Diaper rash is the name typically given to any skin infection caused by wearing damp diapers. It can affect children between zero to three years old who still wear diapers. It can also affect adults who are incontinent or paralyzed and have to wear diapers as a result.
Diaper rash is caused by any of the following – Friction, Irritation, Candida Infection, Allergic reactions or Seborrhoea. It can also be caused by some bacteria like staphylococcus.
Of the above probable causes, friction is the greatest culprit. It is basically due to the friction between the baby’s sensitive skin and wet diapers while the baby is sitting or lying down. This commonly results in a red, shiny rash on exposed areas.
As a mother, despite all the care and effort, a diaper rash can put a damper on your spirits. Do not fret. Here are 6 simple self-care tips to getting rid of diaper rash.
Step-by-step of getting rid of Diaper Rash
Change Diapers Frequently
This cannot be overemphasized. It is literally the surest way to resolve this problem. Damp and gooey diapers can not only cause the diaper rash, but it can also aggravate it further, making it spread on the baby’s skin.
Clean the Area Properly
Ensure to wash baby’s skin with gentle soap and afterwards air dry or pat softly with a clean dry cloth. The baby’s skin should be cleaned gently. Rough scrubbing might lead to further irritation of the skin.
Allow air to enter
After cleaning, the skin should be exposed to air leaving the diapers off for a couple of hours. During this time, it will be helpful to avoid using alcohol-based wipes as this can aggravate the itching/irritation. At this point, using clean warm water to clean the skin will be ideal.
Avoid plastic or foods that might increase diaper rash
If you use cloth diapers (nappies) avoid using plastic baby pants at this time.
Certain foods may seemingly worsen the rash. In this case, avoid such foods for your baby as much as possible until the rash is cleared.
These foods differ, for instant your baby might be allergic to peanuts, or sea-foods, etc, its up to you to isolate the latest food your baby just had. This would help you know which is the culprit.
Avoid Creams or soaps that are not baby friendly
If the rash is caused by contact cream or new baby soap, avoid using these till the rash clears. If possible avoid them altogether. Its important to limit change of soaps or creams for a baby except absolutely necessary. During a diaper rash situation, its is important not to start testing new products.
As a mother, the best way to treat diaper rash is to avoid it altogether. Simply ensure you change diapers regularly, dry the skin before wearing a diaper and avoid attaching the adhesive tape to the skin which can cause a rash. Also, ensure to wash your hands to avoid infecting your baby with diaper rash causing germs.
That’s it for now moms. Have a diaper rash free month!