WHAT IS DIAPER RASH AND FACTS ABOUT DIAPER RASH

A diaper rash is an area of inflamed skin found in the diaper area in infants and young children. Diapers, whether reusable or disposable, create a hot moist environment that traps diaper contents (e.g., urine and feces) against the skin, which causes irritation and can promote infection.

WHAT DIAPER RASH LOOKS LIKE

If your baby has nappy rash, you'll know it. Her skin will look red and inflamed where it's been in close contact with her nappy. The rash will probably affect her genitals, the outer skin on the folds of her thighs, and her bottom. The affected areas can appear either dry or moist and may sometimes look shiny or pimply.

Diaper rash can be mild – a few prickly red spots in a small area – or extensive, with tender red bumps that spread to your child's tummy and thighs.

Most cases are of short duration, lasting only three or four days. But sometimes a rash will persist, an indication that a secondary skin condition or infection has developed.

If a basic nappy rash isn't treated, it can develop into something more serious, including: a bacterial or fungal infection, such as thrush or candida. Thrush begins as tiny red spots which multiply and mass into a solid red blotch.

CAUSES OF DIAPER RASH

Diaper rash is very common in babies and is a kind of contact dermatitis, so it is NOT necessarily a sign of parental neglect.  

Here are the most likely culprits:

Wetness: A child left in a dirty diaper for too long is more likely to develop diaper rash, Even the most absorbent diaper leaves some moisture on your child's skin. And when your child's urine mixes with bacteria from his stool, it breaks down and forms ammonia, which can be very harsh.

Chemical sensitivity:  Your child's diaper rash may be the result of his diaper rubbing against his skin, especially if he's particularly sensitive to chemicals like the fragrances in a disposable diaper or the detergents used to wash a cloth diaper. It could also be that the wipe, a lotion or powder you're using at diaper time doesn't agree with your child's skin.

New food:  It's common for children to get diaper rash when they start eating solid foods or are introduced to a new food. Any new food changes the composition of the stool. (The acids in certain foods can be especially troublesome for some kids.) A new food might increase the frequency of your child's bowel movements as well. If you're breastfeeding, your child's skin could even be reacting to something you're eating.

Infection:  The diaper area is warm and moist — just the way bacteria and yeast like it. So it's easy for a bacterial or yeast infection to flourish there and cause a rash, especially in the cracks and folds of your child's skin.

Antibiotics:  Children on antibiotics (or whose breastfeeding mothers are on antibiotics) sometimes get yeast infections because these drugs reduce the number of healthy bacteria that help keep yeast in check as well as the harmful bacteria they're meant to destroy.