Noticing a red rash bottom on your little one can make you feel all devastated and guilty at the same time. Obviously, it puts you in an uncomfortable zone that you are not taking good care of your baby. Changing the diapers on your baby frequently is the best way to treat it. However, even those efforts go in vain sometimes as the rashes continue to persist. If you are wondering what you could do to make your baby feel comfortable again, then read on.
What causes diaper rashes?
It is very obvious that wet diapers that are left on your baby for longer time periods is the source of this condition. Those red bumpy painful rashes are caused due to the burn from ammonia that is present in urine. When ammonia comes in contact with bacterias present in the feces, it leads to those painful rashes or what we commonly call as a diaper rash.
What are the best home remedies for diaper rash?
With right cleansing techniques, giving your baby’s bottom sufficient air, and applying some right protective ointment would heal your baby’s rashes in less time. These are some of the Doctor’s recommended and safest remedies for the diaper rashes.
Warm water and baby oil spray
Fill a sprayer bottle with some warm water, and few drops of baby oil.
Spray this mixture to remove stools from your baby’s bottom and gently wipe the area with a clean cotton cloth.
If wiping the area seems to be painful for your baby, then rinse the baby’s bottom with water and pat it dry.
Use alcohol and fragrance-free baby wipes
If you use baby wipes for your baby then try to use a brand that doesn’t have alcohol or fragrance. Alcohol and chemicals used to make the wipes smell good are known to irritate the sensitive skin over the rashes.
Try using a blow dryer instead of a towel
Sometimes even the touch and little wiping action with your towel over the rashes can be painful. If the rashes are too sensitive to touch, then try using a blow dryer in the area. Set the dryer on the coolest setting and keep it at least 10 inches away from the baby’s skin, and blow dry the area gently by moving it back and forth. Keep a check on the temperature of the air to make sure your dryer is not blowing out hot air.
Expose the rashes to air
Whenever the baby is off the diaper, give it sometime before putting on the next one. Try to expose the affected area to air as long as possible. A little exposure of 15 to 20 minutes would go a long way in healing up the rashes quickly.
Make sure you are using the right ointment
Although there are many ointments available over the counter to treat the rashes, you need to know which ointment would work the best for your baby’s tender skin.
Look for the ointment that contains or made with zinc oxide, because it has a soothing action on your baby’s skin and protects it from moisture that irritates it.
Destine and A&D diaper rash ointment are a couple of well-known brands recommended by Doctors. You can also look for other brands that have the same ingredient.
For Deep Red Rashes
For rashes that are deep red and stubborn, you need to use a combination of antifungal cream Canestan and hydrocortisone creams, followed by a barrier cream like Penaten to ensure proper protection from irritants.
Mix Canestan cream with 0.05% hydrocortisone cream in 1:1 ratio and apply this mixture to all the affected areas that look inflamed. After this apply a thin layer of Penaten cream to avoid any irritation to the area.
Apply these creams three to four times a day for proper healing.
For Yeast Diaper Rash
For rashes caused by yeast and ammonia, mix equal parts of Nivea cream, Canesten cream, cornstarch, and Penaten together and apply this mixture to rashes before each diaper change. This mixture is found to be really effective against rashes and it promotes faster healing as well.
Give Your Baby Sitz Bath
If your baby feels irritated a lot, then a warm sitz bath can do the trick of making it feel more comfortable. Fill the bathtub with warm water and let the baby sit in it for five to ten minutes.
Some Tips to Prevent Future Instances of Diaper Rash
- If you use diapers regularly for your baby, then try to use the super absorbent type. This type of diaper will draw the urine to the center and away from your baby’s skin.
- If you use cloth diapers, then try to give it a final rinse with white vinegar. Add one-quarter cup of white vinegar to the water and rinse it thoroughly before drying it. White vinegar is acidic in nature and it helps to dislodge the bacterias present in the cloth.
- Avoid covering the diapers with plastic pants. Plastic pants block the airflow and it holds on to the moisture. The wet environment in your diaper is the perfect breeding ground for bacterias and diaper rash.
- Make sure the diapers are loose enough for air circulation, tight diapers do not let the air in and can cause irritation.
- Avoid baby powder and use cornstarch powder instead. Baby powder can be very pleasing to smell and make your baby smell good as well. However, chemicals used to give your baby’s powder its pleasant fragrance is also known to cause rashes and not prevent it. Mix some corn starch powder with Nivea cream and apply it to baby’s sensitive areas.