Guide to nappy rashes and babies
Nappy rash can be caused when a child’s skin is exposed to a dirty or wet nappy over a period of time. Blistering, inflamed skin, spreading- the rash can easily spread onto the buttocks and tummy, ulcers. And all these symptoms can make the baby to be unsettled. Prevention and treatment involve constant nappy changes, avoiding skin irritants like wipes, soaps and use of gentle cream. We shall come back to this in the later part of this write-up. Severe or acute nappy rash (Årsager til baby rød numse is the term Danes use) needs strong medical attention. If you leave a wet nappy on the baby for a very long period of time, it can really make the rash worse.
It is true that some babies get nappy rash irrespective the care and protection given to them. Some babies have infections which make the rashes worse, while others get nappy rash when they are infected with a cold or viral illness. Nappy rash can be treated effectively at home, but if the nappy rash doesn’t clear after a few days, then you should consider seeing your doctor. Some babies that are infected with nappy rash do not sleep very well, and most times they wake up due to pain.
Causes of nappy rash include:
- Sensitive skin- those babies that have sensitive skins are more likely to get nappy rash than those that don’t have it. This can be inherited from your parents. In general, if that’s the case, you have to use creams ( Creme til tør og rød hud is what we call those in Denmark) or lotions as lubricants.
- A trigger agent or factor- some chemicals in your baby’s urine can be transformed into ammonia, and this helps to ‘burn’ the skin.
- Thrush or Candida can really make nappy rash to be more painful and much redder.
- Chemical exposure- some chemicals in laundry detergents, nappy-soaking solutions as well as fabric softeners can go a long way to irritate the skin of a sensitive child. If a baby wipe contains alcohol, it can cause irritation. Some baby lotions or scented soaps can also irritate your baby’s skins.
- Plastic pants- they may keep the child’s clothes dry and clean, but they will really prevent airflow. If this happens for a very long time, it may keep the baby’s skin to be wet.
- Rubbing or friction-rough nappies can really chafe and rub a baby’s sensitive skin.
Prevention and control of nappy rash include:
- You need to change your baby’s clothes more frequently
- It is good to make use of disposable nappies
- It is good to make use of soaps that are exclusively made for babies, not soaps that have alcoholic content in them
- The best way to keep wetness away from your baby is to be using a barrier cream like zinc, castor oil and cod liver oil
- Give pain relieving tablets to your baby as often as possible.
- If your baby’s skin condition doesn’t improve after a reasonable period of time, then you will have to seek medical assistance. It is very essential to maintain the doctor’s advice.
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