Rashes in the diaper area – they can cause lots of concern to parents, especially new ones. And, they can also cause pain and stinging to your babies in that delicate area, so it is important to determine what kind of a rash it is and treat it accordingly.If you have more than one child, you may have one child that seems to get rashes more than another one did when they were a baby. Or, rashes may seem to happen after your children eat a specific kind of food. Here are some tips to help you determine what sort of a rash you are looking at.
Now, let me make the “I-am-not-a-Doctor” disclaimer: so there, now you know, I am NOT a Doctor. Please do not take my advice OVER that of a medical professional.
1. Plain-ol’ diaper rash. The tell-tale sign of this kind of rash is bright red puffy skin in splotches or patches, usually on the buttocks area. The baby may cry or scream when these areas are washed or touched. This is skin irritation caused by acids found in the baby’s by-products, and by the skin being wet for long periods of time. The best way to combat this kind of rash is to change their diaper more often than usual, use plenty of powder to keep the area dry, and/or put powder on top of some sort of diaper rash cream – Desitin, Butt paste, or A&D. Actually, Bag Balm works just as well (although it’s intended for cows I think). For a really bad diaper rash, the best cream is PINXAV which can only be ordered online atwww.pinxav.com You put powder on top of the diaper cream to keep it from rubbing off on the diaper itself.
2. Yeast infection rash/fungal rash. There is usually a major difference in appearance between this kind of rash and the first one. A fungal rash is normally made up of small red spots or dots and are often found in creases of skin and/or on the genitals themselves. This rash is caused by a growth of yeast or fungus which can result from the warm moist environment in the diaper, may be a reaction if the mother is taking antibiotics and breastfeeding, or the child is taking antibiotics. The cure for this is similar: change the diaper often, keep it is as dry as possible with powder or give the child some “bare bottom time” to air out. Also, you can use a 1% Clotrimazole cream such as Lotrimin up to twice a day on the rash.
3. Allergic reaction rash. The first two rashes mentioned are the most common. However, a rash can be caused by a slight allergic reaction, either to a food the child has eaten or to a substance in clothes, diapers or lotion. This rash would typically look mostly just like regular diaper rash, but if that rash has not responded to changing often and a diaper rash cream, then you can try a mild steroid cream – any generic 1% hydrocortisone cream would work.Take notice if the rash seems to always happen when the child eats green beans, for example, and take that food out of the diet entirely for a while and add it back in later while carefully observing the child. When trying a type of cream, make sure and give it a few days before trying another one. Rashes typically take a few days to clear up anyway. If this rash is not responding to any of these remedies, gets worse, spreads, or is accompanied by a fever, then seek medical attention.
