Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is another one of those little problems you are going to face if you are a new parent. Just about every child gets diaper rash at some point. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) estimates more than half of babies between 4 and 15 months develop a rash in a two month period.

Causes

The two basic causes of diaper rash are irritation and moisture. The irritation occurs where the diaper rubs against the skin or is too tight. Chemicals in diapers, detergents used to wash diapers or wipes can cause irritation as well. (Read about "Skin Rash") Moisture in the diaper from soiling, that is left on too long or is trapped by plastic pants, is also a major culprit in diaper rash. Another type of diaper rash is caused by yeast infections. (Read about "Microorganisms") Children on antibiotics (Read about "Antibiotics") are more susceptible to yeast infections, according to AAP.

What to do

The best defense against diaper rash is to keep the baby's diaper area clean, cool and dry. AAP and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) suggest the following:

• Change the diaper often.
• Use plain water to clean the diaper area when you change your baby.
• Allow the area to completely dry before putting on a new diaper. It is best to let the area air dry, avoid rubbing, just pat dry if you need to.
• Use a zinc oxide ointment and petrolatum to protect the skin
• Allow the child to go without a diaper for periods of time during the day, perhaps putting them down to sleep without a diaper. Be aware to change the cloth under them if they soil it while asleep. AAFP points out that many babies urinate right after falling asleep.
• Avoid creams and lotions that contain chemicals such as boric acid, camphor, phenol, methyl salicylate or compound of benzoin tincture.
• Avoid talcum powder; it has been linked to respiratory problems. (Read about "Respiratory System")

If the problem lasts more then a few days or the rash gets worse, you should contact your doctor.

Cloth vs disposable

There is some research that indicates children who wear disposable diapers have lower rates of diaper rash. But both the AAP and AAFP say the choice is yours. You can add a stay dry liner to cloth diapers to help. Also if you use cloth diapers, do not use softeners and other chemicals and use an extra rinse cycle to remove detergents. The key thing to remember however is to change whatever diapers you use, often.

Related Information:

    Skin

    Baby and Young Child Care