How to take care of baby diaper rash

How to take care of baby diaper rash

Health

To take care of a baby’s diaper rash, called diaper rash, the mother must first identify whether the baby actually has a diaper rash. To do this, the mother must check whether the baby’s skin that is in contact with the diaper, such as the buttocks, genitals, groin, upper part of the thighs or lower part of the abdomen, is red, hot or has blisters.

Furthermore, when the baby’s skin is roasted, the baby becomes uncomfortable and may cry, especially during diaper changes, as the skin in this area is more sensitive and painful.

Therefore, to treat diaper rash in babies, it is recommended to apply diaper rash ointment, avoid using wet wipes to clean and leave the baby without a diaper for a few minutes every day.

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What to do to treat baby diaper rash

To treat a baby’s diaper rash, some precautions must be taken, such as:

  • Leave the baby without a diaper for some time every day, This way you can let the baby’s skin breathe a little, which helps to treat diaper rash, as heat and humidity are the main causes of diaper erythema;
  • Putting a looser diaper on the babyas this way it is possible to prevent the skin from being in constant contact with the diaper, preventing diaper rash;
  • Apply diaper rash ointment such as Bepantol or Hipoglós, whenever the diaper is changed, as these ointments help the skin to heal, helping to treat diaper rash. Discover other ointments for diaper rash;
  • Change the baby’s diaper frequently, as this prevents urine and feces from being retained for a long time inside the diaper, which can worsen diaper rash. It is recommended to change the diaper before or after each meal and whenever the baby has a bowel movement;
  • Perform intimate hygiene of the baby with water and gauze or cotton diaperwhenever the diaper is changed, this is because the wet wipes found in supermarkets can cause more skin irritation, making diaper rash worse.

Diaper rash, in general, is temporary, but when left untreated it can develop into a bacterial infection or candidiasis, which requires specific treatment, which must be carried out according to the pediatrician’s instructions.

Homemade baby powder for diaper rash

Homemade talcum powder can help alleviate diaper rash symptoms, as it helps to soothe the skin due to the calming and anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile and the antiseptic effect of propolis, which helps fight infections.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons of cornstarch;
  • 5 drops of propolis tincture;
  • 2 drops of chamomile essential oil.

Preparation mode

Sift the cornstarch onto a plate and set aside. Mix the tincture and essential oil in a very small vaporizer, with the function of spraying like a perfume. Then, sprinkle the mixture on top of the cornstarch, being careful not to form lumps and let it dry. Store in a jar of talcum powder and always use it on the baby, remembering to avoid putting it on the child’s face. This talc can be stored for up to 6 months.

Before using homemade talcum powder, it is important that you consult your pediatrician, as this will allow you to assess whether any of the components are capable of causing further irritation to your baby’s skin.

What can cause baby diaper rash?

The main causes of diaper rash in babies are:

  • Heat and humidity;
  • Direct contact of the baby’s skin with urine or feces;
  • Allergy to wet wipes;
  • Inadequate hygiene.

In addition to noticing redness and, in some cases, peeling of the region and the presence of small balls, when the diaper rash is very intense, it is possible to notice the presence of a little blood in the baby’s diaper, and it is important that treatment is started to alleviate symptoms. Discover the main causes of diaper rash in babies.

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Coordinator of the Pediatrics Service at Hospital Lusíadas in Braga, Portugal, with CRM 14218-PR.

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