Causes And Prevention Of Diaper Rash

Most Common Causes And Prevention Of Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is a common problem among babies. It is characterized by red and irritated-looking skin in your baby's diaper area. The irritated skin may also be a bit puffy and warm when touched. The diaper area is a perfect environment for rashes to develop moist, dark, and inundated by a never ending supply of pee and poop. But the causes of a diaper rash vary, and when parents don't know the exact cause, treatments can fail.

Typical causes of diaper rashes includes:

Diaper rash may be caused by anything from your baby's own urine to laundry detergents you use to wash your baby's nappies. Here are some of the most common causes of diaper rash.

Wetness: Even super absorbent diapers leave a bit of moisture on your baby's sensitive skin. When left in a dirty diaper too long, your baby is more likely to develop diaper rash. Also, when your baby's pee mixes with bacteria from poop, it breaks down and forms ammonia which can be harsh on skin. So make sure that you change your baby's diapers diligently.

Chafing or Chemical Sensitivity: When diaper rubs against your baby's sensitive skin, it causes skin to chafe and form a rash. Chemicals like fragrances in disposable diapers or detergents used in washing clothes may further aggravate your baby's chafing skin. It could also be caused by the baby wash, lotion or powder that you use for diaper duty or during bath time.

Simple Irritations: The moisture and ammonia in the urine and stool and the rubbing against the diaper material can irritate your baby's skin and cause it to look very red. If the diaper area is red, but the folds of the skin (which are more protected) are not red, you've got simple irritation.

Yeast Irritations:Yeast loves the moist, dark diaper area and can cause a bright red rash. Other common names are a fungal infection or Candida albicans. It looks like a swollen red rash with white scales and lesions. Often there are small red "satellite" pimples found outside of the diaper area. You can differentiate a yeast infection from irritation because, unlike simple irritation, yeast causes redness in the folds and creases of baby's skin.

Bacterial infection: Look for yellowish, fluid-filled bumps ("pustules") and honey-colored, crusty areas, which are symptomatic of a bacterial infection (like staph or strep) and require antibiotic treatment. Be sure to call your pediatrician if you see these signs.

Seborrhea (cradle cap): Sometimes a diaper rash is part of a more generalized rash, such as one due to cradle cap, where there are red scaly, waxy patches on other parts of baby's body and scalp.

Preventing Diaper Rash

•  To keep the diaper area dry at all times.
•  Change wet and soiled diapers frequently
•  Don't put the next diaper on until the skin is fully dry
•  Buy a different brand of diapers
•  Use unscented baby wipes
•  Use diaper rash cream regularly
•  Do not wash your baby's cloth diapers with laundry products that contain fragrances
•  Secure your baby's diaper with room for air to circulate. Loose clothing allows your baby's bottom to breath. Avoid plastic pants and other airtight fabrics.

Diaper rash is caused by the skin being constantly exposed to wetness, so changing frequently can prevent the problem. Most of the diaper rash ointments on the market are designed simply to protect your baby's skin from wetness, so they are great at preventing diaper rash. If your baby is diaper rash prone, you might want to use an ointment at every changing as a preventative measure.

In the more mild cases of diaper rash, treatment can be done relatively quickly and easily. First, clean the area very well, making sure not to skip over folds in the skin. Then apply diaper rash ointment, following the directions on the label. It will be very important to change diapers frequently as you are trying to keep wetness away from the area.

Other Related Products:

Aveeno Baby organic harvest diapor rash cream - 3 oz

Balmex daily protective clear ointment for diaper rash - 3.5 oz

Boudreauxs rash protector spray for diaper rash - 2 oz

Calmoseptine ointment tube to heal skin irritations - 4 oz

Desitin clear multi purpose diaper rash ointment - 3.5 oz