What is it?

• Diaper rash is an inflammation of the skin around the diaper area.

What causes it?

• The diaper provides an environment for warmth and moisture (in the form of urine and feces) to combine. This in turn produces a raw, red and irritated bottom.

Prevention

• Thoroughly clean and dry your baby’s bottom after a BM or when changing a wet diaper.
• Pat your baby's skin dry - avoid rubbing.  
• Apply a protective cream after cleansing.
• Change the diaper as quickly as is practical after it is wet or messy. 
• For a newborn this may mean changing a diaper every couple of hours or less.  
• Cloth diapers “breath” more easily than disposable ones. They may not be practical for many to use but do so whenever possible. Avoid the use of plastic diaper covers.
• If your baby goes to day care or is cared for by someone else, make sure you let them know what you are doing to prevent diaper rash.

What is the treatment?

• Be sure your baby's diaper area is rinsed and dry before putting on a new diaper.
• Pat dry - try not to rub.
• Use soothing creams such as A and D or Desitin.  
• Leave the diaper off as much as possible until the redness and irritation disappears.
• For a young baby put the change pad on the floor and cover with an old towel or cloth diaper.
• Older babies can have no-diaper time outside, or if the weather is cool then in a room with an easy to clean floor.
• If a yeast infection is present, antifungal medications may be necessary.

Call the Doctor if:

• Intense redness, oozing or weeping skin is present or raw and painful patches appear.
• Swelling of the penis or labia occurs.  
• Inflammation of the skin that spreads beyond the diaper area.
• You notice the baby cries when urinating.

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