Diaper rash is a skin irritation caused by wearing a diaper, especially if it’s wet or soiled, for an extended period of time. You may also notice dampness that collects in your baby’s delicate skin folds. Diaper rash can cause the skin in your baby’s diaper area to be raw, irritated, and painful. There are various reasons as to why it occurs, and it’s important to remember that diaper rash is incredibly common and is usually easy to treat.
After each diaper change, gently clean your baby’s bottom, including the skin folds. Make sure all these areas are dry.
Diaper rash initially looks pink or red in the areas covered by your baby’s diaper. With a severe diaper rash, you may see rawness, chafing, oozing, and even bleeding. If left untreated, diaper rash can result in open sores and lead to secondary infections caused by bacteria or yeast (fungus).
SYMPTOMS
Mild diaper rash appears as pink to light red and tender-to-the-touch rashes that are slightly raised and often on your baby’s bottom, thighs, mid-section or genitals. These common symptoms are often the result of prolonged contact to dampness or your baby’s sensitive skin rubbing harshly against their diaper.
TREATMENT
Mild diaper rash can be treated with changing wet or soiled diapers promptly, gently cleaning your baby’s bottom, and using a healing, protecting, and soothing diaper rash cream or ointment – like Triple Paste. You may also want to take into account the material of your baby’s diaper in case friction or sensitivity is contributing to the rash.
SYMPTOMS
A more defined redness, spread across a larger area of your baby’s bottom can be an early sign of more significant diaper rash. As it progresses, the rash can become more pronounced, raised with bumps, slight swelling, and minimal peeling.
TREATMENT
Moderate to severe diaper rash can be treated much the same as mild diaper rash; changing wet diapers, keeping the diaper area clean, liberal use of Triple Paste, and diaper-free time. You’ll also want to use gentle cleansing products designed to effectively clear irritants, like Comfort Bear Bar or Triple Wash along with Triple Paste.
SYMPTOMS
Intense redness over a larger area, peeling, cracking, and swelling and/or bleeding are symptoms of severe diaper rash. These symptoms can also be accompanied by a fever or burning when your baby has to go to the bathroom. Some of the more severe rashes can be caused by diarrhea, a higher level of acidity in your baby’s system, or may not be diaper rash at all, but a yeast infection.
TREATMENT
Seek professional care if your baby’s diaper rash does not respond to over-the-counter solutions or worsens over the course of a few days.
Here are some symptoms you may see in your baby’s diaper area, depending on what type(s) of diaper rash he or she is suffering from:
To help save your baby from experiencing many of these symptoms, be sure to use Triple Paste at the first sign of redness.
For diaper rashes that don’t improve or worsen after two or three days, there may be a secondary yeast infection (candida albicans). Candida Albicans infections tend to have a beefy, red appearance with inflamed red bumps and pustules around the periphery. Yeast infections don’t respond to traditional diaper rash medications. If this is the case, an anti-fungal cream may be needed, so call your pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist.
Keep your baby’s bottom dry. Change dirty diapers as soon as possible, and clean the area gently and thoroughly.
A common cause of diaper rash. This red-by-sight and tender-to-the-touch rash often occurs due to wearing a diaper, especially if it is wet or soiled, for an extended period of time.
Occurs when a diaper harshly rubs against the skin. It appears red and tender, much like a contact diaper rash, but shows up around the legs and/or belly, where the diaper edges rub up against the skin, as opposed to inside the diaper area. Make sure the diapers you’re using are made of comfortable material and are the proper size for your baby.
Diarrhea contains harsh digestive juices, which can burn your baby’s skin and is a common cause of diaper rash. Diarrhea can be related to your baby’s diet, diet sensitivities, and/or any medications your baby may be taking. Soothing the rash, diaper-free time, and bland diets can help relieve and prevent flare-ups.
Similar to an acidic diaper rash, this form of diaper rash is caused by an allergy or skin sensitivity. It could be caused by a food allergy, the material the diaper is made of, the kind of diaper cream you are using, or anything that has come in contact with your baby’s skin. Identifying and avoiding what caused the allergy is the best way to prevent this form of diaper rash.
Can complicate diaper rash. Everyone has harmless amounts of yeast, which is a fungus that exists in warm, wet places. However, the same circumstances that can bring about diaper rash can also trigger a yeast infection. It can sometimes occur when a baby is on antibiotics or being breastfed by a mother on antibiotics. They tend to have a beefy, red appearance with inflamed red bumps and pustules around the periphery. Yeast infections don’t respond to traditional diaper rash medications. If this is the case, an anti-fungal cream may be needed, so call your pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist.
Your baby may have diaper rash after:
Diaper rash can be the result of more than one variable. If you identify the cause of your baby’s diaper rash, you can more readily treat and prevent it.
Allow your baby’s bottom to have some airtime, without a diaper. Let them roll around on a towel on the floor in their birthday suit! This can help promote healing if your baby already has diaper rash.
