Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is very common in babies. It affects nearly one in three babies at some point in their growing years. Diaper rash is a common injury to the skin, but can be annoying in mild cases.

Diaper Rash may affect only a tiny portion or sometimes the whole area, including genitals. This part of the body's skin is very delicate and is constantly exposed to moisture, urine and feces.

First and foremost, it’s very important to know the cause behind the Rash. Once this is known, prevention and treatment gets easier.

To avoid:

- Change the wet diaper whenever you notice.

- Do not always use wipes, because they may contain perfumes or soaps that irritate the skin, better option for those containing only oil or cream.

- You can also wash the area with warm water and mild soap and then rinse.

- If the rash is due to food sensitivity, then baby may show other symptoms like, green stools, vomiting or fever. In such case, check which new food is causing the trouble.

- Coconut oil is another good remedy for preventing and treating diaper rash. Coconut oil has worked very well in cases of rash due to bacterial or yeast infection

- When you bathe or wash your baby’s diaper area, dry it with gentle pats, do not rub.

- After removing the dirty diaper, leave it open to air for sometime.

- When you feel the skin is irritated, apply a cream before night sleep containing zinc oxide and petrolatum, which forms an insulating layer against feces and urine.

If, despite these precautions, the skin becomes irritated, follow these tips:

- Visit your pediatrician to assess whether to prescribe a cream with low potency corticosteroids for two or three days.

- You also need to avoid bacterial infection or the presence of fungi, in which case you will have to apply an antibiotic or antifungal cream.