Diaper rash is very common in newborn babies, there's almost no baby who didn't get it even when the parents are the most hygienic people around. Although it raises many concerns, especially in parents with their first baby, in the most cases it will disappear after a few days.
Article continues below
Diaper rash, diaper dermatitis, is the most common childhood skin disease, with well-known causes and well-developed therapies.
Diapers are the ideal environment for bacteria and yeast because of the humidity and warmth, so there's almost no chance to get away without rash.
You'll know diaper rash by red, puffy and tender skin areas on buttocks, thighs and genitals. You may also see that your baby feels uncomfortable and cries when you change the diapers because the touch on those areas is painful.
If you notice that your baby has a diaper rash the cause must be found because treatment is different depending on the cause.
But first a few words about prevention. Every doctor will give the advice to lay your baby on the moderate sunlight without a diaper on an absorbent cloth. Sun will clear the rash and prevent it from appearing. But this is not always possible and it you must be careful because strong sunlight can be dangerous.
You are washing the diapers frequently and that's the ideal situation for chemicals to enter the diapers and cause the unwanted reaction. The same is true for the baby products, even those with the sign "hypoallergenic".
If this is the case, clean your little one with warm water and mild soap and avoid putting lotions and oils on your baby. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell which product will cause you the problem until you actually use it.
Luckily, there's no too much products on the market so you should find one relatively easily.
Next, change diaper often even if your baby doesn't seem wet. Baby tushy like air and bacteria doesn't, so the more air the less rash. While we are at diapers, it has been shown that babies who wear cloth diapers are five times less likely to develop the rash. Of course, if you wash them properly with mild detergents.
Those are "outside" causes, but there is an "inside" cause, too. Your baby may be allergic to certain food and it usually can be seen as red ring around the anus. If you eliminated that food from the baby or the breastfeeding mom's diet the rash will disappear.
The rash can be cause by yeast called Candida Albicans. This type of rash is characterised by bright red and raw, it covers larger areas of the skin and it is surrounded by red spots. The doctor will give you a cream and this rash will improve in two to three days.
In some situation you should take your little one to the doctor. If you notice one of the following conditions go and see the doctor immediately: your baby looks very sick, you see bright red skin that peels off in sheets, there are large red area and your baby has fever, if the rash is extending outside diaper area, and if your baby is under one month old with tiny water blisters or pimples in a cluster. ■