Diaper Rash Treatments Archives

CAUSES AND TYPES OF DIAPER RASH

Diaper rash is caused by the constant skin wetness and friction along with frequent exposure of skin to various irritants. A baby’s skin should be dry and soft. If this barrier is broken, the skin becomes rough, red, warm and this leads to further infections. The most common irritants are urine, stool, bacteria from them, ammonia formed by the breakdown of urinary chemicals by stool, detergents, perfumes, plastics and dyes, pre-moistened and alcoholic baby wipes, soaps and allergic reactions to baby creams. There are several types of diaper rashes and it is always good to be aware of them before prevention and treatment is undertaken. Chafing dermatitis or diaper chafing is the most common and it occurs in the genital areas, thigh fold and buttocks making them look red and puffy. Diaper chafing or prolonged wetness causes this. It is usually harmless as long as it does not lead to secondary infection. Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema occurs as scaly red patches on the legs and in the groin area which may spread to other body parts. It commonly occurs in infants between 6 and 12 months of age. The reasons can be allergens, irritants, environmental and hereditary factors. Candidal dermatitis or yeast infection is the worst kind. It is tender and painful and appears in genital folds, legs and abdomen. The rash starts as small red spots which soon become numerous. It is very common in babies that have been given antibiotics. Perianal dermatitis occurs as a red patch around the anus because of alkaline stool. It only occurs in bottle-fed babies. Seborrheic dermatitis or cradle crap is a deep red rash that starts on the scalp and spreads to the diaper areas. It is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin. Impetigo appears as yellow-brown crusty patches or pus filled blisters followed by redness. It is caused by streptococci or staphylococci bacteria. It occurs in the butt, lower abdomen, anus, umbilical cord and thighs and can spread to other parts as well. This has to be treated with the help of a doctor. Intertrigo is a skin friction rash that appears as a reddened area found in the thigh folds, abdomen and armpits. Tidemark dermatitis is an irritation that is caused by diaper edges or bindings rubbing against the baby’s skin.

A yeast infection diaper rash is very different from the regular friction or irritation diaper rash. A diaper rash that is caused by yeast infection tends to be a dark, beefy red with sharp raised corners and white scales. The area also has many bumps or boils that are filled with puss. It is more severe than an ordinary friction rash. Pronounced friction in the inner thighs, under elastic etc leads to recurring rashes. They can be cured by barrier creams, airing out methods and frequent diaper changes. Irritant rashes often occur on large, exposed areas such as the baby’s bottoms. They are mainly caused by skin contact with stool enzymes or other irritants such as chemically harsh soaps, detergents, baby wipes and topical medicines and creams. Thus we see that the root cause for diaper rash is skin wetness. If the baby is wet with urine, the PH of the skin increases because of the acidity. Skin wetness also causes friction and makes the skin more sensitive to irritants. The top layer of the skin then becomes weak. Continued wetness, stool enzymes and other irritants cause inflamed skin. Thus it paves way for bacteria and other microorganisms to invade the area and worsen it. Day by day, skin stops responding to treatments. Yeast is one such microorganism that is common in diapers. It thrives in warm, moist skin and is very resilient. There are a lot of chances of yeast infection if rash remedies have no effect in over 72 hours. Skin has some bacteria inherently which normally fight yeast infections. But modern day antibiotics and their frequent use reduce the amount of such protective bacteria. Thus, yeast infection should be treated with a topical anti-yeast or anti-fungal cream. Lotrimin AF, Nystatin or Monistat are the best anti-fungal creams and they can be purchased over the counter in a lot of drugstores. They don’t require prescription. Further treatment includes keeping the skin very clean and dry to the maximum possible extent. Frequent airing out is required. Continued application of the ointments should yield good results within 2-3 days. If there is no improvement in your baby’s condition, a pediatrician or a family practitioner should be contacted immediately.

HOW TO TREAT DIAPER RASH

A lot of diaper rash remedies are available. Some are purely organic while others are commercial products that are well-tested and tried and true. Parents have to experiment with different types of products to see which suits their baby best. The first is Munchskins bum bum balm. It is an instant reliever. It comes in a small compact tin that can fit into your purse. It is 100 percent natural as it contains organic ingredients. Although it is waxy, it is not greasy and will not leave a stain on baby clothes. It also comes with a fragrance that is just right, neither too strong nor too mild. This also ensures that the baby is not affected by the smell. The next best thing and one that always is a sure-shot cure is the “air it out” method. Let your baby be diaper free for half an hour several times day or for however long you can. This is an effective remedy that makes the rash vanish very quickly. The air we breathe is a natural healer and better than commercial baby ointments and diaper creams available in the market. One of the root causes for rash is lack of fresh air circulation around an infant’s bottom. By allowing your baby to go diaper-free, the area is dry and clean and gets a lot of fresh air. Just make sure that the room is warm enough. Then spread a waterproof tablecloth or a mattress on the floor. Cover this with a soft, washable blanket. Lay baby on this and allow him or her to be diaper free for half an hour. If done several times a day, it helps speed up the healing process. Some of the commercial products that are effective are Boudreaux’s butt paste, Burt’s Bees baby bee diaper ointment and A&D ointment. The butt paste is a general cure for any type of irritated or sore skin. It is especially good for babies with sensitive skin. Burt’s ointment is good for recurring rashes but it comes with a strong scent. A&D is an old brand but it is gentle, effective and cheap. It does not leave a stain.

INSTANT RASH RELIEF

Working moms do not have enough time on their hands for elaborate rash remedial procedures. They have to resort to instantaneous relief measures which are sometimes dubious. We bring you a list of instant diaper rash remedies. Bag balm is a known soother that is applied on a cow’s udder after milking. This can also be used as an effective ointment for chapped and irritated skin. Since it is 100 percent organic, it has no disastrous chemical after-effects. Bag balm can be obtained in drug stores, ski resorts, farm and feed stores. They are cost effective and it is sufficient to apply them on baby rash just once every day. Heavy coating is required and at nights, the baby should have lukewarm baking soda baths. Redness will definitely be gone the next day. Many doctors are advising against wet wipes and baby wipes. They may exude the best of fragrance but they are nevertheless, soaked with artificial inorganic chemicals. For working moms on the go, the best thing would be to carry 2 big Ziploc covers one for self-made wipes and the other for soiled ones. The self-made wipes are done by soaking just small pieces of cloth in boiling water, straining them and pressing them. They have been proved to be more effective than commercial baby wipes products. A superfast chemical that works quick wonders is Milk of magnesia. Pour milk of magnesia all over the rash and the rashes are healed even before the next diaper change. Coconut oil and vegetable oil are also effective soothers but they take time to heal. On the other hand, cod liver oil capsules can be bought over the counter in many drug stores. The capsules should not be given orally. Instead, they have to be slightly pricked to squeeze the liquid out from them. Then a liberal portion of this liquid has to be applied on the affected area. It is definitely a guaranteed quick relief. If you do not want to apply anything on baby skin, then take the diaper and pour liquid antacid on the diaper itself. The liquid is absorbed by the diaper material but the soothing action stays for a long while. It prevents further sores from occurring.

DIAPER RASH OIONTMENT

Babies are indeed the most fragile beings here on earth. Even if you pamper them with all your love, they still get inflicted with various things that can affect their health.

One of the most common problems with regard to baby care is diaper rash. Parents resort to various brands of cream, ointment, and spray in order to remove these, such as Diaprex, Johnson and Johnson, and Vusion. The decision in the choice they make is affected by the prices, but this should not be the case.

Diaper Rash Ointment must take into account a careful review of the available resources that are available to you. These can affect your baby’s health, so you should only choose the best for your baby’s skin. You might consider buying products that contain various chemicals, such as cholestyramine, hydrocortisone, formaldehyde, and nitrosamines, but these might not do further damage on your baby’s diaper rash by making your baby’s skin more irritated than ever. You can also consider using baby powder or petroleum jelly, but what most people do not know is that some skin types are allergic to these.

Therefore, the best baby care that you can deal with is the use of products that are natural in every sense. Baby skin care stuff that has a good pH balance and natural ingredients would be excellent. Some of the herbs that are helpful in preventing diaper rash are aloe, calendula, and chamomile. Others such as carrot seed oil, elderflower, evening primrose oil, rose hip, and sunflower oil are also helpful in maintaining a healthy skin for your baby.

When choosing Diaper Rash Ointment, verify that these herbs and oils are contained. In addition to that, see to it that they are fortified with Vitamins A and E. The more natural the ingredients would mean a healthier skin and protection for your baby.

We hope these suggestions for diaper rash remedies have helped and look forward to seeing you again soon!

  
Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes