Diaper rash is an umbrella term, used to describe any type of redness or rash found in the area that a diaper covers. It is also referred to as dermatitis. While it mostly occurs with infants and toddlers, adults who must wear diapers can get it too. The most common type of diaper rash is “contact” dermatitis, which looks like a sunburn on the surface of the skin. Diaper rash is extremely common in babies, especially babies who are 9-12 months old. At this time in life, it is estimated that 7%-35% of all babies will have a diaper rash of some kind.
This is good news for concerned parents, as presence of diaper rash is not usually a sign of poor or neglectful parenting. And most diaper rash can be healed with home remedies or treated easily by a pediatrician. However, in some cases, persistent diaper rash that goes untreated can be a sign of neglectful parenting. For those parents who are worried about their child’s diaper rash, there are many different causes that can lead to diaper rash. Once you figure out what is causing the dermatitis on your baby, you can take measures to heal and prevent it in the future. Some causes are very basic and easy to treat. Others are more serious and require a medical professional’s help.
1. Irritation From Stool or Urine
Stool and urine left in a soiled diaper for too long can irritate a baby’s skin, which is extra sensitive. There are enzymes in stool called protease and lipase which irritate everyone’s skin, and stool also has microorganisms that can cause dangerous infections. Even if it doesn’t develop into an infection, stool irritates the skin and causes it to become inflamed and angry. Urine can be just as bad. When it breaks down, it releases ammonia all over the skin in contact. This raises the pH level of skin and causes it to become alkaline, which encourage the enzymes in stool to become more irritating. So while stool is bad enough, it is only compounded by the presence of urine.
This leads to diaper rash and can even cause some skin tissue damage over time. It is not good for a baby to be exposed to urine alone for extended periods of time either. Skin that is too alkaline can allow for bacteria to set up shop and grow in the area. Diapers should be changed often, and the area underneath should be kept clean and dry whenever a changing happens. This will prevent most diaper rashes related to stool, but if a rash still occurs, topical ointment is usually enough to treat it.
2. Chafing or Rubbing
Chafing and rubbing can irritate everyone’s skin, which is why you cut that annoying tag out of the back of your jeans. The same thing can happen with a diaper on a baby’s skin. Baby’s are very active little people, and rubbing from the diaper causes the skin’s protective barrier to become weaker. When the skin’s barrier becomes weak, it is left open to harmful bacteria and it becomes inflamed, in the form of diaper rash. Friction causes further damage when the area is wet. Babies get changed several times a day, and cleaned with baby wipes, which can exacerbate the friction from the diaper. This is why applying dry baby powder after wiping and cleaning is so important.
3. Irritation From New Product
There is a wide range of different shampoos, soaps and lotions for adults. Some are organic, some have no aloe, and some are hypoallergenic. This is because different people have different body chemistry that reacts to outside substances in different ways. If off-brand lotion irritates an adult’s skin, they simply try something else. The same is true for babies. Babies have different body chemistry from other babies, which is why there is a variety of products available in the market. If you are trying a new baby wipe, a new baby powder or some other new product on their skin, they may react badly to it in the form of a diaper rash. At that point, it is wisest to stop using that product on your baby and the problem will likely go away.
4. Intro to New Foods
Introducing solid food to your baby is a big step in their development. Not only can they develop food allergies, but a baby’s stool will change as a result of eating solid food. Because there are different enzymes and compounds in solid foods, babies will be more prone to diaper rash at this time, until they get used to eating these foods. Also, changing the type of food your baby eats can change how often they soil their diaper. The more often they make stool, the more likely it is that a diaper rash will develop. Babies who are breastfeeding can also develop diaper rash if the mother eats something that doesn’t agree with their body chemistry.
5. Use of Anti-Biotics
Sometimes babies get sick and need anti-biotics to help them get well again. As with adults, anti-biotics kill the bad bacteria causing the problem, but also kill the good bacteria that the body needs to function. Healthy bacteria in a baby’s body may be wiped out, allowing yeast to grow out of control and turn into a yeast infection. This often leads to diaper rash and requires extra steps to heal and prevent. It may require the help of a pediatrician. Also, anti-biotics often cause diarrhea, which increases the risk of diaper rash. Even breast feeding babies can get diarrhea from the mother’s milk if she is taking anti-biotics.
6. Bacterial or Yeast
All of the above irritants can break down a baby’s sensitive skin and leave it open to opportunistic yeasts and bacteria. The diaper area is warm and moist, which is the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. If rashes and irritation are not treated right away, infection can develop and spread to the surrounding areas, including the creases. Red dots and inflamed skin will show up in the presence of an infection or yeast overgrowth. The best way to prevent yeast and bacterial infections is to keep the area consistently clean and dry. Sometimes, as with the case of anti-biotics, yeast is unavoidable. In that case, seek the help of a pediatrician for proper and safe treatment.
