Diaper dermatitis is one of the most common ailments in infants. They happen several times before the child is two years old. There are a whole range of factors that contribute to their formation, although a thin lipid layer plays an important role in this case, which does not properly protect the baby’s delicate butt.
However, this fact does not excuse us from negligence. Get to know the perpetrators of diaper rash and protect your child from them.
Mechanism of diaper rash formation
Regardless of whether we use a traditional diaper, which our mothers used, or whether we reach for a disposable one, the baby’s bottom remains exposed to chafing. When rubbing the skin on the diaper, irritation may occur, which sometimes turns into inflammation. The content of a diaper that has not been changed for too long releases numerous bacteria and chemically affecting ammonia. The lack of access to fresh air, too small diapers, the presence of yeast in the child’s poop and disturbed pH of feces and urine, which leads to diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, vaccinations, antibiotics, mother’s diet, as well as teething, are also to blame. High temperatures, allergies to ingredients contained in washing powders, disposable diapers or wipes do not make life easier for a baby. Similarly, an allergy to products that the mother begins to introduce to the child’s diet, exposes them to skin changes (rash, dryness), digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation, colic), the presence of blood or mucus in the poop, as well as their foamy form or green shade .
What can you do?
Chafing takes the form of reddening of the skin near the urethra or anus. To protect your baby from the transformation of this symptom into diaper dermatitis, wash your baby thoroughly and apply a special cream to the sore spots. Change the diaper as soon as the need arises. Otherwise, you will experience erythema, accompanied by marked redness and blemishes. Then bathing the child should take place with the participation of only boiled water. When changing the diaper, allow the baby’s bottom to be exposed to fresh air for a few minutes. It is good to protect the mattress or blanket on which the child is lying with foil. Only after applying an ointment or a greasy cream for sore spots, you can put a diaper on your baby. Take your little one to the doctor right away if he develops acute diaper rash. It is characterized by painful redness on the entire buttocks, accompanied by a feeling of heat, peeling and pustules, the child loses his appetite, cannot sleep, cries and has a fever.
Valuable prevention
Change the diaper once every 2 hours and immediately after a poop. Apply an anti-nausea cream on the baby’s clean skin. Bathing must take place every evening with the participation of warm water. Use olive oil to prevent dryness. Don’t overdo it with the amount of backfill.