You pick up your little one to change her diaper and realize she's been extra fussy this past half hour. When you open her diaper, you discover puffy red patches of skin across her bottom. Welcome to the life of a parent! A common affliction in the world of diapered babies, nappy rash, also known as diaper dermatitis and diaper rash, can be cured in a variety of ways, depending upon the severity of your baby's rash.
Air Exposure
One of the easiest ways to cure your baby's mild cases of diaper rash is through air exposure, which dries out the rash and promotes healing. Remove your little one's diaper and clean her sore bottom with water; placing her in several inches of cool water in the bathtub provides an easy way to sanitize her bottom without causing additional irritation, or you can use a bulb syringe to clean her by gently squirting water. Towel dry your baby's bottom and then let him go without a diaper for as long as you are comfortable, which should be at least 10 minutes. Repeat this procedure every time you need to change her diaper and your baby's red bottom should go away rapidly.
Natural Remedies
Natural remedies for diaper rash provide quick treatment options that use ingredients readily available in your home. These include ingredients ranging from cornstarch to olive oil. One common remedy is mixing 1 tablespoon of olive oil with 5 drops of water and applying it to your little one's skin. GrandmasHomeRemedies.com lists a variety of remedies for diaper rash, including sprinkling cornstarch over the chapped skin or dabbing milk of magnesia on the red areas (the antacid neutralizes the acids that worsen your baby's skin irritation).
Over-the-Counter Creams
A variety of over-the-counter creams can protect your baby's skin from wetness and irritation while promoting healing. Ointments that contain either zinc oxide (such as Desitin or Balmex) or petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) provide protection from wetness. Lanolin ointment (such as Lansinoh) soothes your baby's bottom while also protecting it from wetness. DrSears.com suggests that you use an antifungal cream (such as Clotrimazole) if your baby has a yeast-related diaper rash. Apply cream generously across the entire irritated area of your baby's bottom for quicker healing.
Prescriptions
Prescriptions from your baby's doctor usually relate to nappy rash that won't clear up, such as that caused by a yeast or bacterial infection. In these situations, your doctor may prescribe antifungal or hydrocortisone creams. Hydrocortisone cream reduces the inflammation, but you should be careful not to use it longer than a few days or as directed by your doctor, since it can cause long-term skin damage if used excessively.
Considerations
Depending upon the severity of your baby's diaper rash, it may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for the skin irritation to disappear completely. If your little one's skin shows no improvement following several days of treatment, call your baby's doctor. In certain instances, diaper rash may result in secondary skin infections that require prescriptions for treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms that warrant a call to your doctor include pus and discharge, boils or blisters, rash that extends to other parts of the body and a fever.
Tags: your baby, diaper rash, baby bottom, your baby bottom, your little, from wetness