5 ways to treat diaper rash at home
Get ProHealth pediatricians tips for diaper rash treatment.
5 tips to treat and prevent diaper rash
- Change dirty diapers as soon as possible. Make sure the skin of your baby's diaper area is dry before replacing the diaper.
- Be gentle when cleaning your baby's diaper area. Use water and a soft washcloth. Alcohol and fragrance-free baby wipes are also OK to use.
- Put zinc oxide diaper cream on the skin of your baby's diaper area. Layer the cream on thick. Only remove the soiled cream with each diaper change. There's no need to wipe all the way down to the skin.
- Let your child go without a diaper for as long as possible to let the skin dry and heal.
- Call your ProHealth Physicians doctor if your baby seems to be in pain or hard to soothe.
Signs your baby may have diaper rash
Diaper rash is a common problem with babies. Most cases can be cared for at home. Diaper rash signs include:
- Red rash on butt
- Skin peeling
Causes of diaper rash
Diaper rash can be caused by:
- Diapers not being changed often enough
- Sensitive skin
- Wet diapers
Types of diaper rash
There are many kinds of diaper rash. The most common are:
- Irritation: when soaps dry and create slight rashes
- Ammonia: when stool and urine mix together to cause burns
- Diarrhea: a common cause of skin irritation
- Stool: when left on the skin, this can cause rash
What to do when diaper rash isn't going away
Diaper rash should go away after a few days by following the steps above. Call your doctor if the rash isn't getting better or your baby shows signs of a skin infection. Skin infection symptoms include:
- Blisters
- Fever
- A rash that doesn’t go away or gets worse
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