Diaper Rash Tips
Most of us have gone through diaper rash with our babies at some point. While every baby’s skin is unique and responds differently to products, here are some general tips to help!
What to Do
1. Change diapers often and keep them loose. We all do our best with changing diapers often, so I know it’s not always easy. But the less time they spend in a wet diaper, the less chance of the moisture irritating their skin. Keeping diapers loose allows the skin to breathe and heal faster.
2. Use alcohol-free wipes or water + a dry cloth. I love water wipes or witch hazel wipes for simple, gentle wipes that aren’t irritating to baby’s skin. Or if you’re feeling up to it, water + a dry cloth can be even gentler to prevent stinging and pain.
* Peri-Bottle: One of my favorites! For really painful diaper rashes, use a peri bottle and warm water when cleaning.
3. Let baby’s skin dry as much as you can. Allowing baby’s skin to dry as much as you can will promote healing. You can air dry or try a hair dryer on the cool setting (a safe distance from baby - at least 6 inches) to dry the skin before applying diaper ointments.
4. Apply a thick layer of barrier cream after every diaper change to let the skin heal. You want to create a BARRIER that allows the skin to heal underneath, so apply it often and liberally. Simple items like Vaseline or Zinc Oxide like Boudreaux’s Butt Paste can be more than enough, but @zoeorganics diaper balm or @tubbytodd sweet cheeks diaper cream are also some favorites.
5. Try baking soda baths to soothe the skin. First fill the bath with a few inches of warm water (just enough to cover your baby’s diaper area) and then add in about 1/2 cup of baking soda and mix. Or you can dip a washcloth into a mixture of baking soda + warm water and gently apply to baby’s bottom during the bath. Then dry and apply diaper cream.
Yeast Diaper Rashes
Let’s talk a little bit about yeast (candidal) diaper rashes. Most “standard” diaper rashes get better with a few days. If your baby has a rash that is lingering, getting worse, or not responding to the treatments you are trying, you may think about other reasons for it - irritation from a diaper or something in contact with your baby (creams, wipes, etc.), yeast, or a secondary bacterial infection.
Yeast (candida) rashes often happen in babies - it’s nothing that is your fault! Some common causes include excess moisture (sitting in a diaper for a long time, diarrhea, sweat, etc.), recent antibiotic use, diarrhea, other infections, etc.
Here’s what they look like:
bright red/darker color patches
sharp borders (well-defined borders)
shiny skin that may look moist
in the skin folds
sometimes small pustules or scaly bumps
bright red/darker color patches
sharp borders (well-defined borders)
shiny skin that may look moist
in the skin folds
sometimes small pustules or scaly bumps
How to Treat Yeast Diaper Rashes
In addition to the tips above, focus on this if your child has a candidal diaper rash:
+ The skin can be extra sensitive with yeast - use water wipes or simple washcloth and water for changes.
+ Make sure to focus on air-drying and letting the skin dry as much as possible. yeast thrives in moisture.
+ You may need an antifungal topical treatment to help: clotrimazole 1% cream is over-the-counter and can help. your pediatrician may also prescribe nystatin ointment. You would use the treatment 3-4 times a day and use your regular diaper ointment during all other diaper changes. There is some resistance among candida yeast, so we sometimes have to change the medication if it’s not responding to the first treatment.
+ Make sure to have your care team check your baby’s mouth (they can get oral thrush - a yeast infection in the mouth - as well at the same time as a yeast diaper rash) and talk with you about their feeding if there is any concern for oral thrush.
If you prefer to try other natural methods, here are some tips from other parents:
+ Apply a small amount of vinegar to the area (i.e. with a cotton swab), let dry, and then apply diaper ointment as usual. Just remember that vinegar can sometimes sting, so be gentle and stop using if baby seems like they are in pain.
When To Call Your Pediatrician
If the rash:
+ isn’t healing after after a few days
+ is getting worse instead of better
+ has blisters or pustules
+ has pus or discharge
+ is bleeding
+ has any skin breakdown (like open areas or sores)
+ if baby has any other symptoms (fever, diarrhea, etc.)
+ recurs often or if your baby is getting repeated yeast infections - we often test for other infections then
+ with any questions or concerns
