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Diaper rash is one of the ‘not-so-fun’ parts of parenthood.

However, the truth is a lot of babies will have diaper rashes at some point in life so you are not alone. Understanding why it happens can help you prevent and/or treat them.

Here are some reasons diaper rashes are common in babies:

• babies have sensitive skin
• their butts (genitals) spend a lot of time confined in diapers (or coverings)
• they enjoy sitting in baths. Bubble baths can worsen irritation and cause a rash to break out.
• they are prone to having diarrhea (when sick) or increased secretions (when teething)

When their sensitive skin gets exposed to the chemicals in urine or stools, especially for a long time, it causes irritations which can then become diaper rashes.

How to prevent diaper rashes

• Choose skincare products that work best for your baby’s skin. You may try a few before you figure it out.
• Use alcohol-free wipes. These water-wipes are recommended by many for sensitive skin (or any baby’s skin)
• Apply a barrier cream (petroleum jelly or aquaphor)  every time you change your baby’s diapers. This helps protect your baby’s sensitive area from any urine or stool
• Change diapers often. This reduces the duration of time your child is exposed to chemicals. If your child is in daycare, be sure to work with the daycare team to achieve this

Tips to treating diaper rashes:

4 tips to consider

1. Clean gently. Some rashes are uncomfortable so be gentle
   • Use water-wipes
   • Use cool water from a spray bottle to wash them off
   • Bath soaks: Soak their genitals in warm water (without soap). Bubble baths worsen irritations.

2. Air dry as much as possible

• • Leave open to the air. Place your baby on a cloth for a few mins and stay close
  • Use a hairdryer (set on cool setting and keep a safe distance from baby’s butt)

3.  Coat a generous amount of diaper (barrier cream over the buttock area).

• • Think about it as layering ‘frosting on a cake’
  • See options for diaper creams below

4. Know when to ask for further evaluation or to try something else.

When diaper rashes are not responding to your usual diaper rash cream, it might mean you need another assessment.

Some diaper rashes can be caused by a yeast infection or maybe infected by bacteria. In that case, prescription medications are used.

• • Diaper rashes from frequent diarrhea: may need a special mix containing antacid
    • Try this ‘MAGIC MIX‘: Mix Myalanta (or Maalox) + Aquaphor in a 1:1 ratio. Mix properly and apply
    • (Some pharmacies make this but can also be made at home. Discuss with your provider first)

• • Candidal diaper rashes look ‘beefy-red’, angry, and shiny. These need antifungal creams
•  
• • Bacterially infected diaper rashes may bleed, have raw skin breakdown, yellow crusts, or pus seeping through it. They may need antibiotics assed to usual diaper rash creams
• • Some other medical problems can cause prolonged rashes : some of these include Zinc deficiency, diabetes mellitus, HLH.

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