Diaper rash is a normal part of raising a baby, but severe diaper rash can be as painful and as sensitive to treat as a burn! Fortunately, these tips can bring fast relief to a baby suffering from the pain and discomfort of severe diaper rash.
Treatments for Severe Diaper Rash
How bad is severe? When the baby's diaper area is deep red with raised bumps and the baby screams whenever he or she urinates or has a bowel movement, that's a severe diaper rash. Often, a severe diaper rash is an unpleasant side effect of diarrhea.
These treatments can bring fast relief and speed healing:
- Bathe the baby in a colloidal oatmeal bath such as Aveeno – it cleans, soothes and softens skin.
- If there is no Aveeno in the house, just try a lukewarm bath with a gentle antibacterial soap.
- Avoid wiping the baby's tender bottom with wipes or washrags, because that can be very painful – remember, the rash feels like a burn!
- After the bath, let the diaper area "air dry" for a while. Place a towel under the baby's bottom to catch "accidents" and avoid putting anything on the diaper area until it is completely dry.
- Use a zinc oxide cream such as Desitin on the rash – it creates a barrier against moisture while helping the skin to heal and preventing the rash from getting worse.
- Use a good powder to help keep the area dry. Corn starch powder may not be the best bet because if the rash is due to a yeast infection, the yeast could feed on the starch and make the rash worse. Look for a talcum-based powder such as Caldesene, which also includes zinc oxide and makes a very effective moisture barrier. (But be careful not to allow the baby to inhale the dust from the talc, which is bad for the lungs.)
Until the rash clears up, cut back on acidic juices such as apple juice and orange juice. The rash should improve dramatically within a day or two with adequate and attentive care. If it doesn't improve or gets worse, it's time to call the doctor!
Preventing Severe Diaper Rash
Dealing with diaper rash is an inevitable part of parenting, but there are ways to make it occur less frequently:
- Use unscented wipes or just water, and be careful to remove all urine and stool with each diaper change.
- If the baby gets diaper rash due to loose-fitting diapers, try to find a size or brand that fits better with less friction.
- Use barrier creams like A&D ointment or Desitin to help prevent diaper rash in the first place.
- Change diapers frequently and let the skin air out after each bath.
It's important to note that yeast-related diaper rash is a common problem when babies are on antibiotics. Fortunately, there are excellent antifungal powders and creams that can help clear up yeast infections in babies – just ask the baby's pediatrician.
Diaper Rash Resource
Severe diaper rash can occur for many reasons, and knowing which type of rash the baby has is crucial for successfully treating it. Dr. Sears has an excellent article about preventing, treating and identifying different types of severe diaper rash.
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