Dab a small amount of aloe vera gel onto the affected areas with your fingers. Aloe vera is antimicrobial, nourishing, and moisturizing — and the antioxidants it contains promote super-fast healing. Baking soda: The highly alkaline salts in baking soda help neutralize the acidity and bacteria caused by diaper rash.
If you have had a diaper rash for a long time, try dabbing some aloe vera gel onto the affected areas with your fingers. Aloe vera is antimicrobial, nourishing and moisturizing — but it also has powerful healing properties.
Mix together a few teaspoons of baking soda with 1/4 cup of water. Dab this mixture onto the affected areas with your fingers. The high alkalinity of the baking soda serves to neutralize the acidity and bacteria caused by diaper rash.
Aloe vera calms irritation, soothes itching and burns, aids in wound healing, and fights infections. It also has antioxidant properties that promote faster healing. Dab a small amount onto the affected areas with your fingers to treat diaper rash for fast results.
If your baby’s diaper rash appears to be on an area that is constantly wet, you might want to try a cream instead of a clay. A topical ointment or gel formulated to treat diaper rash will likely contain zinc oxide or hydrocortisone.
Home Remedies for Diaper Rash with Flour
When your little one is suffering from diaper rash, your goal is to find the most effective diaper rash remedy as soon as possible. Diaper rash is a common problem babies deal with, but providing your baby with some tender loving care isn’t as difficult as you think.
There are several natural diaper rash home remedies that may bring the condition under control in a matter of minutes. Learn about some of the best natural remedies for diaper rash from Grove.
First, what is diaper rash?
In a nutshell, diaper rash is a form of inflamed skin that looks like a patchwork of bright red skin on your little one’s bottom. Although diaper rash may seem alarming, it’s actually pretty easy to clear up with the right natural home treatment and more frequent diaper changing.
Also referred to as diaper dermatitis, diaper rash is a common skin problem that toddlers and infants experience. Any child who wears a diaper can suffer from mild to severe diaper rash.
What causes diaper rash?
Diaper rash can occur in diaper-wearers of any age and is likely to happen whenever your little one:
- Starts sleeping through the night with fewer diaper changes
- Begins transitioning from baby food to solid food
- Is prescribed antibiotics
- Has diarrhea or a cold
According to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, the biggest contributors of diaper rash are friction from frequent movement and wetness. Sometimes, babies and toddlers can be allergic to certain soaps as well as diapers and wipes.
What are the types of diaper rash?
The two main types of diaper rash are diaper dermatitis and yeast rashes. Accurately identifying your child’s rash is crucial for treating it properly.
What is diaper dermatitis?
Diaper dermatitis is the most common type of diaper rash and is the result of irritation caused by whatever’s in the diaper or the diaper itself.
Diaper dermatitis appears as tiny red bumps, and in severe cases, these can turn into lesions that may bleed and become infected.
What is yeast diaper rash?
Yeast diaper rash infections look similar to diaper dermatitis infections, but they may also include white, fluid-filled blisters or swollen areas that have a scaly, white outer layer.
If these blisters burst, they may become infected.
What does diaper rash look like?
Wondering what the different types of diaper rash look like in real life? Check out this video to view images of the most common types.
How to treat diaper rash
The American Academy of Dermatology Association also spells out some simple guidelines for treating a diaper rash at home including:
1. Change diapers as soon as possible
The most important way to prevent diaper rash is to change your baby’s diaper as soon as possible once it’s wet or soiled.
Even if the diaper is just wet, changing it will reduce the moisture content on your baby’s skin and reduce the risk of a rash.
2. Be gentle when cleaning the diaper area
Use a soft washcloth, water, and baby wipes that are fragrance-free and alcohol-free. Gently pat the skin, but don’t rub.
Your best bet is wipes that are clinically tested for use on sensitive skin.
3. Allow the skin to dry completely
After cleaning, allow your baby’s skin to air dry completely so it can heal faster.
If possible, let your little one go diaper-free until the skin is completely dry.
4. Call your doctor immediately if symptoms worsen
If the rash doesn’t go away in a few days, or it gets worse — or keeps coming back, make an appointment with your pediatrician.
Signs of a diaper rash infection may include severe inflammation (redness), blisters, fever, pus, or bleeding.
How to Relieve Diaper Rash Pain From Diarrhea
Diaper rashes are a common skin concern for infants and toddlers. They can cause red splotches and scales to appear in the genital area and on the child’s bottom. In some cases, rashes might spread up the child’s legs and to the stomach.
Diaper rashes are common because they grow in warm, moist places. That makes a diaper the perfect place for the rash to develop. Factors that can make diaper rash more likely include:
- diapers that are too tight
- sensitive skin
- irritated skin
- antibiotics
- introducing new foods
Fortunately, you can treat most mild cases of diaper rash at home. Try the tips below to help relieve your child’s diaper rash.
1. Keep it clean and dry
The most important step you can take to prevent and treat a rash is keeping your baby’s diaper dry and clean. When you change the diaper, clean the area gently with a soft cloth or a squirt of water from a bottle. Wipes are fine, just be gentle.
Don’t rub the skin too hard, and avoid wipes with alcohol. It can also help to give your child some time without a diaper when they have a rash. You can lay towels or disposable waterproof pads down so that your child can have some diaper-free time.
2. Change diapers often
It’s best to change your child’s diaper as soon as possible. It only takes a little bit of trapped moisture to irritate the skin and cause a rash. That’s why even slightly wet diapers should be changed right away, especially if your child has an active diaper rash.
3. Switch to disposable diapers
Cloth diapers have several benefits, but they’re not the best choice when your child has a diaper rash. It can help to switch to super-absorbent disposable diapers until the diaper rash heals. They’ll help keep your child dry and can promote faster healing.
4. Check the size of your child’s diaper
Wearing the wrong size diaper can increase the chances of diaper rash and make it harder for an active rash to heal. A diaper that’s too tight can cause extra moisture and faster rash growth. A diaper that’s too large can rub and cause friction that makes rashes worse.
Check your child’s current diaper size. Switching to a new size might help.
5. Apply soothing creams
You can use pastes or barrier creams that contain zinc to soothe the skin and prevent contact with feces and other irritants. Examples of these products include:
- Triple Paste
- A+D
- Balmex
- Desitin
Apply a thin layer to prevent stool or urine from touching your baby’s skin.
Jellies like Vaseline may be ideal, since they’re inexpensive and usually contain fewer dyes or perfumes. However, jellies may stick to cloth diapers and can be hard to wash off. They also don’t offer a barrier as strong as other creams.
Consider alternative soothing remedies
Some people claim that alternative or natural remedies provide better relief for their child’s diaper rash.
However, most of these methods haven’t been researched and aren’t backed by scientific studies. Use caution with any of them and stop if you notice that the rash is getting worse or doesn’t seem to be healing.
Popular alternative remedies include:
- aloe vera gel
- calendula cream
- witch hazel ointment
- shampoo clay
- breast milk
Shop for diaper rash creams
Order these soothing creams online:
6. Avoid these products
When it comes to preventing and treating diaper rash, less is more. Avoid using highly fragranced products, including fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free are much less irritating for many babies.
You should also refrain from using baby powder on your baby. It’s a no-no for babies because they can inhale it, which can harm their lungs.
Cornstarch is another remedy that isn’t safe to use on little ones because they can also inhale the powder, and it can irritate their lungs. Cornstarch can also worsen diaper rashes caused by the fungus Candida.
What causes diaper rash?
Diaper rashes are caused by moisture and friction irritating your child’s skin. It often happens when urine and feces sitting against their skin in the diaper cause the skin to become red irritated. However, this isn’t the only cause. Other causes include:
- diapers rubbing, chaffing, and causing irritation
- an allergic reaction to laundry detergent, bubble bath, wipes, or another product that touches your child’s skin
- a reaction to antibiotics
- an allergic reaction to newly introduced foods
Are there risk factors for diaper rash?
Diaper rashes are common and can happen to any child who wears a diaper. However, some risk factors make it more likely that a child will develop a diaper rash.
These include:
- being between 6 and 9 months old
- having diarrhea
- having a cold or other illness
- taking antibiotics
- starting to eat solid foods
- starting to sleep through the night
When to see your child’s pediatrician
Although diaper rashes can look painful and irritated, they often won’t bother your child. The exception is when the rash becomes infected.
An infected diaper rash should be treated by a pediatrician. It’s a good idea to make an appointment if you suspect your child’s diaper rash is infected.
Symptoms of an infected diaper rash include:
- blisters on the diaper area
- fever
- redness
- swelling
- pus or discharge that drains from the diaper area
- a rash that will not go away after treatment or starts to worsen
Your baby’s rash can also develop into a secondary fungal or yeast infection called candidiasis. It appears bright red and raw.
It can sometimes be found in the creases of the skin, with spots of the red rash outside of the diaper area on the abdomen or thighs. These are known as satellite lesions.
Check with your doctor or nurse for a diagnosis if you notice these symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream if they think your baby has a fungal diaper rash.
If your child becomes difficult to console or seems to be in pain related to their diaper rash, these are also signs to call the pediatrician.