Diaper Rash - Common But(t) Mostly Preventable

Diaper rash is an extremely uncomfortable, but usually preventable, condition which many infants experience. It is a form of dermatitis on the buttocks, genitals, or thigh folds. One of the main causes of this sort of dermatitis is prolonged contact with moisture. Moisture causes the natural skin oils to be stripped from the outer layer of skin which leads to an increased susceptibility to infection by bacteria or sometimes a yeast infection.

Some babies tend to be more susceptible to diaper rash than others. A set red rash is probably cause by friction of the diaper on the baby's delicate skin. This sort of rash is usually nearer to the edges of the waist or leg bands of the diaper. This kind of rash does not typically cause much discomfort. This may also be caused by laundry detergents. These rashes should be easy to treat and prevent with proper attention.

Seborrheic dermatitis is sort of like cradle cap in the diaper area. It really is similarly scaly and greasy and could be more pronounced in the folds of the skin. Yeast is the most typical infectious cause of diaper rash. The affected areas are bumpy and very red with distinct borders and lesions in more serious cases. This type of dermatitis can occur after an illness is treated with antibiotics, which kill the good bacteria that normally keeps the body's naturally occurring yeast in balance. Repeated or stubborn diaper rash due to yeast infections may require medical attention since the condition will not disappear completely with standard treatments.

A child with a skin rash that's blistered or bleeding, ought to be seen by a doctor. Antibiotics can be prescribed for painful itching if it is caused by bacteria. This could be administered topically or systemically, with regards to the size of the region affected and the severity of the infection.

Anti-fungal creams such as Lotrimin, can be used to treat yeast-caused rashes. When a stronger approach is required, mild steroid creams like hydrocortisone 0.5-1% can be used, such as in the case of seborrheic dermatitis. Prescriptions are generally used for the short-term treatment of stubborn cases.

You can find alternative treatments for diaper rash. In the first place, proper hygiene is the first type of defense in preventing simple cases of diaper rash. Wet or dirty diapers should be changed ASAP. A good idea would be to let babies involve some time without their diaper each day, just to air things out. Babies that are prone to much more serious diaper rash outbreaks actually do better with reusable cloth diapers rather than the common, plastic disposable diapers. This is probably because cotton diapers breathe much better than plastic. Some experimentation with different diapers could be necessary to find out what works best for each baby.

Another thing to be cautious about, especially in cases of severe diaper rash, are baby wipes. Some wipes contain alcohol or other additives that can irritate. An instant bath with handful of mild soap is the foremost way to clean a child with a negative rash.

Barrier ointments can be handy for the treatment of skin rashes. Those white, pasty creams that contain zinc oxide, are particularly effective. They will protect al read y irritated skin from the chafing and irritation due to urine and feces, especially diarrhea. Cornstarch powder works well for rashes which are moist or oozing.

Following some of these simple guidelines can help resolve most ordinary diaper rashes pretty quickly if there is no serious underlying associated skin condition. Frequent diaper changes is the most basic rule of thumb to help keep skin dry, healthy and rash free. Determining what works best with regards to diapers and cleansing products for each baby may also go quite a distance in preventing diaper rash flare ups.