How To Treat Diaper Rash In Babies

This post will share how to treat diaper rash in babies.

Mostly, all the babies get diaper rash from time to time. It is the worst feeling for a mother to see her baby in pain especially when there is a nasty case of diaper rash. However, we can soothe baby’s bottom with some simple home remedies that are made from the ingredients easily available in our homes.

How To Treat Diaper Rash In Babies

Before going further, let me tell you what is a diaper rash.

Diaper rash is a term used to indicate any sort of skin irritation which occurs in the diaper-covered region. It is also known as ‘diaper dermatitis’ which means inflammation of the skin because of diapers and ‘napkin dermatitis’ that is inflammation of the skin because of nappies.

Is Diaper Rash An Indication Of Neglectful Care?

The answer is ‘NO’. Generally, parents feel that rashes have occurred because of their poor caretaking skills. However, parents are not responsible for this. There are some other causes responsible for the rashes to occur. The most frequent time period when the rashes occur is between 9 to 12 months of age.

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Causes of Diaper Rash

There are many causes of diaper rashes.

• Irritation from Stool And Urine

Rashes can occur if your baby is wearing a wet or dirty diaper for too long. Exposure to urine or stool for a long time can irritate baby’s sensitive skin.

• Chafing or Rubbing

If your baby is wearing a tight-fitting diaper or clothing, it will rub against the skin. Consequently, it leads to skin rash.

• Bacterial or Fungal Infection

The areas such as buttocks, thighs and genitals that are covered by a diaper are more prone to bacterial or fungal infections. This is because of the fact that these areas are warm and moist that makes a perfect breeding place for bacteria and fungi.

• Introduction of New Foods

As the babies start to have solid foods for the first time the composition and texture of their stool changes. In addition, the frequency with which the baby passes them also changes. Eventually, this leads to a rash in some babies. Generally, acidic foods such as citrus fruits, juices, tomatoes etc. cause rashes.

• Use of Antibiotics

The most common causative agent of diaper rash is Candida albicans (yeast – a fungus). Use of antibiotics kills bacteria both good as well as the bad ones. When the child is on antibiotics, the yeast growth check bacterias may get depleted resulting in a diaper rash due to yeast infection. In addition, the use of antibiotics can also increase the risk of diarrhoea.

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Symptoms of a Diaper Rash in Babies

The common symptoms are:

• Baby’s diaper area looks red and irritates
• Skin Puffiness
• Skin feels warm on touching
• Formation of few prickly red spots on the affected area

How To Treat Diaper Rash

As the first sign of a diaper rash appears, soothe your baby with some excellent natural diaper rash treatments. Some natural home remedies for treating diaper rashes are:

1. Coconut oil

It is very easily available in almost every household and is one of the safest home remedies to treat diaper rashes in babies. It has antifungal properties which are effective in curing the yeast diaper rash.

Material Required

• Few drops of coconut oil.

What All You Have To Do

• First, wash the bottom area of your baby with the warm water.
• Let the skin dry for some time.
• Take few drops of coconut oil in your palm and apply gently on the affected area.
• Let it also dry before making your baby wear a new diaper.
• Follow this remedy 1-2 times daily.

Must Read: Coconut Oil Body Massage Benefits

2. Oatmeal Bath

The second on the list to know how to treat diaper rash in babies is the use of oatmeal which is rich in proteins. These proteins safeguard the skin’s natural protective barrier. In addition, saponin – a chemical compound, is found in oatmeal. This compound helps in removing the dirt and unwanted oil from the baby’s skin. Oatmeal also soothes the skin irritation and inflammation because of the diaper rashes. This is due to the anti-inflammatory properties of oatmeal.

Material Required

• 1 tablespoon of dried oatmeal
• Water for bathing

What All You Have To Do

• Firstly, add 1 tablespoon of dried oatmeal to the baby’s bathtub filled with water. Stir it well.
• After that make your baby sit in this water for 10 to 15 minutes.
• This water will soothe the baby’s skin. Then pat dry the skin.
• Follow this remedy twice a day to treat diaper rash.

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3. Yogurt Treatment

Curd or Yogurt is very easily available in every household. It is an effective anti-inflammatory agent and a natural probiotic. Yogurt is effective against microbial and yeast infections. Hence, it can treat diaper rash.

Material Required

• 1 to 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt

What All You Have To Do

• A thick application of yogurt on to the affected area will soothe your baby.
• Follow this remedy on a daily basis to get relief.

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4. Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Furthermore, on the list to know how to treat diaper rash in babies is the use of apple cider vinegar. It is an antibacterial and antifungal agent that is effective to treat diaper rashes.

Must Read: 10 Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Skin and Hair

Material Required

• One teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
• One cup of warm water
• A clean cloth piece

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What All You Have To Do

• Add 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in one cup of warm water to make a weak vinegar solution.
• Now, dip a clean piece of cloth in this solution and wipe your baby’s bottom.
• Follow this remedy 1 to 2 times while changing the diaper. This will help to make your baby’s bottom resistant to yeast.

5. Use of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is known for its healing properties. It is an effective anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent which can soothe the irritated and inflamed skin and can also kill the bacteria responsible for the occurrence of diaper rashes. Therefore, it is considered as one of the safest and effective home remedies to treat diaper rash.

Material Required

• 1 to 2 teaspoons of Aloe Vera Gel

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What All You Have To Do

• Apply some Aloe Vera gel to the affected area with the help of your fingertips.
• Follow this remedy two to three times daily.

6. Application of Cornstarch

Next, on the list to know how to treat diaper rash in babies is the use of cornstarch which is an excellent moisture absorber. This property of cornstarch makes it effective to treat diaper rash by keeping baby skin dry and reducing the friction.

Material Required

• 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch

What All You Have To Do

• Wash your baby’s bottom properly with lukewarm water after removing the soiled diaper.
• Dry the skin with another cloth
• Let it further dry naturally for 3-4 minutes.
• Sprinkle cornstarch on the affected area before putting a fresh diaper in place.
• Follow this remedy every time you change the diaper until the full healing of the skin.

7. Shea Butter Application

Application of shea butter is an effective home remedy to treat diaper rash in babies. It moisturizes the skin effectively and has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties as well. Therefore, it can treat diaper rashes. Being analgesic, shea Butter can also relieve pain in the affected area.

Material Required

• Pure Shea Butter

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What All You Have To Do

• First of all, wash the affected skin of your baby with the lukewarm water.
• Let it dry completely.
• Now, take shea butter in your palms and start rubbing until it melts.
• Apply this melted shea butter to the affected area directly.
• Let it sit on the skin for at least 30-40 minutes before wearing a fresh diaper.

8. Essential Oil

Tea tree oil is antiseptic in nature and can treat a host of skin issues. Its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties make it an effective remedy to treat diaper rash.

*Make sure to dilute tea tree oil and don’t apply it directly on the skin.

Material Required

• 2-3 drops of Tea tree oil
• One tablespoon of coconut oil

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What All You Have To Do

• Prepare a mixture of 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 2-3 drops of tea tree oil.
• Take this mixture in required quantity in your palm and massage the affected area with that.
• Follow this remedy once daily.

Must Read: 13 Amazing Benefits of Tea Tree Oil For Skin And Hair

9. Petroleum Jelly

Furthermore, in the process to know how to treat diaper rash in babies is the of petroleum jelly. It is very effective in keeping the skin moisturized. Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory and healing properties to soothe and treat diaper rashes. Petroleum jelly is also known as a barrier ointment and can prevent any sort of skin irritation.

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Material Required

• 1 tablespoon of petroleum jelly

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What All You Have To Do

• Clean your baby’s bottom with lukewarm water.
• Let it dry.
• Now, simply apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the affected area.
• Follow this remedy during each diaper change.

10. Tea with Honey Spray

Honey is a natural moisturizer. The chamomile tea and honey both have antiseptic properties which can heal the skin effectively.

Material Required

• Two cups of chamomile tea
• One teaspoon of honey
• Spray bottle

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What All You Have To Do

• Take two cups of chamomile tea in a bowl.
• Now, add one teaspoon of honey to it.
• Mix the ingredients well.
• Fill this mixture in a spray bottle and spray it on to the affected area 3-4 times a day to get relief.

So, this is all about knowing how to treat diaper rash in babies. Follow these effective home remedies as these can really help you in soothing your baby’s soft skin.

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“Prevention is better than cure.”

Here are some tips to prevent diaper rashes.

• Wash your hands before and after each diaper change.
• After each diaper change allow the area to air dry for 5-10 minutes.
• It is recommended to change the diapers after every 2 to 3 hours or more frequently if there is already a rash.
• Clean your baby’s bottom whenever you change his/her diaper.
• Pat dry the skin always. Do not rub it.
• Try to use fewer wipes as sometimes even wipes may cause a rash.
• Do not over tighten the diaper as it can cause chafing at the waist or thighs.
• Let your baby go without a diaper whenever possible.