MC2Charlotte

Although diaper rashes can be so stressful, you do not need to seek medical care for this, generally.  Here are some tips and tricks to treat Diaper Rash.  Below, you will also find a concoction that works wonderfully when you feel that you have run out of alternatives.

 

Cause of diaper rashes in NewBorns:  

• constant poop and pee
• constant wiping of poop and pee
• wipes
• delicate newborn skin
• friction of diapers on newborn skin

 

 

 

 

Causes of diaper rashes in Older Babies:

• constant poop
• diarrhea

  

• occasionally new foods
• wipes, yes even the sensitive wipes have irritant chemicals on them, and can cause an allergic appearing diaper rash

  

• diapers: different brands affect different baby’s skin in odd ways.  Some babies can have a allergic reaction to certain brands or off brands of disposable diapers
• rarely are detergents the issue, but they can be the cause of allergic diaper rash
• fragrant soaps
• antibiotics can lead to diarrhea or candida diaper rash
• candida is a type of yeast, that loves dark moist places like the diaper area, and the folds of skin

  

 

Over the counter creams – the basics

1. Desitin
2. A/D ointment
3. Boudreaux Butt Paste
4. Triple Ointment
5. Balmex
6. etc.

How to Care for Diaper Rash

• stop using wipes
• apply diaper cream generously
• changing a pee diaper = dab away pee with clean towel – Do Not Rub, Do Not Dab all the cream off.  Dab only to CLEAN CREAM , then apply more
• changing a poop diaper = rinse tush under lukewarm water until all residual is off.  Soap is needed only if the poop is dried and caked on.  Generally, most poop just falls off under a water stream.  Dab water or dry tush with a hair dryer on COOL setting.  Ok to leave bottom to air dry if you have a non-squirmy baby.
  • how not to drop the baby when rinsing his bottom in the sink – place baby on the floor on a towel next to sink (this way squirmy babies don’t fall off counters).  Turn water on.  Lift baby with both hands and hold their tush under stream of water.  Place baby on the floor on towel.  Turn off water.  Resume drying and cream.
  • babies and toddlers that can stand in the bathtub, can be rinsed with the sprayer while standing.  Turn water on and adjust temperature, before you remove diaper and place child in tub.  I know that this is common sense, and people are rolling their eyes at this, but in the midst of mayhem, this step can sometimes be overlooked and babies can be burned by hot water, unintentionally.  This is also why your hot water heater should never be set higher then 120 degrees
• moral of the story – clean to Clean Cream NOT to Clean Skin – every time we get to the skin layer for a most pristine and sparkly tush, we remove several layers of skin off, which in turn creates a cycle of poop/pee, wipe skin layers off, develop rash, poop/pee, wipe more skin layers off, develop worse rash.  You get the point.

Diaper Cream Recipe

When all else fails, and rash continuously gets worse despite the above treatment plan….

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp Destin – for the zinc oxide
• 3 Tbsp of A/D ointment – for the petrolatum.  You hate petrolatum? Sub with 3 Tbsp Coconut oil
• 3 Tbsp Non Flavored Maalox – yes, the stomach medicine in liquid form
• 3 Tbsp Corn Starch
• 3 Tbsp 1% hydrocortisone ointment (if approved by your doctor/on call nurse)
• 3 Tbsp Lotrimin (if rash has spread into the folds of the diaper region), ok to use generic option,

Instructions:

• Mix all ingredients in Tupper Ware, do not powder the baby with corn starch!
• Apply generously to diaper area
• Dab away soiled cream as above.
• Apply more cream
• Ok to wash all cream off in 2-3 days.
• Generally you should not see the skin for 2-3 days in order to protect it.

When to Call the Doctor

• the rash is spreading
• pustules form
• the baby is in pain
• you are worried about an allergy
• you are worried!

In Good Healthy, Ana-Maria Temple, MD