Children's diaper rash: causes, treatment and prevention

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

In young children, the skin is extremely sensitive. It is thin, easily damaged, and the blood vessels are located close to the surface. In addition, under the influence of adverse factors, the vital moisture evaporates quickly. Thus, the skin of a newborn baby needs special care. If it is not provided with reliable protection from aggressive environmental conditions, serious problems cannot be avoided. One of the most common is diaper rash.

What is this?

The most important task of the skin is to protect the body of the child. It is a porous layer, thanks to which the body can absorb oxygen and get rid of metabolic products (sweat, carbon dioxide, etc.). If this system fails, the baby's skin reacts to it with various kinds of rashes. They may look like blemishes, pimples, etc.

Diaper rash, or diaper dermatitis isan inflammatory process resulting from exposure to the delicate skin of a child of any irritant.

Most often rashes occur:

• in the groin;
• on the buttocks, between them;
• behind the ears;
• in the folds of the legs;
• in the armpits;
• on the neck;
• lower abdomen.

Diaper rash in a child is a signal to parents that daily care is not organized properly. Rashes cannot be ignored, as this can lead to the development of a serious inflammatory process.

Causes of occurrence

As a rule, diaper rash in children is the result of overheating, chemical and mechanical effects, allergen ingestion, excessive moisture and skin infection.

Depending on the location of the rash, the causes may vary:

• Groin, buttocks, folds between the legs. In young children, at least 10 acts of urination occur per day. Urine that has come out begins to decompose, turning into ammonia and acquiring a characteristic pungent odor. The resulting substance is very caustic and easily irritates delicate baby skin. When using high-quality diapers, urine is absorbed quickly, without adversely affecting the baby's integument. But if the hygiene product is overfilled, the urine will begin to corrode the skin. Late diaper change is one of the main causes of diaper rash in infants. In addition, a warm and humid environment is conducive tomultiplication of microbes that exacerbate the situation. Also, the cause of the appearance of diaper rash in a child in the groin and on the buttocks may be the introduction of complementary foods. You should always pay attention to the reaction of the baby after consuming a new product. If even the slightest rash appears, you need to introduce it into complementary foods later.
• On the neck, behind the ears, in the armpits, between the toes. On the body of a small child there are many folds. The main cause of diaper rash under the armpits, on the neck and behind the ears is accumulated sweat. It causes irritation, which pathogens can join in, since warm and humid areas are an ideal place for their reproduction. The addition of a secondary infection significantly aggravates the situation.

It is important to understand that the skin of a newborn baby is very vulnerable. Even the slightest deviation from the rules of hygiene and care can cause inflammation.

Risk group

In addition to non-compliance with standard recommendations, the following factors contribute to the occurrence of diaper rash in children:

• Prematurity. The skin of a child is underdeveloped, it is extremely vulnerable to any external influences.
• Violation of the process of thermoregulation. This condition can occur not only due to the fact that parents dress the baby inappropriately for the weather, but also due to some diseases.
• Obesity. On the body of an overweight child, there are much more folds. They accumulate a large amount of sweat and dirt, resulting indiaper rash occurs.
• Metabolic disorders. With failures in metabolic processes, the composition of sweat changes. It becomes more aggressive and easily irritates delicate skin.
• Intestinal pathology. Their flow also affects the composition of sweat.

In these cases, the goal of treating diaper rash in children is to eliminate not only external signs, but also the causes that caused them.

Degrees of severity

Medics distinguish between several stages of the development of the inflammatory process:

1. Easy degree. On various parts of the child's body, pale redness and peeling can be visualized.
2. Medium degree. Occurs in the absence of treatment of a mild stage. The color of diaper rash becomes bright red, there is a violation of the integrity of the skin.
3. Severe degree. This stage occurs in the absence of treatment. There is a pronounced swelling of the affected area, the skin is severely damaged, weeping areas appear on it. At this stage, a secondary infection almost always joins. Baby smells bad.

Thus, diaper rash in children cannot be ignored. Treatment can be carried out independently, but if it is ineffective, it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician.

Associated symptoms

Diaper rash is not only redness of the skin. As the inflammation develops, the child's well-being worsens:

• sleep is disturbed;
• he becomes whiny, moody;
• appetite decreases.

Thisdue to the presence of itching, burning and pain. At the initial stage, these symptoms are mild, they increase with ineffectiveness or lack of treatment. At the last stage, when edema is formed and the integrity of the skin is disturbed, fever is added to the above signs.

What to process?

Information about how to treat diaper rash in a child should be provided by a doctor soon after the baby is born, since this problem occurs quite often in infants. In the first stages of the development of the inflammatory process, parents are able to cope with it on their own.

First of all, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of hygiene. Most often, diaper rash occurs in a child in the groin. To get rid of them, it is necessary to treat the dermis after each act of defecation. Irritated skin should not be rubbed with a towel, it is enough to get wet. After that, it is recommended to give the child air baths for at least 30 minutes. After each urination (or when changing a diaper), urine from the skin should be cleaned with baby wipes.

After the inflamed area dries up, you need to apply a cream or ointment designed to eliminate rashes on it. To treat the skin with diaper rash in children, doctors recommend using the following tools:

• Baby cream. A universal remedy that protects delicate skin from the aggressive effects of the external environment. It can be used not only to eliminate small redness, but also as a preventive measure.
• "Bepanthen". Ointment,intended for the treatment of diaper dermatitis. In a short time, it reduces the severity of symptoms and relieves diaper rash of mild and moderate severity. Ointment "Bepanthen" can be used as a prophylaxis in children whose skin is prone to rashes.
• "D-panthenol". The tool accelerates the healing process of wounds and ulcers. It has several release forms. Both cream and ointment for diaper rash in children do not cause unwanted reactions, and therefore they can be used at every diaper change.
• Desitin. It is used at an early stage of the inflammatory process. Also suitable as a preventive measure against rashes.
• Zinc ointment. It has been used for diaper rash in children for decades. The product dries the skin and helps to eliminate mild inflammation.

Against the background of the use of the above ointments and creams, an allergic reaction rarely develops. However, before using the chosen diaper rash remedy for the first time, it is recommended to apply a small amount to the skin behind the ears or to the crook of the elbow. If an undesirable reaction does not appear within an hour, existing inflammation can be treated with an ointment or cream.

Use of medicinal herbs

Healing plants are a great alternative to medicines, if diaper rash has just appeared. In addition, they can serve as an addition to the main treatment.

In order to get rid of diaper rash on the baby's pope, it is enough to wash it with a decoction of herbs. If the upper body is affected,it is recommended to simply add it to the bath.

To prepare a decoction, you need to take 2 tbsp. l. dried and chopped herbs, pour 500 ml of boiling water over it, bring to a boil. After that, it must be cooled and filtered. For the treatment of diaper rash, it is recommended to use:

• sequence;
• chamomile;
• oak bark;
• sage;
• calendula;
• eucalyptus.

For an infant, it is necessary to prepare a one-component decoction. This is because any medicinal plant is a potential allergen. For older children, you can prepare a decoction of several types of herbs.

During bathing, it is not recommended to use cosmetics, because they reduce the degree of positive effects of plants on the body. The duration of water procedures should be about 10 minutes.

When should I see a doctor?

A child is not an object for experiments, it must be shown to a specialist in the event that the treatment was ineffective. As a rule, the transition of diaper rash to a severe stage is accompanied by the addition of pathogenic flora, which can only be eliminated with the help of a doctor.

Very often, parents make the mistake of trying to cure neglected diaper rash with the usual means. They are designed to eliminate mild to moderate inflammation. In addition, most creams and ointments have a greasy texture that covers damage and weeping areas with the thinnest film that blocks air from reaching the wounds. Due to this, it is delayedhealing process.

In addition, for the treatment of a secondary infection, the doctor prescribes antibacterial agents that are selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of the child's he alth.

Prevention measures

To reduce the risk of rashes, you need to strictly follow the rules of hygiene.

Prevention of diaper rash includes the following steps:

• You need to wash the child after each act of defecation. To cleanse the skin, use soap intended for children's skin. When changing a diaper, you can wipe the perineum with wet wipes. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to wash your baby multiple times a day. It is important to remember that excessive hygiene is as harmful as its lack.
• Change a diaper every 3 hours and after every bowel movement. This is necessary so that it does not overflow and the resulting ammonia does not act on the skin.
• Use quality diapers. When changing the product (if it is not overfilled), the baby's skin should be dry.
• After water procedures, you do not need to intensively wipe the child's body with a towel. It is enough to wet the skin. To let it dry completely, it is necessary to arrange air baths.
• Before putting on a diaper, you need to lubricate the skin with a cream or ointment. Do not use as a prophylaxis means intended exclusively for the treatment of diaper rash. The instructions should indicate that the cream or ointment is suitable for daily use.
• Clothesnewborn should be cotton. It does not block the access of oxygen to the skin. In addition, it must be free. Particular attention should be paid to the seams. They should not protrude too much and cause discomfort.
• Children's clothes and bedding should only be washed with special detergents. Standard powders contain harsh chemicals that irritate baby's skin. Rinsing should be thorough.
• Overheating should be avoided. Excess moisture is one of the main causes of diaper rash. The child should not be over-wrapped at home, and outside should also be dressed appropriately for the weather.
• The air in the room where the baby lives should be humid, the temperature should not exceed 22 degrees. The room should be regularly ventilated, and with the onset of the heating season, it is recommended to use a household humidifier. The fulfillment of this condition is the prevention of not only diaper rash, but also many diseases.

Thus, following the standard rules of hygiene and child care significantly reduces the risk of irritation.

In closing

In young children, the skin is not developed in the same way as in adults. It is thin and vulnerable to any negative factors. One of the most common dermatological problems in newborns is diaper rash. As a rule, they are the result of non-compliance with standard hygiene measures. Diaper rash can be of several degrees of severity. In the early stages, parents can copewith them on their own with the help of creams, ointments and medicinal herbs. If inflammation is accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the skin and swelling, the baby must be shown to the attending physician. How to treat diaper rash in a child in this case, only he should decide. Self-medication is unacceptable!