Diaper dermatitis in children: photo, treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

After leaving the hospital, parents are left alone with the child. Motion sickness, changing diapers, feeding and other daily chores give that very happy awareness of the onset of parenthood. However, only when faced with such a slightest problem as diaper dermatitis, mom and dad realize the full extent of the responsibility that has fallen on them. Therefore, you need to figure out what it is.

What is the difference between dermatitis and diaper rash?

Diaper dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin of an infant, which is caused by external irritants. Since in the first months of life, diapers (and now diapers) have the closest contact with the skin of a newborn, hence the name of this phenomenon appeared.

Among parents, this medical term is known as diaper rash. Therefore, these two concepts are equivalent. You can see that this is the same thing by looking at the photo of diaper dermatitis below.

Causesdermatitis in children

Most often, diaper rash is localized in the most piquant places - in the perineum, buttocks and armpits. This is due to a number of reasons that explain the nature of the occurrence of diaper dermatitis.

Reasons:

• Exposure to the skin of mechanical irritants (cloth or diapers).
• Negative chemical reactions to contact with ammonia, urine s alts, stool enzymes.
• Sweating due to elevated ambient temperature.
• Infection with E. coli or other dangerous microorganisms.

Most often, the cause of diaper dermatitis in a newborn is banal - not following the rules of personal hygiene, in particular, an untimely diaper change. However, irritation can also occur with certain brands of diapers. But in this case, we are not talking about diaper rash, but about an allergy to a certain chemical element (most often a flavor), which is part of the product.

The increased risk group also includes children with a violation of the microflora by the Candida fungus. Although he is not the causative agent of this disease, but with improper skin care for the baby, he will definitely act as a catalyst for the development of diaper rash.

Factors influencing occurrence

All babies have equally thin and delicate skin. However, it has been noticed that some children constantly suffer from diaper dermatitis, while others have never encountered it. And the point here is not the neglect of the mother to the hygiene of the child.

Risks of diaper rash are much higher in childrenc:

• allergic;
• atopic dermatitis;
• immunodeficiency;
• thrush;
• violation of the water-s alt balance;
• hanging levels of ammonia in the urine.

In order not to waste time on the treatment of diaper dermatitis, more attention should be paid to the hygiene of children with these diseases. First of all, you need to responsibly approach the choice of diapers or diapers.

Diapers or nappies - which is better?

The time when parents around the world rejoiced at the invention of diapers is coming to naught. Increasingly, rumors began to appear that they are harmful to the delicate skin of the baby. However, this opinion is not fair.

It has been observed that the percentage of diaper dermatitis is much higher among those children whose parents voluntarily or due to some circumstances refuse diapers. The fact is that, firstly, the fabric has a rougher structure than the material of the diaper, and secondly, it does not have an absorbent capacity, which prevents them from being replaced instantly.

This is why experts recommend using diapers at night until 1.5 years of age. Around this age, children begin to control their natural needs, which allows the child to start potty training.

Symptoms

Diaper rash does not carry any internal changes in the body. Below is a photo of diaper dermatitis. As you can see, the main symptoms include:

• Redness and irritation of the skin in the areacrotch.
• Peeling, itching.
• Child's restless behavior, capriciousness, tearfulness.
• In rare cases - the appearance of abscesses, swelling of tissues.

Due to the wrong size of the diaper, redness may also appear in places where it fits the skin most closely (on the stomach, legs, back).

Symptoms of diaper rash occur in both boys and girls. In addition, it is believed that formula-fed babies are also more prone to diaper rash. This is explained by the increased alkaline environment of the stool, which leads to the appearance of redness in the anus.

The treatment of diaper dermatitis depends on the symptoms of the disease. In the photo you can see pustules and dropsy in the area of diaper rash. This indicates complications caused by the bacterial environment and requiring medical treatment.

Degrees of neglect of the disease

Diaper rash is not to be taken lightly. After all, this disease has several stages of development. Therefore, the sooner treatment begins, the sooner the baby's condition will improve.

Diaper dermatitis in babies happens:

• First degree. This is the mildest stage of the disease and is the easiest to treat. It is characterized by slight local redness, which disappears after air baths with the application of special healing ointments and creams based on panthenol or zinc.
• Second degree. This is diaper dermatitis of moderate severity. Inflammation of the skin begins to grow and becomes burgundyshade. The appearance of abscesses is possible.

Third degree. The neglected form of diaper rash is characterized by abundant wet rashes, deep cracks in the epidermis, and tissue swelling

If you do not start treatment of diaper dermatitis in children in a timely manner, there is a high risk of damage to the lower layers of the skin, as well as the occurrence of an abscess.

Diagnosis

Except for a visual examination, nothing is required from a pediatrician to diagnose this disease. The mother must be given all the important information for an accurate diagnosis.

The fact is that inflammation of the skin can be caused not only by dermatitis, but also by allergies, prickly heat or urticaria. Therefore, you need to remember if personal hygiene products (soap, diapers, powder, etc.) have changed recently

If redness is localized only in the perineum and there are no other signs of an allergic reaction, then most likely the parents are faced with diaper rash. This is good, because the treatment of diaper dermatitis in children (photo below) is easier and faster than any other disease of the epidermis.

Treatment

Diaper rash, at first glance, seems to be a harmless disease. However, in the first months of a baby's life, it is still better to consult a pediatrician to determine the exact diagnosis and prescribe effective therapy.

How to treat diaper dermatitis:

• Change diapers every 2 hours, in case of a bowel movement thisneeds to be done immediately. Some brands of diapers have a special indicator that tells parents when it's time to change.
• When changing a diaper, the child should thoroughly wash the perineum without soap. Applying detergents to inflamed skin can cause burning and pain, which will affect the well-being of the baby.
• Moisture remaining on the skin after washing should be soaked with a soft towel. You don't need to rub your skin hard. Excessive irritation will only slow down the healing process of diaper rash.
• After bathing, you need to leave the baby to "breathe" without a diaper, that is, do not immediately put on diapers or sliders.
• When the inflamed area is completely dry, you need to apply a special healing cream or ointment based on dexpanthenol or zinc.
• During the day, doctors recommend giving your child more air baths. The main thing is that the room has the optimal temperature and humidity.

Means for healing diaper rash

Medicines for the treatment of diaper rash are selected based on the condition of the skin. With diaper dermatitis, the skin can be both dry and wet. For dry and rough spots in the area of diaper rash, it is recommended to use creams and fatty oils, and for weeping wounds, powders and ointments that dry the skin.

Medicines for the treatment of diaper dermatitis:

• Means based on zinc oxide. Zinc dries the skin and quickly relieves its inflammation, and it also has high regenerative properties. To suchremedies include: zinc ointment, Sudocrem, Bureau Plus.
• Antiseptics. Antiseptic ointments are necessary in order to protect the skin of the child from the addition of a bacterial infection. You can also use combined preparations containing an antibiotic and an antiseptic. But only if the infection has already occurred. The most common drugs: Levomekol, Oflokain. Antibiotics must be prescribed by a doctor.
• Creams and ointments based on dexpanthenol. Such drugs have a similar principle of action with zinc-based products. Therefore, in the treatment of diaper dermatitis, you need to dwell on any of them. Preparations containing dexpanthenol: Bepanten, Dexpanthenol, Panthenol.
• Hormonal drugs. Hormonal ointments are prescribed only at an advanced stage of the disease by a pediatrician.

When is it necessary to consult a pediatrician?

Despite the fact that diaper rash is quickly and easily treated, sometimes you cannot do without the help of a doctor. Especially if the parents noticed the following symptoms:

• increased body temperature;
• pustule and fissure formation;
• rapid increase in the area of inflammation;
• changing the density and color of the skin to crimson, burgundy or cyanotic;
• weakness, capriciousness and restlessness of the child.

Anxiety can also cause ineffective treatment of diaper rash for several days. If there is no positive dynamics, it is better to immediately contact a specialist so as not to startdisease, as seen in the above photos of diaper dermatitis in children.

Prevention of diaper rash

In order to prevent irritation of delicate baby skin, it is necessary to carry out the prevention of dermatitis from the first days of life. Care rules are quite simple and do not require specific training.

Rules for baby skin care in the diaper area:

• Change diapers promptly, even if the baby is sleeping.
• Apply special products after every diaper change.
• Instead of powders, it is better to give preference to creams and ointments, which contain dexpanthenol. Ointments such as "Bepanten" are used not only for the treatment of diaper dermatitis, but also for its prevention. Therefore, they are suitable for daily use.
• During the day, the child should systematically take air baths - at least 4-5 times a day for 20-30 minutes.
• Make sure the size and type of diaper fits the baby. Today, manufacturers produce two separate lines of diapers: for boys and for girls. This is not a planned marketing ploy. The gender division of hygiene products is due to the anatomical features of different sexes.

In the autumn-winter period, experts recommend replenishing the lack of vitamin D. As you know, it is produced in the body under the influence of sunlight. When there is not enough sun, there is a shortage of it, which leads to the risk of reduced immunity. In addition, its deficiency can lead to disruption of heat transfer andexcessive sweating, which will be the root cause of diaper rash.

Conclusion

Diaper dermatitis is typical for children from 0 to 3 months. At this time, parents only learn how to properly care for the baby and make some mistakes in this that stimulate the formation of diaper rash. However, over time, who taught them not only to prevent, but also to treat, this problem is forgotten once and for all.