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.

Filed under: Diaper Rash Treatments

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