How to Prevent and Treat Diaper Rash

F
irst of all, if your baby is suffering from diaper rash right now, don't panic. Keep baby clean and dry and get something soothing on it.

The next step is to determine what might be the cause of the diaper rash. Once you do this, you can decide the best way to treat it.

The Most Common Causes of Diaper Rash

1. Not changing baby often enough.

2. Diaper not wicking moisture away from baby's skin. (Applies to cloth or disposable.)

3. Cloth diaper not getting rinsed well enough.

4. Baby is sensitive to the brand of disposable diaper.

5. Baby is sensitive to chemicals in the fibers of the cloth diaper.

6. Baby is sensitive to laundry detergent or softener.

7. Baby is sensitive to something mom ate, or something baby ate if they're older.

8. Baby is sensitive to the soap, baby wipes, or other product you use for the diaper area.

9. Baby is taking medicine for an unrelated condition.

10. Baby is sensitive to the actual diaper rash ointment you're currently using.

T
he first case of diaper rash I encountered became very severe with blisters and slight bleeding. The doctor kept saying I needed to keep my baby dry -- to change him more often. I did that, and the rash got slightly better, and then even worse. What was actually happening was the ammonia in my baby's urine was reacting to the residue of laundry soap left in the cloth diapers, and the result was the burning and blistering of his tender skin.

The fix for this is to put cloth diapers through extra rinses, and use a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle.

Switching to disposable diapers was the one single thing I did that cured most of the diaper rashes I encountered over seven kids and 25 years of diapering.

The next most common cause of diaper rash in our home was when antibiotics were prescribed. Not only does the baby often get diarrhea, causing irritation and frequent diaper changes, but the medicine itself irritates baby's bottom when it comes through. The treatment for this cause of diaper rash is a balancing act. Baby needs the medicine, so a combination of changing immediately and using a very soothing ointment is in order (more on ointments later).

Use common sense: What is it that is coming in contact with baby's sensitive skin that is causing the rash? The possibilities I can think of are:

The material of the diaper itself

The chemical reaction of baby's urine with the laundry products in the diaper

The fact that the diaper doesn't wick moisture away from baby's skin

The fit of the diaper not allowing baby's skin to breathe

A product (soap, wipe, cream) that you use directly on baby's skin

Something baby has ingested making the result in the urine either acidic or alkaline (both burn)

T
he desired result is to keep baby's skin clean and dry. Since baby needs to wear diapers, your diapering choice becomes the most important factor in preventing future outbreaks of diaper rash. Diaper rash ointment helps with healing, but usually won't prevent rash in the first place.

Keep an open mind about diapers. You have probably chosen your method of diapering before your baby's birth. For environmental or other reasons you're comfortable with your choice. You may even have a passionate opinion about it. But no matter how invested you are (literally or emotionally) in your choice, be prepared to change your method overnight for the benefit of what's best for your baby. I had to do this when I switched to disposable. I actually accidentally discovered that my baby's rash disappeared after a trip of using disposable diapers for the convenience.

The opposite could be true as well. Many disposable diapers have little pellets of absorbant material. Some babies are sensitive to these. Some have deodorizers or other chemicals.

This would be a good experiment. Change diapering systems for a week and see if there is any difference.

Remember: Something is toxic to baby's skin. Don't just slather cream on baby and hope it will go away. It's your job to find out what is hurting your baby. If you really focus on the cause, I believe moms (and some dads) can really get tuned in to their baby's needs and find solutions to difficult problems.

I
f diaper rash is mild, you have time to work on the cause to prevent future outbreaks. But if the rash is severe and problematic here are the first aid steps to do now:

1. Use warm water and pure, mild soap with a soft washcloth or non abrasive sponge to cleanse baby's bottom.

2. Air baby's bottom with no diaper as much as possible.

3. Use a diaper ointment or cream (my recommendations follow) and frequent diaper changes.

TIP: Think of the diaper like gauze protecting a wound.

I found two products to be the most helpful when diaper rash needed help to clear up and heal. I'm sure there are many new products that are just as good, and usually doctors have the best suggestions. But over the years these are the two I have on hand at all times:

1. A & D Ointment

2. Desitin Original Formula (zinc oxide ointment)