Tips to Prevent Diaper Rash
Diagnosing diaper rash should be relatively simple. Generally, you will notice some scaling of the skin and a mild redness in the skin that touches the diaper. Occasionally the rashes will spread beyond the boundaries of the diaper if your baby scratches the area, further irritating the surrounding skin. In severe cases, sores, blisters, and pimples may emerge from the area, and the skin will become inflamed and red.
Diaper rash is a form of skin irritation. Several precipitating factors lead to diaper rash: Moisture from sweat and urine, irritants such as stool, urine, sweat, or diaper materials or cleansers used to wash reusable diapers, and friction all work together to irritate the baby´s sensitive skin. Diarrhea can also make diaper rashes worse. While most diaper rashes are mild, it is important to minimize further irritation, as skin that is open can easily become infected by fungus or bacteria which can cause significant pain and frustration for you and the baby.
The ideal solution to diaper rashes is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. By minimizing the irritation that your baby´s skin is exposed to you reduce the chances that your baby will develop diaper rash. You also ensure that the irritation is mild if your baby does get a diaper rash. As explained above, moisture, irritant substances, and friction are the three culprits which cause diaper rash.
- Simply not using a diaper, at least some of the time, is the best way to reduce all three factors. Allowing your baby to have some diaper free time can provide the skin with much needed air, and time away from the irritants to recover.
- Check your baby´s diaper at least once an hour. Minimize exposure time to urine or stool.
- Use plain warm water to wash your baby´s skin.
- If you use re-usable cloth diapers, boil them in hot water for 15 minutes to remove bacteria.
- If the diaper rash still persists after these measures, your baby may be sensitive to the diaper itself or the cleansers that are used to wash re-usable diapers. Try changing the products that you use.
Following these steps will help you keep your baby´s diaper area clear of rashes. If your baby does get a diaper rash, try to maximize the time that your baby is diaper-less, and change diapers often. This is by far, the best prevention. Finally, watch for possible signs of infections if your baby´s diaper rash is becoming severe. Generally, the rashes which are generally a pink to light red color, become very bright and pronounced when an infection is involved. The baby may also experience fatigue, nausea, and a fever is usually involved. If you suspect an infection, call a doctor immediately and handle the problem promptly.
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