What is diaper rash in newborns and why does it appear: what it looks like, diagnosis and possible complications

What is called diaper rash?

Violation of the basic functions of the skin (protective and excretory) is manifested in its irritation and loss of integrity.

Diaper rash in newborns needs to be treated in a timely manner, as advanced cases lead to a deterioration in the general condition, anxiety of the baby and infection with an increase in body temperature.

The disease sequentially goes through several stages:

at first the skin turns red, which is accompanied by itching;
at the second stage, cracks and erosions appear, which indicates a violation of the integrity of the epidermis;
the third stage is characterized by weeping ulcers, and the inflammatory infectious process begins.

It is necessary to get rid of diaper rash on the bottom of a newborn and in other places at the first signs of the disease: advanced cases can lead to serious complications.

How to avoid diaper rash?

Many diseases are easier to prevent than to cure, and diaper rash in a newborn is no exception. What to do to protect your baby from this scourge? Nothing complicated!

Avoid situations where your child sweats:
Refuse synthetics in favor of natural fabrics (cotton, linen).
Try not to wrap your baby up.
Minimize the risk of friction:
Avoid rough fabrics.
Follow the rules of hygiene:
Treat skin folds with protective cream or baby oil. Pay special attention to problem areas - under the arms, on the neck, in the groin, between the buttocks.
After bathing, dry your baby's body with a towel, but do not rub him. In addition to regular textile towels, you can also use paper towels.
To avoid diaper rash, use only products from reputable manufacturers.
Change diapers regularly and do not forget about the benefits of air baths lasting about 10-15 minutes.

Where does it appear?

The appearance of diaper rash is most often caused by the accumulation of moisture in the folds, friction and the influence of excess heat on the baby’s delicate skin. On the baby's body there are problem areas for the emergence of a painful process.

In the groin

Diaper rash in a baby's groin usually occurs first because urine and feces irritate the skin. The use of diapers aggravates the problem: some mothers mistakenly believe that this item of child care allows them to not worry about the baby’s hygiene for several hours. In fact, the absorbent surface of the diaper may not absorb urine enough - irritation and overheating of the groin area is inevitable.

On the butt

Diaper rash on the butt in newborns mainly appears as a result of prolonged exposure to wet diapers or a diaper soiled with feces. Tight swaddling and untimely washing of both boys and girls causes a similar problem: due to the proliferation of bacteria, the skin in this place becomes infected, and a strong inflammatory reaction develops.

In the neck folds

Frequent regurgitation of undigested food leads to the accumulation of remnants of vomit on the neck, which irritate the baby’s skin and lead to the formation of diaper rash. This part of the body should not be left unattended and carefully treated, like other problem areas.

Armpits

Clothes made from synthetic fabrics, as well as T-shirts and sleeveless blouses can lead to skin irritation under the arms. Redness develops especially often in the warm season, and also if the baby sweats during a walk.

Behind the ear

The behind-the-ear area becomes a problem area when it is forgotten during hygiene procedures. The accumulation of sweat, moisture and dust lead to inflammatory changes.

Differences in diaper rash according to the degree of damage

Treatment of diaper rash in newborns should begin when the first signs of a violation of the integrity of the skin appear. It should be remembered that the development of stages of the disease process in a baby can occur rapidly, so even the first symptoms cause alarm.

The first stage is characterized by the following changes:

redness and slight swelling;
itching;
the integrity of the epidermis is not compromised.

At the next stage, deeper skin changes occur in the form of:

cracks;
small ulcers;
erosions.

These disorders indicate pathological processes that develop not only in the epidermis, but also in deeper layers.

If treatment for diaper rash in infants is not carried out at the beginning of the problem, there is a possibility that the third stage of the process will develop. The appearance of deep cracks, weeping ulcers and pustules indicate serious changes in the skin.

Disease severity

Diaper rash on the skin has several degrees of severity or stages of development, which often transform into one another. They are similar for an infant and an adult patient. Each of these stages is characterized by certain differences:

A mild degree of diaper rash is characterized only by the presence of redness and peeling. The patient experiences minor discomfort in the form of itching.
The average degree of diaper rash occurs under the condition that the mild stage has not been cured, therefore, deterioration has occurred. In this case, the erythema (redness) becomes very bright. There is severe itching and burning in the affected areas. Minor integrity violations appear on the skin, and its erosion begins. The infant becomes restless, sleeps poorly, and cries.
Severe diaper rash occurs in very advanced cases. In this case, the skin is significantly damaged and has all the signs of inflammation: redness, swelling, pain, dysfunction. The area of the lesion increases greatly, leaving the skin folds. Weeping lesions appear on the skin. Pathogenic flora - fungal and bacterial - joins. An unpleasant odor appears.

The body reacts to such damage with fever, weakness, and loss of appetite.

Doctors distinguish three degrees of skin damage from diaper rash, and they are associated with the intensity of mechanical effects on it:

The first degree is redness without visible disturbances in the skin of the baby.
The second degree is more intense redness and roughening of the skin. There may even be cracks, pustules and erosions!
Third degree - intense redness, the skin gets wet, severe erosions and even ulcers!

Causes

Skin problems in babies are caused by the following factors:

excess moisture accumulating in folds;
hyperthermic effect;
insufficient hygiene;
incorrectly selected clothes;
staying in a diaper for a long time (the skin does not breathe);
reactions to washing powders, soaps or creams;
inappropriate foods consumed by a nursing mother;
unbalanced artificial nutrition;
restriction of freedom of movement due to too tight swaddling.

The skin of a newborn is characterized by increased sensitivity and susceptibility to negative influences. Proper care can prevent diaper rash from occurring.

Excreta

Urine and feces irritate the baby's delicate skin in the buttocks and perineum. It is necessary to wash the child as often as possible, this should be done several times a day and always after each bowel movement.

The appearance of diaper rash is often associated with a craze for diapers, because diapers can create the illusion of dryness.

Improper use of diapers

The use of disposable hygiene items has made caring for infants easier, but often the absorbent capacity of the former does not meet the stated requirements. As a result, the baby's skin suffers from irritation, excess moisture and overheating (a greenhouse effect is created).

To avoid negative effects, you will need to change the diaper in a timely manner (at least every 3 hours and after each bowel movement). It is necessary to select high-quality diapers that do not cause allergic reactions in the newborn. The small size of the care item can lead to abrasions on the skin.

Improper skin care

The baby's skin may suffer both from excessive dryness and from the oily film that remains after applying the cream.

For bathing, you should use only neutral baby soap without dyes or fragrances; you should wash problem areas with it no more than once a day.

Bathing violation

It is necessary to bathe the baby every day before bed, and wash it after bowel movements and every diaper change. If pustules appear on the skin, you need to use boiled water with the addition of a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. Before use, the disinfectant must be filtered through several layers of gauze to prevent the grains from burning the skin.

Friction on clothes

A newborn's diapers and undershirts should be made from natural fabrics. All seams must be located on the surface of the products. It is necessary to select clothes only from soft fabrics so that friction against the skin does not lead to disruption of the integrity of the epidermis.

It is important to choose the right size, as clothes that are too tight can cause diaper rash. Sleeveless T-shirts and blouses with large appliqués and stripes should be avoided.

Allergic reactions

Allergies to skin care products can lead to redness, skin rashes and irritation. Sometimes a negative reaction develops to the material from which the diaper is made.

Skin irritations are often caused by antibacterial wipes, so they should be used for hygiene care only when it is not possible to wash the child (during a walk or on a trip).

The presence of certain foods in a nursing mother's diet, as well as the process of complementary feeding, can cause skin irritation, which quickly progresses and turns into diaper rash. Even ordinary cow's milk can act as an allergen in artificial babies.

Baby overheating

During the hot season, at elevated air temperatures, the likelihood of diaper rash increases sharply. During such periods, you need to limit your time in a diaper so as not to provoke the creation of a greenhouse effect.

Air baths in summer should last longer than usual, as the risk of hypothermia is reduced.

Bacterial and fungal infections

Insufficient hygiene in the process of caring for the baby leads to the accumulation of urine and feces in the folds, groin and buttocks. This can cause bacterial growth and fungal infections.

In advanced cases, the infectious pathogen can penetrate the child’s genitals, which can lead to serious consequences. Diaper rash in girls requires especially careful care. Babies should be washed in the direction from the perineum to the anus.

The entry of bacteria into the wound surface threatens septic infection, so even minor damage to the skin should not be ignored.

Why does diaper rash occur?

The occurrence of skin lesions in the groin area can be caused by various factors. Violation of the rules of hygienic care plays an important role in the occurrence of diaper rash in the groin in children.

In infants, redness in the groin is provoked by the following factors:

Late change of diaper.
Incorrect selection of hygiene products. Scented additives used in diapers can irritate your baby's skin. Diaper rash also occurs when diapers are not the right size.
Poor genital hygiene.
Allergy to the material from which the diaper is made.
Wrong diet. The cause of diaper rash may be incorrectly selected products for introducing complementary foods.
Individual intolerance to certain foods that the mother consumes during breastfeeding.
Temperature violation.
Excessive dryness of indoor air.
Presence of infectious diseases.

In a baby, the appearance of severe redness in the groin area is often caused by the transition from breastfeeding to complementary feeding. When you change your diet, your stool and urine content change. If the diaper is not changed promptly, waste products irritate the baby's skin.

Often diaper rash is caused by parents themselves by dressing the child inappropriately for the ambient temperature. The appearance of diaper rash is due to the fact that parents overly insulate the baby in order to protect him from colds.

A child's body perceives temperature differently. The work of the sweat glands has not yet been adjusted, and the natural process of sweating is absent. Dressing a child in hot clothes will lead to irritation of the groin skin.

Treatment options

There are various methods to help cure diaper rash in a newborn. At the first stage of pathology development, careful hygienic measures are sufficient. Air baths and the use of baby cream or talcum powder after each wash will be beneficial.

The second stage will require the use of zinc ointment and other disinfectants.

At the third stage, it is necessary to fight diaper rash with the use of antibacterial or antifungal drugs, as infection of the affected areas occurs with a violation of the general condition of the baby.

Who to contact?

To find out how to treat diaper rash in a newborn, you should contact the pediatrician who is monitoring the child. Choosing medications on your own can harm your baby’s health. A qualified specialist, after an examination and a collected medical history, will be able to determine the cause that led to the formation of diaper rash on the child’s bottom, as well as in other places.

Therapeutic baths The use of a decoction and infusion of medicinal herbs can prevent and cope with diaper rash that has already appeared in the groin of a newborn.

The following products can be used for bathing:

chamomile;
series;
calendula;
Oak bark;
sage.

The prepared infusion or decoction (the leaves and stems are infused, and the roots are boiled) is added to a bath of water. The proportion usually used is: 2 tablespoons of raw materials per 1 liter of boiling water. Bathing a child using these products enhances the protective properties of the skin and has an anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect. It should be remembered that even the use of such harmless plants requires consultation with a doctor, as allergic reactions and other adverse effects are possible.

Drugs

Medicines for topical use can successfully treat diaper rash in a newborn, but they should be used only after agreeing on treatment tactics with a pediatrician.

Bepanten

A cream based on pantothenic acid promotes rapid healing of cracks and ulcers on the surface of the skin; it can be easily purchased in pharmacies. Non-greasy texture promotes rapid absorption and restoration of damaged epidermis.

The drug can be used for excessive dry skin, as well as for weeping lesions. Suitable for use at stages 1 and 2 of diaper rash. The advantage is the absence of a toxic effect and good tolerability, therefore Bepanten is recommended for use from the first days of life after each diaper change.

Weleda

Swiss line products are recommended for the prevention and treatment of initial manifestations of diaper rash and skin rashes. The creams are suitable for very sensitive skin and contain extracts of medicinal herbs (calendula, alley). At the first signs of irritation, they are used to moisturize and soothe redness.

If the skin is extremely dry and prone to cracks, it is necessary to lubricate it with Weleda oil, which has moisturizing and nourishing properties.

Pantestin

The drug is available in the form of a gel that penetrates well into the deep layers of the skin. The use of the product is justified for advanced diaper rash. Pantestin contains two active components: dexpanthenol and miramistin. Thanks to the combination of these components, the following effects are achieved:

healing of the wound surface;
restoration of cells of damaged epidermis;
improvement of metabolic processes and trophism of the skin;
destruction of infectious agents (bacteria and mycelium of pathogenic fungi);
reduction of inflammation and allergies.

Since the gel contains the antibacterial drug miramistin, which requires dosage control and can cause side effects, Pantestin should be used only as indicated in cases of severe diaper dermatitis.

Baneocin

This remedy for infants is used in the form of a powder and allows you to get rid of diaper rash in a short time. The drug is a combination of two antibiotics: neomycin and bacitramycin. The use is justified in the event of the appearance of pustules, which indicate skin infection.

The use of Baneocin in young children is permissible only after consultation with the attending physician. Long-term treatment of the skin with powder to prevent diaper rash in newborns is prohibited due to the possibility of developing an allergy to antibacterial agents.

Fukortsin

The solution is considered one of the most accessible and cheapest ways to deal with diaper rash at home. It should be remembered that the drug contains phenol, a toxic substance that can negatively affect the baby’s health. For this reason, Fukortsin should be used on small areas of the skin, without touching the healthy area.

How to treat diaper rash

There are some general principles for the treatment of diaper rash in children and adults. Let's take a closer look at how to treat diaper rash at different stages of its development.

Treatment of mild diaper rash

Treating skin at this stage is not difficult at all. Often it is enough just to establish strict adherence to hygiene rules, especially for a child. Places where skin redness appears should be washed frequently (up to 3 times a day in adults, and much more often in infants - after urination and defecation).

It is ideal if a decoction of medicinal herbs is used for washing: string, chamomile, calendula, eucalyptus, sage and others. It is known that herbs have a moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, healing, and disinfecting effect. All this helps a lot in the treatment of diaper rash.

It is important to remember that herbs, for some people, regardless of their age, are a strong allergen! Before using treatment with herbal decoctions, you need to make sure that there is no such pathological reaction so that your diaper rash is not aggravated by allergic rashes!

A good alternative to treatment with herbal decoctions is to wash the affected areas with a pink solution of manganese.

Excessive skin moisture leads to the washing away of its natural protection - the surface layer of lubricant, which causes irritation. If urine lingers on the skin, its salts, when exposed to air, form ammonia and provoke inflammation, irritating the epidermis.

At home, you can use ready-made pharmaceutical ointments to prevent and combat diaper rash. All these remedies relieve inflammation quite well and prevent damage to the deep layers of the epidermis.

Effective ointments:

• Zinc. Has an antiviral effect and quickly heals wounds• Nystatin. This external antibiotic is prescribed if there is a suspicion of fungal infections.• Syntomycin. Relieves inflammation and kills pathogenic bacteria and viruses

Folk remedies do a good job of treating inflamed skin. But if you choose herbs for treatment, then do everything very carefully. A fragile body may react negatively to some plants.

Therefore, before you start making compresses or putting your baby in the bath, be sure to conduct a test on a small area of skin. If everything goes well, you can start treatment.

Popular means:

It is important for parents to remember that since skin irritations can be a manifestation of a variety of diseases, treatment of diaper rash in children should be carried out only after examination and consultation with a pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist.

The doctor will explain in detail what to do at the stage of irritation that is observed in the baby. So, with a slight manifestation of dermatitis, even baby cream will help as a remedy for diaper rash in children, and if weeping occurs, you can no longer do without special medications.

A drug with an anti-inflammatory effect, for example, the original drug “Panthenolspray” aerosol for external use, will speed up the healing of affected areas of the skin. This is a time-tested medicinal product containing dexpanthenol, which stimulates skin regeneration. The original medicinal product "Panthenolspray" aerosol for external use has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves tissue regeneration, and is quickly absorbed (absorbed) by the skin. There are no age restrictions, individual intolerance is possible, use in children should be done under adult supervision. Unlike an ointment or cream, an aerosol for external use is easy to apply and quickly absorbed, leaving no greasy stains. You need to be very careful when buying a drug in a pharmacy, because there are a huge number of analogues on the market, the packaging of which is often visually similar to the packaging of the original medicinal product - “Panthenolspray” aerosol for external use. The original medicinal product “Panthenolsprey” aerosol for external use is sold in white packaging, with orange letters and a smiley face next to the name of the drug. The new packaging (from 2020) has the sign “manufactured in Europe"

“Grandma’s advice” often turns out to be useful when caring for a baby. In the old days, women were able to treat children without modern pharmaceuticals.

Diaper rash in newborns can be eliminated with the help of decoctions, infusions or herbal juices. This treatment shows excellent results, but before undertaking any procedure, consult your pediatrician.

Valentina:

“I believe that diaper rash starts because of diapers! It's better to use diapers. The famous doctor Komarovsky writes about this in his book.”

Svetlana:

“Zinc paste is our salvation! It costs pennies, but it helps a lot. I have this opinion about diapers: they should be taken off at home. Let your butt breathe air!”

Galina:

“We always use Tsindol. This is the best remedy! In the evening we lubricate the skin, and in the morning there is no trace of diaper rash.”

Natalia:

“Bepanten helps the treatment well. But for prevention we use Desitin, it also saves from heat rash.”

Dear mothers. Prevention of a disease is the best way to treat it.

If you follow all the tips and recommendations exactly, carefully examine your baby every day, and avoid food allergies, your baby will always be healthy and cheerful.

This applies to chafing and diaper rash. They can be easily avoided.

It is necessary to combat diaper rash in children comprehensively, using all available methods and means of treatment, but first you need to gently remove the irritation in the initial stage.

First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of the appearance of this dermatological pathology and, as far as possible, quickly and completely eliminate all predisposing and provoking factors in the child.

It is necessary to begin treating diaper rash in newborns and young children immediately after their appearance in the stage of mild hyperemia, especially in places of irritation with urine and feces - in the perineum and external genitalia in girls, in the groin in boys, and in the gluteal region (on the butt) .

In most cases, it is necessary to treat diaper rash in a young child in a comprehensive manner with the mandatory use of traditional medicine.

Most often used for this purpose:

starch;
vegetable oils;
decoctions of anti-inflammatory herbs in the form of washes, lotions and baths.

Using starch for diaper rash

The use of this remedy for the treatment of skin irritation is not always recommended by pediatricians, but at the same time, the use of starch for diaper rash is considered quite common and receives a lot of positive feedback from parents. It is used instead of powder.

What should you not do?

Sometimes even careful care does not exclude the appearance of skin irritation. To prevent diaper rash, it is worth remembering the following rules for caring for your baby:

Do not wipe the skin after washing or washing; it should be carefully blotted with a soft diaper, paying attention to the area near the armpits and folds;
addiction to soap and frequent dusting with talcum powder can lead to
overdrying and irritation of the epidermis;
the use of fatty cream and sea buckthorn oil can disrupt the protective function of the skin and worsen its respiratory function (for weeping ulcers, these products are prohibited, as they impede regeneration);
the use of starch for drying leads to it rolling into lumps and irritating the skin;
It is not recommended to constantly use wet wipes instead of water.

Self-medication can lead to a worsening of the condition, so if irritation occurs, you should seek help from a pediatrician.

First aid for diaper rash detection

The appearance of the first signs of irritation in problem areas requires washing the affected areas with clean water. After drying with a soft cloth, the skin must be treated with a baby cream with a regenerating and anti-inflammatory effect. Sanosan or Bepanten are excellent for removing diaper rash. The products have no contraindications; they can be used prophylactically and applied to the skin every time before putting on a diaper.

The appearance of redness will require a reduction in the time the baby spends in the diaper.

Treatment of skin irritation with folk remedies

It is recommended to treat diaper rash in newborns by bathing in baths not with clean water, but with medicinal herbs and pharmaceuticals.

Recipes for the most popular baths, suggested by traditional healers:

Bathing with potassium permanganate. For the baby, take just a few small crystalline particles of potassium permanganate K. Dissolve in a ladle with warm water. Do not immediately pour out the diluted medicinal mixture. It must be passed through cheesecloth. If a crystal gets on a child's body, it will cause a burn. Potassium permanganate is one of the effective antiseptics. It will dry out the redness and speed up healing.
Oak bark decoction. The properties of the medicinal bark are similar to the effects of potassium permanganate. You can buy raw materials at the pharmacy. Today there are ready-made concentrated formulations. To prepare, you will need to take 4 tablespoons of crushed bark and brew them in a liter container. The infusion is kept in a water bath for about 30 minutes. Then the composition is cooled to body temperature. Strain and pour into a bathtub for bathing. Using the usual motion, stir the infusion throughout the entire volume of the bath, then begin the treatment procedure. You can bathe as usual until the water cools down for about 10 minutes. The bark should not be reused; it has lost some of its important components. For the next session, take a fresh mixture.

Decoction of medicinal chamomile. The herb is one of the most commonly used recipes. You can prepare chamomile yourself; the herb grows in almost all regions. The grass is dried in the sun, ovens, or in special electrical equipment. Chamomile is poured with boiling water, left to brew, or steamed in a water bath. Then add to the bath. Chamomile is used not only to treat diaper rash in children. The medicinal plant has a healing effect, healing, and saturation with useful substances. After bathing, the body is thoroughly dried, the redness is lubricated with cream.

Any recipe must be checked for compatibility before use. The pediatrician will give the necessary advice.

Many plants are strong allergens, so the desired recovery can also have the opposite effect. Doctors know how to deal with diaper rash.

The skin around the pustules that appear is lubricated with brilliant green or a water-based methylene blue composition.

Prevention of diaper rash in a newborn

To prevent skin irritation, you will need to follow the rules of hygiene when caring for a newborn:

Bathing the baby daily is mandatory;
You need to wash your baby under running water after each diaper change or after each bowel movement;
diapers must be changed at least every 3 hours;
it will be necessary to avoid too tight swaddling and tight fit of hygiene devices;
In order for the skin to breathe, it is necessary to periodically keep the baby without a diaper;
It is advisable to use diapers only when necessary (walks, trips, visits to the clinic);
To moisturize, nourish the skin, and increase its protective properties, it is necessary to use baby skin care products with a non-greasy texture;
the introduction of new products into the diet of a nursing mother and child should be carried out gradually;
A newborn's clothing should consist of natural fabrics with seams facing outward: this helps prevent abrasions.

Parents should monitor the condition of their baby's skin. When diaper rash appears in a baby, you must coordinate your actions with a specialist. Independent treatment methods can lead to undesirable consequences.

The epidermis of a newborn performs an important function in protecting the body from adverse environmental factors. Poor health in this area can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, the full development and well-being of the baby depends on quality care.

Causes of childhood illness

The most important reason for the appearance of diaper rash in children is not entirely proper care of the dermatological surfaces. The longer they are in contact with an aggressive environment, the more the inflammatory processes worsen.

The baby's skin is saturated with water, immunity does not yet have the required level, the protective function is just developing. The indicators are different from adults. Children's skin is more sensitive, susceptible and open to inflammation, infections, and various diseases.