can be caused from skin being irritated from urine or the paper in diapers; from infections by bacteria or yeast; from allergies and even from heat trapped in diapers.

Skin care for healthy skin:

Bathe the skin with gentle soap and water, but be sure to rinse the soap residue off before drying the skin with a clean cloth towel. Apply a thick layer of moisturizing lotion to the skin and gently rub in. If your baby is prone to irritation rashes you can apply a coat of zinc oxide cream (Desatin or A and D Cream). Finally replace the diaper.

Types of skin rashes:

The most common rash is red “sunburned” skin from irritation from either soap residue or urine. Both can cause the skin to look red, sore and a bit swollen. Yeast Infections tend to look like a series of red dots growing into clusters and patches of red raw skin. Look to the edges for single smaller red bumps. Bacterial infections tend to look like scalding or blistered skin and usually grow very quickly. Diarrhea Rashes are irritations that can rub off the top skin layers into deep raw open sores.

Treating Diaper Rashes:

Bacterial infections can be serious and need to be seen in the office and placed on topical or oral antibiotics. They can lead to more serious systemic infections in an infant. Yeast Infections are often treated by alternating a zinc-oxide cream with an prescription anti-fungal cream like Lotrisone. For the Irritation and Diarrhea rashes, clean the skin gently and soon after a messy diaper, rinse the skin with tap water and dry gently with a cloth towel (diaper wipes tend to keep the skin irritated). You can gently blow dry the skin with a hair dryer but be careful not to burn the skin. Then place a thick layer of zinc-oxide cream (you shouldn’t be able to see skin through the cream). Then the diaper is put back on.

In all cases, it’s important to change diapers more frequently when a rash is present to help protect the skin from stool and urine making the rash worse. Call our office if the rash gets worse despite your treatment, doesn’t clear in a couple of days or your infant seems to start looking ill for no other reason.

If you have additional questions about diaper rashes and treatment, you can contact us at:

Info@Laramiekids.com

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A Guide to Diaper Rash

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