There may be many potential ailments your baby has to deal with, but diaper rash is a common one. You may be careful and take all precautions, but at some point, you will see the redness around the baby’s thighs or bottom. If the baby is wrapped in a wet diaper for too long or the baby has some type of allergy or diarrhoea, then you might notice a baby rash on the body.
Diaper rashes are hard to deal with as they can irritate the baby, and changing the diapers can be difficult for a parent. Wiping becomes intensely painful for the baby, and when you hear your baby cry, it may feel like a nightmare. You simply wonder how much time the baby will take to get rid of the diaper rash. Here we will discuss common baby rashes, what the causes are, and what you can do to get rid of a diaper rash in 24 hours.
Causes and Types of Diaper Rash:
Babies have sensitive skin, and they have a developing immune system. As the skin of a baby is sensitive, it is prone to infections and irritation. A few causes of diaper rash are heat, friction, dampness, chemicals, fragrances, allergies, and fabrics.
The faeces of a baby can irritate the skin and cause a rash. Bacterial and viral infections can also cause rashes. Depending on the cause of a rash, different parts of the baby’s body can be affected, like the neck, legs, arms, face, trunk, hands, skin folds, diaper area, etc.
Now let’s check on some types of diaper rash in babies. Some types of baby rashes are given below:
- Cradle cap
- Drool rash appears when the drool irritates the skin around the mouth or on the chest.
- Baby acne
- Eczema, which can appear on the arms, behind the knees, and on the face
- Hives
- Heat rash can be caused in areas covered by clothes like the neck, chest, arms, torso, legs, and armpits.
- Foot, hand, and mouth disease, and many more
Treatments for Diaper Rashes:
Here we will discuss different treatments for dealing with a baby with diaper rash. A few things that you need to take care of are:
- Change the diaper frequently.
- Wash the bottom of the baby instead of wiping it because it really hurts the skin and sometimes causes bleeding as well. Never use wipes that are prepackaged because they have alcohol and other content that can worsen the rash.
- Choose a barrier cream to apply to the skin of your baby. It can also treat diaper rash pimples.
- Do not give acidic food to babies.
- Avoid giving citrus and tomatoes to your baby.
- Wash your hands before and after changing the diaper; otherwise, the rash can be infected.
Home Remedies to Treat Diaper Rash:
For diaper rash treatment, here are some effective baby diaper rash home remedies that will give your baby quick comfort, but before that, there are a few things that are important to follow. If you are struggling to find out how to get rid of a diaper rash in 24 hours, then first do the steps listed below, followed by any home remedy.
Step 1: Do not use wipes as mentioned earlier, and wash the bottom of the baby with some running warm water.
Step 2: After every diaper change, let the baby sit in the tub of water for 10 minutes (add baking soda or apple cider vinegar as discussed below). There is no need to wash the baby with shampoo or anything. Just let the baby sit in the tub of warm water for ten minutes or so.
Step 3: Wrap the baby in the towel and let the skin dry. Do not rub the towel on the skin. Just pat it.
Step 4: Apply breast milk, coconut oil, or a diaper rash cream.
Step 5: Sprinkle some baby powder or baking soda at the end.
Step 6: Next morning, check the status of the rash. If it is fine, let the baby sit in warm water. To the warm water, add some baking powder. You can continue with the remedy if you think the condition has improved. Otherwise, get in touch with a pediatrician.
Home Remedies to Treat the Rash:
- Breastfeeding: Breast milk does more than nourish the tummy of the baby. It is an effective home remedy to comfort the baby with diaper rash, as breast milk has amazing biodynamic properties and some natural anti-infective properties that are full of antibodies. Apply a little breast milk to the rash and let it dry. Most mothers have claimed that it has worked better for their babies than any other cream.
- Apple cider vinegar: As per the Clean Chef, Messy Mom, using a cup of apple cider vinegar will stop the growth of yeasts, which can cause fungal infections. Add vinegar to the baby’s bath, and it will heal the rash quickly. The vinegar will kill bacteria, which can worsen the rash, and will also kill yeast, which is a cause of the rash. You can also take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and add it to a cup of water to wash the bottom of the baby every time there is a need for a diaper change.
- No diaper: Allow your baby to go naked a few times a day. After every diaper change, keep the diaper away for 30 minutes. The rash will air out, and it will cause a quick healing process. Yeast infections and rashes can be severe in a wet environment. Even if you change the diaper frequently, there will be some wetness, so remove the diaper for thirty minutes and let the skin breathe. If rashes are complicated, then let the baby be without a diaper overnight. Just put an absorbent pad under the baby at night.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil is a natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral treatment that is safe and gentle on the baby’s skin. It has no sugar, which can prevent yeast infection. If you use virgin or organic coconut oil, then there will be no need for the heating process; otherwise, all the medicinal benefits will die from heating.
Baby Diaper Rash Cream
You can use a baby diaper rash cream that acts as a barrier between the skin and infection. Creams that have zinc can soothe the skin, and they will also prevent skin contact with faeces and other irritants. Just apply a thin layer to the baby’s skin to prevent urine and stool from touching the skin. Some creams that you can use for your baby are:
- Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Diaper Rash Ointment: Helps to treat and prevent diaper rash. It seals out moisture. It is free of dyes, preservatives, and talc.
- Desitin Maximum Strength Baby Diaper Rash Cream: This cream for baby diaper rash has 40 percent zinc oxide, which treats and prevents diaper rash discomfort. The rich and thick cream protects the baby’s skin for 12 hours. It soothes chafed skin and seals out wetness.
- A+D Original Diaper Rash Ointment: It is a skin protectant with lanolin and petrolatum to seal wetness and prevent the rash from spreading further. It seals wetness and relieves discomfort from chafed, cracked, and chapped skin.
Conclusion:
So, we have discussed the causes and types of diaper rashes that can cause discomfort to the baby. You need to take a few precautions and apply any of the home remedies for baby diaper rash to keep your baby comfortable. You can use a diaper rash cream, and if the condition of the rash doesn’t improve, then please visit the paediatrician.
