Diaper rash in babies: symptoms and treatment

How common is diaper rash?

Your baby’s skin is very soft and vulnerable. The region around the buttocks is particularly sensitive and is stressed by moisture and excretions, which disrupt the skin’s barrier function. This allows germs, fungi and bacteria to penetrate faster. For this reason, almost all babies and toddlers suffer from red and sore skin in the diaper area at some point. In very many cases, about seven out of ten, a so-called diaper dermatitis develops in the first twelve months of life. pediatrician dr medical Jurgen Hower gave MomaSquad the best tips to prevent a red diaper butt.

What is diaper rash and how do you recognize it?

dr medical Jürgen Hower: Diaper dermatitis, also known as diaper rash, is initially defined as skin irritation in the diaper area that begins with reddening. Swelling, blisters and skin injuries can occur as the disease progresses. In general, parents should pay attention to and treat any form of reddening of the skin.

How does diaper rash occur?

dr medical Jürgen Hower: The baby’s buttocks are exposed to high levels of stress from urine, stool and mechanical stimuli. If the child lies in a wet diaper for a long time, the skin swells and the natural, not yet fully developed barrier function is disturbed. The warm, humid climate and the disturbed acid mantle in the diaper area favor the growth of germs, bacteria and fungi. These can then penetrate more easily into the already damaged skin. Above all, the infestation with yeast fungi is a common cause of diaper rash.

What are the symptoms of diaper rash?

dr medical Jürgen Hower: Because of the increasingly painful and itchy skin, the baby feels uncomfortable, becomes restless and often begins to whine or cry. In the beginning, the reddened skin does not allow any visible indication of the pathogen. At a later stage, it flakes off – especially in the case of a fungal infection. Sometimes even bleeding and sores develop. This often happens when other pathogens are added. If diaper rash is not treated then, there is a risk that the infection will spread beyond the diaper area.

How is diaper rash treated?

dr medical Jürgen Hower: It is usually not necessary to search for the pathogen, since the most common fungal infections in particular, but also bacterial infections, can be identified with some certainty and treated in a targeted manner. As a preventive measure, a cream with a high zinc content should be applied to the affected areas as soon as the first signs appear. This protects the skin. A cream with a zinc-nystatin complex is particularly suitable for frequent infections with Candida fungi due to the good tolerability of nystatin on the skin. Zinc or zinc oxide stops the itching, dries off moist areas of skin and thus removes the basis for yeast fungi.

How to properly care for baby skin?

dr medical Jürgen Hower: The skin of newborns is extremely sensitive because the individual skin layers and the protective acid mantle are not yet mature. They usually form a natural barrier against germs and bacteria. Daily hygiene must therefore not irritate or injure the sensitive baby skin. Parents should only bathe their child a maximum of three times a week, especially in the first months of life – not too long and not too hot. Bathing puts less strain on the skin than washing, since no cloth or sponge has to be used. It has also been shown that washing gels and creams developed for infants minimize water loss from the skin. This would occur when bathing with only water and without subsequent creams.

What else can parents do for their baby’s skin health?

dr medical Jürgen Hower: The development of diaper rash can be favored by an incorrect diet or a gastrointestinal infection. Too much sugar in the diet supports the growth of fungi. Therefore, when choosing foods, pay attention to the sugar content. In the case of diarrhea, the increased acid in the stool damages the skin. So change your diapers in good time, otherwise the sugary or acidic stool will irritate the skin on your bottom even more.