How to recognize diaper rash in babies?

How to recognize diaper rash in babies?

Your baby has a red and irritated bottom, this redness draws like a W which covers the inside of the thighs, the buttocks and the pubis of the baby, he probably has what is called diaper rash or "diaper dermatitis".

This is the most common skin disease in children aged 6 months to 1 year.

Diaper rash is a very common symptom in newborns and infants. It represents 10 to 15% of the reasons for consultations with the pediatrician in France and can occur as early as 3 weeks of life, however, diaper rash is mainly observed between 6 and 12 months, the age at which babies begin to acquire the sitting position by increasing friction with the diaper.

If left untreated, diaper rash can progress to a more severe infection.

What causes diaper rash?

Prolonged contact of the baby's bottom with feces and urine has an irritating effect, the baby's skin, which is already immature, completely loses this barrier function and becomes permeable to irritating substances, which is when the bottom becomes red.

More details:

• During or after diarrhea due to hyperacidity of the stools
• Diapers that may contain irritating or poorly absorbent components
• Incorrect frequency of diaper changes which promotes maceration
• The use of certain irritating diaper products (wipes, lotion or toiletries)
• Insufficient or incomplete seat cleaning

If the skin becomes irritated quickly, it can also heal just as quickly if we adopt the right actions.

But what can be done to properly treat diaper rash?

Here are the rules to follow in the event of diaper rash in babies.

When changing the diaper, gently wash the baby's bottom with lukewarm water and a few drops of natural vegetable oils.

We will avoid anything that is detergent and soap, we will prefer dermatological soaps purchased in pharmacies. We will also avoid wipes.

To dry the buttocks, use clean towels, avoiding rubbing but rather dabbing until the area becomes completely dry.

Protect the baby's bottom by applying a zinc oxide cream available in pharmacies before putting a clean diaper on.

Do not apply talcum powder because this product can irritate both your lungs and your child's lungs.

We will avoid pajamas made of synthetic fabric and prefer cotton pajamas.

We will use highly absorbent diapers so that baby's bottom remains dry for as long as possible and we do not hesitate to replace diapers much more frequently than we usually do. Also, we will avoid tightening the diaper too much to let baby's skin "breathe".

And if possible, leave baby's bottom in the air for the entire duration of the diaper rash, the fresh air dries the skin and promotes healing.

When should you see a doctor?

If after 3 to 4 days, by applying the advice mentioned above, the diaper rash persists, you should consult a doctor to ensure that the diaper rash has not been infected.

The doctor will examine your baby and check that there are no other skin problems, the doctor may prescribe treatment to further relieve irritation and limit the risk of infection. If there is an infection, he or she will prescribe antibiotic treatment (if bacterial infection) or antifungal treatment (if fungal infection).