Diaper Rash Myths

Diapers and your Baby's First Year

Dryness may Help quell Diaper Rash

Preventing Diaper Rash

Prevention and Treatment of Diaper Rash

posted 02-20-08 on kidsgrowth.com

Rare is the baby that doesn’t get a diaper rash now and then.  There are six common types of diaper rash, technically called diaper dermatitis IRRITATION RASH: When feces and fecal enzymes, combined with urine, are in contact with the baby’s skin for a long time, the skin becomes inflamed, resulting in irritant diaper dermatitis. The rash usually appears on the baby’s buttocks, but may extend onto the thighs, waist, and even the stomach. Skin folds are generally spared. The rash looks red and shiny. YEAST INFECTION: Yeast dermatitis is caused by Candida albicans. Unlike the rash of irritant dermatitis, yeast dermatitis usually begins in the skin folds of the thighs and in the diaper area. Then it spreads to rest of the bottom. It has a deep red and shiny appearance. There may be “satellite” lesions on the legs or stomach. The baby may also have thrush, an oral yeast infection. FRICTION RASH: This usually affects all babies at one time or another, and is commonly found on areas where friction exists, such as under the elastic of diapers and around the inner thighs. ALLERGIC RASH: This is normally found around the buttocks, and looks similar to a Poison Oak rash. It's usually the result of allergies to food, dust, pollen, and even insect bites.  SEBORRHEA RASH: The diaper area equivalent of cradle cap. It is scaly and greasy in appearance and may be worse in the folds of the skin. NTERTRIGO RASH: Found in the folds of a baby's sensitive skin and caused by repeated exposure to moist heat. Over the years, there have been considerable improvements in the design of modern disposable diapers and, as a result, severe diaper rash is not as common as it once was. Here are some common myths about diaper rash: Change the Diaper Each Time the Baby Urinates The normal newborn urinates 20 or more times each day. It’s neither practical nor necessary to change the diaper after each urination. Not only would doing so take a lot of time, but it would become very expensive. Unless their is stool mixed with the urine, it’s only necessary to change the diaper six to eight times per day. Cloth diapers prevent or cure diaper rash.  Research shows that the only thing worse than cloth diapers for causing diaper rash is cloth diapers with plastic pants, which is how cloth diapers are used anyway The type of diaper is less important than how often it is changed Wash the Baby at Each Diaper Change This is not necessary since urine is not an irritant. Only if there’s stool mixed with the urine will it irritate the skin. Washing a baby’s diaper area too often can irritate the skin and increase the chances of irritation. Aggressive efforts to keep the baby’s bottom dry may do more harm than good. Using a hair dryer to blow dry the skin may cause skin chafing, giving it a “wind burn” and making diaper dermatitis more likely. Baby powder should always be used after changing a diaper. Baby powder should be avoided. It has little absorptive abilities. And if inhaled, it can irritate the baby’s lungs, causing a pneumonia. Baby Wipes Will Irritate the Baby’s Skin This is true only if they contain alcohol. Most wipes on the market now are designed to be “skin neutral.” They may not be very moisturizing, but are not very drying either.