What to use for nappy rash in babies?

Diaper rash is one of the most common ailments in babies. Irritated and reddened skin causes great discomfort to children, and the risk of its occurrence is significantly increased during warm and hot days. Check what are the causes and how it manifests itself in small children.

What is the cause of nappy rash?

The skin of newborns and infants is not yet fully mature and differs from adult skin in many ways. For this reason, it is much more prone to chafing, which is nothing more than inflammation under the baby’s diaper.

The causes of diaper rash in infants include:

1. frequent rubbing of two surfaces of the skin or skin and clothing, causing damage to the epidermis
2. excessive sweating
3. damage to the epidermis in the place where the diaper adheres to the child’s body
4. poor hygiene
5. longer skin-to-stool contact, diarrhea
6. chemical agents included in diapers or cosmetics for the care of the butt
7. use of antibiotics.

The constant or repeated action of these factors reduces the protective functions of the skin and causes irritation. The diaper area is a “unique” place where various types of irritating substances remain on the skin for a long time and can cause maceration and consequent damage. Let us, for example, pay attention to the amount of care products that a baby’s pupa is in constant contact with: liquid soaking from wet wipes, disposable diaper, protective ointment for the bottom or powder are left on its surface for most of the day. It is enough for a toddler to react badly to only one of the ingredients of a given product and the chafing is ready.

Although nappy rash in infants is most common in the diaper area, it can also occur in other parts of the body. Sometimes you can notice chafing on the baby’s neck and in skin folds, e.g. on the thighs, armpits or in the bend of the knees and elbows. This type of chafing usually occurs during the summer, when the baby is sweating and the adjacent areas of the skin in folds and depressions are constantly rubbing against each other.

Check how to prevent chafing and protect your baby from unpleasant ailments.

How is diaper rash in babies manifested?

Diaper rash in infants is relatively easy to spot and correctly recognize. The first symptom is reddening of the skin, the so-called diaper erythema. This is the initial stage of the development of nappy rash in a newborn – if we react quickly and apply appropriate care and remedial measures, we have a good chance that the baby’s condition will not worsen and the ailments will disappear quickly.

In more severe cases of diaper dermatitis, we may notice slight swelling, small spots and vesicles, as well as erosions in the form of small sores. Sometimes the child’s skin may be additionally infected with bacteria or fungi, which requires medical intervention and the use of prescription drugs.

It is comforting that such an advanced form of nappy rash is rare. When we notice that the skin in the diaper area gradually returns to its original color, redness appears on a smaller and smaller area, peeling appears, slight thickening of the epidermis and discoloration, we can say with a high degree of probability that our actions were effective and the toddler is recovering health .

Ways for diaper dermatitis

Before we move on to the ways of dealing with nappy rash in infants, it is worth mentioning prevention. Prevention of diaper dermatitis Mostly, it includes proper hygiene and care habits that are worth using for every baby.

The methods of preventing nappy rash are:

1. changing diapers frequently (every 2-3 hours or more often if the baby poops)
2. washing the skin in the diaper area with water with a mild detergent or with delicate moist wipes with each diaper change
3. thorough drying of the skin after each washing and bathing
4. protecting the skin under the diaper with a barrier or barrier cream that will protect it from irritating factors
5. using the right size diaper – too small a diaper sticks tightly to the skin and may cause diaper rash
6. the use of disposable diapers that leave the skin feeling dry
7. airing, i.e. being without a diaper for a while.

For daily care of the skin under the nappy, do not use creams and ointments for nappy rash for children with zinc oxide or possibly a small amount of zinc oxide – such preparations are perfect for treating existing nappy rash, but they should not be used prophylactically. Instead, ointments based on allantoin, lanolin and dexpanthenol will work better.

Home remedies for nappy rash in children

Unfortunately, we cannot predict all causes of nappy rash in infants. Sometimes, even despite the exemplary care and hygiene of the buttocks, we notice disturbing redness, lumps and pimples on it. Such symptoms, unless they are very severe or extensive, are not an indication for an urgent medical consultation, although it is worth mentioning them to the pediatrician during the next check-up or vaccination visit. In most cases of diaper dermatitis, home remedies are sufficient, which can bring significant improvement in a short time:

1. you can wash your baby’s bottom with cotton buds or gauze pads soaked in water with a mild baby detergent
2. frequent airing of the bottom is an effective way of diaper rash – after removing the diaper and cleaning the skin, place the baby without the diaper on a disposable, absorbent pad so that the skin can breathe
3. in reddened areas use a nappy rash cream for babies with zinc oxide, which has an antibacterial effect and accelerates the healing of lesions
4. a good way to treat nappy rash in infants is potato flour applied to the baby’s bottom instead of the powder; you can also add it to your bath in the form of homemade starch
5. bathe your baby every day, or even twice a day
6. choose extremely absorbent diapers that absorb moisture well.

In addition to home remedies for nappy rash, you should also follow all the preventive measures listed in the previous paragraph. Appropriate prophylaxis should remain with us throughout the entire period of diaper rash, which will avoid repeated chafing or significantly reduce the unpleasant ailments experienced by the child.

What cosmetics should I use for diaper skin care?

All cosmetics used to care for the baby’s skin in the diaper area must have a gentle effect, tailored to the very sensitive and prone to irritation baby’s skin. In addition, their composition should include substances with a soothing, moisturizing and moisturizing effect.

All these strict criteria are met by HiPP cosmetics. These are carefully designed products, the composition of which is completely safe for babies, which is why they are perfect for everyday care and prevention of diaper rash. The following should be included in the baby’s care routine:

1. HiPP Babysanft Sensitive care oilwhich, when applied to a cotton ball or a soft gauze pad, can be used to wipe the baby’s bottom to protect it from irritating factors
2. HiPP Babysanft Sensitive face and body care cream with a thick and greasy consistency, which can act as a barrier cream for a newborn’s butt – the panthenol in its composition nourishes and soothes the baby’s skin, and also soothes irritations
3. Caring shower cream HiPP Babysanft Sensitive with ecological almond oil protecting the baby’s skin from drying out; add it to the water you use to wash your baby’s butt after changing the nappy
4. HiPP Babysanft Natural Aqua wipes soaked in a gentle 99% water-based liquid that will be used to gently but effectively cleanse your baby’s skin.

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Źródła:

1. B. Bartkiewicz, M. Dudra-Jastrzębska, I. Jazienicka, Selected childhood dermatoses, http://www.czytelniamedyczna.pl/2067,wybrane-dermatozy-wieku-dzieczkaego.html
2. A. Sadowska-Przytocka, M. Czarnecka-Operacz, Diaper dermatitis and nappy rash in children, https://forumpediatrii.pl/artykul/pieluszkowe-zaprzał-skory-i-odparzenia-skory-u-dzieci

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