The skin inflammation that occurs on the skin beneath a diaper is known as diaper rash. Usually, this type of rash occurs in infants as well as children below 2 years old. However, diaper rashes may also happen in people who are paralyzed or incontinent. In medical terms, diaper rash is known as diaper dermatitis.
Nearly all babies usually get diaper rash no less than once in the first three years of their life and most of them generally get diaper rashes between the age of 9 months and 12 months. During this stage of their lives, babies are mostly sitting and also consuming solid foods. This may often alter the acidity of their bowel movements.
Although somewhat uncomfortable, diaper rash is very natural part of a baby's life. Diaper rash may appear in a number of forms - varying from slight redness of the skin to somewhat raised redness on their tender skin that is covered by the diaper. In fact, babies who have diaper rashes may feel somewhat irritated, particularly when the diaper is being changed.
Diaper rash can be prevented in several ways. At the same time, it is important that while changing the baby's diaper you look for signs to be sure that the rash does not turn into a yeast infection. In case it does, the child will need medical attention.
Basically, diaper rash is a skin inflammation, usually due to the baby coming in contact with his/ her urine or feces for prolonged periods of time. In addition, some babies may also develop partial allergic reactions to foods their breastfeeding mothers consume, or they may also be sensitive to several types of diapers, baby wipes, soaps or detergents available in the market for their use. If you notice that a particular brand of diaper or wipe is possibly responsible for the rashes, you should immediately switch to another brand of wipe or diaper that may be less sensitive to your baby. Possibly, this may help to solve the problem. In case you are using cloth diapers for your baby, it is advisable that you wash them with the simplest possible soaps, because often rash can also be caused by detergents that include fragrances.
Elma Diaper Rash ointment is an excellent remedy for treating your baby's diaper rash. This ointment is excellent for providing a barricade between the baby's tender skin and the diaper. In case your baby has a tendency to develop diaper rash, you may try using this cream a number of times daily with a view to prevent the occurrences of this problem.
In fact, baby wipes are a commonly used helpful items for parents to keep their babies clean and dry. However, even these products may be responsible for rashes in babies. Wipes enclose soaps or different chemicals, which can irritate the bottom of the child further, especially if the area is chapped or sore. Therefore, if it is possible, you should always try using soft cotton cloths to clean the baby's bottom with lukewarm water. After cleaning the baby's bottom use another dry cloth to pat the child's bottom dry. Alternatively, you may even expose the bottom of the baby for some time with a view to keep the area dry.
It is advisable that you should not be very worried if your baby develops diaper rashes, because these can be prevented and even cured by following a few simple steps. Some guidelines to prevent and treat diaper rashes are mentioned below for your perusal and help.
First and foremost, ensure that you use diapers for babies that are likely provoke their tender skin the least. Secondly, make sure that you change the diapers very often so that the baby does not remain in it for a prolonged period. In case you find that your baby has already developed diaper rash, it is advisable to use Elma Diaper Rash ointment.
At the same time, take care to change the diaper brand if you find that your baby is having rash from the brand of diapers you are using currently. Instead of just using baby wipes to clean them it is advisable that you only use soft cotton cloths along with warm water. In addition, make sure to give your baby's bottom a few airing sessions every day to keep the place dry. This will help to prevent any Candida (fungus or yeast) infections.
There are a number of aspects that contribute to developing diaper rashes - including irritation, friction, candidal infection, allergic reactions and seborrhea among others. Each of these causes has been discussed briefly below.
Irritation: The tender skin below the diaper often becomes red due to irritants like urine, feces or various cleaning agents. In addition, irritation may also occur by the diaper itself or if there is acid in urine or due to irregular bowel movements. Usually, this kind of rash occurs as a reddish skin in areas where the diaper usually rubs the skin and is generally found in the skin's folds.
Friction: Nearly all diaper rashes are attributed to friction that occurs when the sensitive skin of a baby is rubbed by damp diapers. This causes the skin to become red and a shiny rash on the skin areas that are exposed.
Candida infection: Rash caused by candida infections is also referred to as yeast or fungal infections. This type of diaper rash appears bright and beefy red and commonly occurs after the baby has been administered antibiotics. It may be noted that Candida is basically a fungal micro-organism that is commonly present in warm and moist places like in the mouth. Actually, Candida is also responsible for causing thrush.
Seborrhea: Unlike the other diaper rashes discussed above, seborrhea is a greasy and yellow-hued rash that can occur in many different parts of the body. Apart from the area covered by a diaper, seborrhea may also occur on the face, neck and head.
Allergic reactions: Sometimes the rash may be a result of a reaction to diapers, diaper wipes, soap, lotion, laundry detergent or the elastic found in plastic pants. In fact, children with a history of eczema are likely to be more vulnerable to diaper rashes.
