The first time you lot find a handful of tiny cherry-red bumps on your baby'due south sweet bottom, you lot're jump to be a little freaked. But diaper rash is pretty much part of the baby package — at least half of the diaper-clad contingent develop it at some point — and some seem to sport one merely about all the fourth dimension.

You can expect diaper rash — a cherry-red skin irritation on your infant'south lesser and inner thighs — to remain a potential problem as long as your little ane is in diapers. Just these tips and treatment suggestions should help heal that pesky, sometimes painful trouble, every bit well as ward off recurrences.

Types of diaper rash

There are many dissimilar types of diaper rash, including:

  • Chafing (the most common type): redness often accompanied by small spots or bumps in areas of high friction.
  • Yeast infections (aka candidal dermatitis): a bright red, tender rash that commonly starts in the creases between the abdomen and thighs and spreads from at that place.
  • Cradle cap (aka seborrheic dermatitis): a deep cherry-red rash with yellow scales that appears on babies' heads — but can as well beginning in (or make its way down to) the diaper area.
  • Eczema (aka atopic dermatitis): dry, itchy, red patches, which tend to occur more than on the face and scalp than the diaper surface area.
  • Impetigo: a secondary bacterial infection marked by large, puss-filled sores that break open up and ooze yellow fluid, and then crust over.
  • Intertrigo: a raw rash that can pop up in skin folds and tin itch or ooze white or xanthous fluid.

Is diaper rash cream a good idea?

Prevention is the best cure for diaper rash. Spreading a thick, protective layer of ointment or foam on babe'due south lesser later cleaning information technology at changing fourth dimension can assist preclude diaper rash or relieve an existing rash and avoid irritating it further.

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There are 2 types: petroleum-based products (like A&D ointment or plain former petroleum jelly) and those containing zinc-oxide (like Desitin or Balmex). Every baby's lesser is different, then experiment to come across which diaper rash foam works best for treating and preventing diaper rash on your petty one.

Earlier you spread the ointment or cream on baby's bottom, make sure her peel is completely dry. Trapped wet beneath the barrier cream can make diaper rash more likely — or make a bad example of diaper rash worse.

Exist certain to slather information technology on thickly, like icing, and gently. Don't worry about removing it completely at each diaper modify — rubbing and scrubbing is likely to harm your baby's skin and make it more than rash-prone.

The American University of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends skipping over-the-counter ointments that contain an antibiotic, since some ingredients in those products can actually worsen skin irritation.

Other diaper rash treatments

If diaper rash does develop, y'all may consider besides trying alternative treatments to help clear it upward, such every bit:

  • Witch hazel ointment
  • Chest milk
  • Aloe vera or calendula
  • Shampoo clay

While some people have constitute success with these types of alternative treatments, they're not guaranteed to work. You may want to hash out them with your baby's doctor earlier giving them a go.

What causes diaper rash?

A combination of factors oft contribute to your baby'due south diaper rash, including:

  • Dingy diapers. Near rashes are triggered by prolonged exposure to dirty diapers. The enzymes in your baby's poop can irritate her sensitive skin. Wetness (when is your infant not wet?) tin can also make those stubby cheeks more than susceptible to diaper rash.
  • Diaper friction. When your baby's soft skin folds chafe or rub confronting each other, or against the diaper itself, information technology can step up skin irritation and trigger a rash.
  • Yeast. Yeast is some other common culprit, particularly in persistent rashes, as yeast loves warm, moist environments. What's more, if Mom is breastfeeding and taking antibiotics — or if infant needs these medications — it can increase the risk of yeast infection (and diarrhea), bringing on diaper rash.
  • Irritants. The ingredients in disposable diapers, wipes, bath products, infant lotions and laundry detergents can all irritate babe's delicate skin and cause diaper rash.
  • Changes in diet. A breastfed babe's stool can change in consistency and frequency based on what Mom eats. Y'all may notice the aforementioned happening when your infant starts eating solids and is exposed to more foods.

Since that pretty much sums up what your baby'south bottom is exposed to near of the 24-hour interval and dark, it'south no wonder she (like many of her compadres-in-diapers) isn't e'er sitting pretty.

What does diaper rash look like?

Wondering what diaper rash looks like on your petty one's tender skin? The telltale sign is a red, inflamed rash on your baby's genitals, bottom or thighs. It may exist balmy, or it can cover a large portion of the diaper area. Sometimes, it can spread across the diaper region. In worse cases, it can atomic number 82 to pimples, blisters or sores that may open up and kickoff to ooze fluid or puss.

Your babe may express discomfort by fussing or crying when the area is washed or wiped during diaper changes.

Here are some photos to bank check your baby's bottom confronting. But remember: When in doubtfulness, ostend it with your pediatrician and don't endeavour to diagnose your infant at dwelling house.

Abode remedies to prevent diaper rash

To go on your babe'southward tender tush in tip-top shape, it's best to accept a preventive arroyo to diaper rash. Try these babe-tested strategies (which should likewise help heal any existing rash):

  • Modify your baby's diaper frequently. Replacing a peed- or pooped-in diaper with a clean, dry out ane plays a key role in preventing diaper rash. That's considering when skin stays damp for too long, it becomes more susceptible to rash-raising enzymes. So even if your baby isn't fussing for a alter, alter her anyway as soon as you know her diaper is wet or soiled. Effort to give her a fresh diaper every one to two hours or so. And don't forget to utilize diaper cream!
  • Launder your hands before and afterward. This helps avoid spreading whatsoever germs that may crusade infections that lead to diaper rash.
  • Go bare. Earlier you lot supervene upon the diaper, requite your baby's bottom some bare air fourth dimension. Encompass the surface y'all choose to permit her enjoy the breeze on with an absorbent pad or towel in instance she springs an unexpected leak. Aim to air out the expanse a few times a day for at least ten minutes a pop. No time? Blow on her bottom or use a clean diaper to fan her dry.
  • Loosen up. Leave a little breathing room in the diaper when it'southward on. You want your baby's diaper snug enough to prevent leaks but non so tight that it rubs and chafes. You can fifty-fifty go a size up for more space until the rash clears. If she's in cloth diapers, utilize breathable diaper covers.
  • Dodge irritants. Avoid perfumes and alcohols in soaps, scented infant wipes and other products that come up in contact with your baby's under region. Prevent diaper rash by cleaning her bottom with cotton balls or a washcloth soaked in warm h2o instead of using wipes — at to the lowest degree during the newborn phase, when that tender pare is the well-nigh sensitive. Too opt for a water-only approach or choose alcohol-gratis, unscented products if your little one seems particularly decumbent to rashes. Reach for the lather only when necessary.
  • Bathe regularly. A bath every day or every other twenty-four hour period with warm water and balmy, fragrance-gratis soap tin assist keep the expanse costless of irritants until the rash clears up. Merely be conscientious you're non bathing your infant too much, which can also irritate the skin. When in doubt, bank check with your pediatrician about how frequently to give your baby a bath.
  • Change diaper brands or types. Sometimes super absorptive disposables are so efficient at trapping moisture that they help trigger more than rashes. Try experimenting with different types of diapers or switch to cloth to see if that helps forestall diaper rash. Cloth diapers are less absorbent, which encourages more than frequent changes (a modify for the ameliorate if it leads to fewer breakouts). Merely material diapers tin besides hateful more than diaper rashes (or more severe cases) for some babies, which is complicated by the fact that you lot tin't use many diaper rash creams with them. If that'south happening to your little i, changing the detergent you wash the diapers in to i free of dyes and other irritants might help, every bit could swapping out textile for disposables, at least temporarily.

What to Expect selects products based on independent research  and suggestions from our community of millions of parents; learn more about our review process. We may earn commissions from shopping links.

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When to telephone call the doctor about baby diaper rash

If you're concerned about diaper rash, yous're not alone. Information technology's ane of the almost common reasons parents attain out to their baby'southward pediatrician.

It may exist a good fourth dimension to check in with your baby's doctor if:

  • The rash doesn't clear upwardly or starting time improving in a few days.

  • The rash gets worse despite attempting to treat it at home.

  • Pimples, peeling peel, blisters or pustules appear.

  • The rash appears to exist painful for your baby.

  • The rash spreads beyond the diaper expanse.

  • Your baby likewise has a fever accompanying the rash.

Your baby's pediatrician may prescribe a topical antifungal foam or ointment, a steroid cream, or (much less likely) an oral antibiotic to aid get rid of the diaper rash.

Call up: Few baby bottoms escape diaper rash birthday — it comes with the diaper-wearing territory. But even if you can't foreclose diaper rash completely, there's enough you can do to keep those breakouts to a minimum.