Home Remedies for Diaper Rash
Diaper rash also called as irritant dermatitis, appears as skin inflammation or dermatitis on the buttocks and thighs. It occurs on the folds of the skin between the buttocks, scrotum and the thigh. It usually occurs in babies and toddlers; basically those who wear diapers for a long period of time. Diaper rash symptoms appear as skin eruptions causing the skin to become irritated or inflamed. The first symptom seen is the baby’s uncontrolled crying due to pain and itching on and around the butt area. Red rash, red dots or blisters or cracked skin are seen on the diaper covered area depending on the severity of the condition. Cause of diaper rash is seen when the sensitive skin of a baby or child gets scraped and irritated badly due to repeated friction caused by diapers. Sometimes even an allergic reaction to a medicine, for example an antibiotic could cause this rash.
Diaper Rash Treatment
Diapers protect the genital area and wet diapers are a breeding ground for infection.
- Change diapers frequently. Do not let the child wear wet diapers for long. The first thing you do to deal with diaper rash is, to put down your baby on a soft cotton blanket without the diaper. The genital area should be air dried and patted dry once it gets wet. You can hold your baby in front of a low speed fan with the air focused on the diaper rash region. You can give a warm water bath, gently dry with a towel and apply some aloe vera gel before you diaper the baby again. If you use loose powder, apply 2 tablespoons full on the inside of the diaper itself instead of on your baby
- Stop any medicine at once, when you find out that it causes an allergic reaction.
- Coconut oil is the best natural cure to treat diaper rash. Apply some coconut oil on your baby’s skin around the butt and this should subside the rash effectively. Cod liver oil or shark liver oil is a good home remedy for severe rash.
- Take care to ensure that the child does not accumulate sweat under the diaper. Mix unscented Vaseline and pure aloe Vera gel in equal proportions. Rub a light coat of this over your child’s bottom to prevent the extra moisture from trapping its delicate skin.
- Clean and wash nappies thoroughly. Let them soak in an antibacterial solution used especially for cleaning nappies and maintaining hygiene. Boil the nappies well in liquid soap or biological detergent. Avoid bleach as far as possible. If you use bleach, take care to rinse the nappies with a lot of water. This destroys any microorganisms without leaving behind detergent deposits.
- Diet for Diaper Rash: After all these tips are followed and your baby still gets a rash, take care to ensure that food that your baby eats is not too spicy or acidic.
Any sudden changes in your baby’s food or repeated health problems should be mentioned to your pediatrician. All these natural tips are useful for treatment of diaper rash.
