Diaper rash in babies

There is no magic diaper

The misleading advertising of nappy manufacturers plays a significant role in the fact that diaper rash affects almost half of babies. There is no nappy that protects against exposure to urine for more than three hours. Urine begins to break down after two hours and releases ammonia. And it is the ammonia, or ammonia, that causes problems for the delicate skin of a newborn. The more the baby pees, the more ammonia is released. You can read on the manufacturers' website that it is recommended to change the baby's diaper at least every 3 hours and immediately when he poops. Experienced paediatricians advise changing the baby every two hours until the age of two months.

The use of wet wipes is also controversial. They are not suitable for wiping a newborn. The skin is very sensitive, and since various moisturizers, alcohol and perfumes are present in most wipes, an allergic reaction can easily occur. Skin irritated by ammonia can react defensively and develop inflammation when wiped with a wipe. At first glance, this may look like diaper rash. It is better to rinse the bottom with lukewarm water and dry it with a gentle pat of cotton cloth. Never scrub the bottom. Micro-cracks can form in the delicate skin and then become more easily irritated. Until the baby starts to accept food other than breast milk, there is no point in rubbing layers of creams on the bottom as a precaution Pores in the skin can become clogged and natural sweat cannot escape from the skin. Various subcutaneous inflammations can form, assessed by the layman as diaper rash.

Diaper rash in babies, what to do about it?

If the skin is visibly red and irritated, it needs to be soothed. Gently wash the bottom with lukewarm water and let it dry. You can also use a hairdryer set on lukewarm air to dry it. After drying, rub on an over-the-counter diaper rash cream. For dry and red deposits we use oily and moisturizing creams (Rybilka, Bepanthen), while for wet deposits we use creams with a drying effect (Sudokreme, Aviril cream, backfill).
Leave the skin as long as possible without diapers. For the duration of the treatment, we use a diaper one size larger. If the diaper rash does not visibly recede within two or three days or, on the contrary, worsens, it is advisable to consult a paediatrician for the use of ointments with clotrimazole or ichthamol.

Will it not be an allergy?

Sometimes it happens that we do everything right. We change diapers often, we observe hygiene, and yet the baby develops seemingly clearly irritated deposits. If they occur on the sides, around the closure and legs of disposable diapers, it may be a contact allergy to one of the substances contained in the diapers. The most common are latex and chlorine. In this case, it is necessary to visit a pediatrician and determine the method of treatment of contact allergy. In most cases, the irritated bearing is managed quickly with the help of a weak corticosteroid. In order not to repeat the situation, it is necessary to pay attention to prevention. Dermaguard barrier cream protects sensitive skin from the action of allergens for up to 6 hours.