Diaper Rash That Won't GO AWAY!

Updated on March 13, 2008
B.J. asks from Fort Myers, FL
37 answers

I took my daughter in last week to see the pediatrician about a nasty diaper rash. She prescribed Nystatin because she said it was a yeast rash from her taking antibiotics. Yet I have been using the cream for a whole week now with no sign of it getting better! In fact, it looks worse! I havent changed diaper brands or wipe brands so I don't know what to do! Has anyone ever had a "resistant" diaper rash happen to your child? What other options or "remedies" should I try? Should I have the doctor take a look at it again? Thanks for the help ladies! :o)

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So What Happened?

Thank you ladies SO much for your responses. I will try the different suggestions you guys have given me and I am sure that one of them will bring relief! Once again, thank you SOOO much! :o)

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K.M.

answers from Orlando on

B.,

try a diaper rash cream that is high in zinc content. The higher the zinc the better it will be get. Good luck on getting her better.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.F.

answers from Lakeland on

Have you tried letting her go nakie for a while... you know, i had issues with my youngest with constant diaper rashes.. i ended up putting her in cloth diapers.. it worked like a charm!!!! No more rashes!! Since we moved here to florida tho shes been regular store bought diapers again and ..hellO.. rash is back!!

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A.P.

answers from Orlando on

Try using corn starch. It's something I learned from my grandmother. It really works.

My kids both had very sensitive skin and this works all year round, with prickly heat rash as well as diaper rashes.

1 mom found this helpful

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E.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Try using extra sensitive bath wash like Huggies Extra Sensitive. It's possible that the soaps are iritating it and making it harder to heal. I hope it goes away!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.H.

answers from Orlando on

Hi B.,

I posted this response from another Mom's concerns with her baby's diaper rash. My daughter had the worst case of diaper rash that I had ever seen. I was sooo afraid that the doctor might think that I was neglecting her. It looked like really bad insect bites, (high risen and bumpy in patches) not redness. No one could tell me what to do the get rid of it. My mom thought it was the cotton from the pull-ups. The only thing I had done differently was cater to her constant obsession with grapes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was beginning to think it was the acid in the grapes. Well, then I decided to turn to the internet and view sites on severe types of diaper rash. Well, come to find out the best suggestion was DESTIN w/ Zinc. I cleaned her bottom and applied a generous amount all over her 3-4 times a day. It was gone in about a week. I could not believe it. She hasn't had it since. Thank you Destin!!!

Good luck!

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V.

answers from Orlando on

Huggies has no perfumes in them. I had to switch my son for the smae reason. You can tell the difference, they have no smell. They are very absorbant as well. I switched to them when my son was very young because he had this horrible diaper rash that wouldn't go away!

Also, let him go naked. The air will help. A little sun would help too! Not that we have that much right now. As far as the wipes go, i had to wipe my son with water only until the rash went away. Baby washclothes worked great, because they are so soft. The pee actually makes the rash worse becuase of the ammonia in it. So change him every time he pees, wash him with warmish water even after "just pee". This will clear up the rash in a few days. Also, water only baths for a few days, actually until the rash has healed. I had to even change laundry detergent. ALL makes a free and clear that's just as gentle as Dreft. Hope this helps.

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S.

answers from Miami on

cornstarch, lots of it :)
you will notice a change overnight!

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K.M.

answers from Boca Raton on

Sounds like you have recieved some great advice so far. I just wanted to recommend a cream called "Triple Paste" You can get it at the drugstore but may have to ask for it in pharmacy. My daughter was 4 weeks in nic-u when born and left from hospital with raw blistered skin. This was reccommended to me and was a miracle, almost instant healing. I have used it ever since when she may be a bit red and it was gone by the next diaper change. Good luck.
K.

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L.K.

answers from Boca Raton on

The yogart with fruit added doesn't really have any acidophillus as the fruit acids neutralize it. Try plain or vanilla yogart and add fruit at the time you serve it. Also, the powder form of acidophillus that you can add to their food is a good idea as yeast can come back easily.

I also found that the bananas that were speckled and getting ripe triggered it bigtime for my twins. They can eat the yellow ones without any freckles fine now.

Good luck.
LaurieK
www.mymonavie.com/LaurieK

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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

My 19 month old son seems to always have a rash as well. Just when it gets better or even goes away completely, it comes back with a vengence! To help it go away: I heavily cover it with Balmex, I change his diaper every hour to hour and a half, I sometimes use corn starch, I allow him to go diaperless for an hour at a time every few hours, and I use Aveeno Oatmeal Bath at bathtime. Hope this helps!

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K.N.

answers from Tallahassee on

Lotramin worked for our daughters yeast rash, but it took a while. This is over the counter cream for jock itch (jock itch, yeast infection, thrush, it is all caused by candida albicans). The strain that your daughter has may be resistant to nystatin. Also, for recurring yeast problems lots of probiotics (acidophilus is one) that are found in live yogurt cultures. Minimize sugar in the diet, the yeast thrives on it. And, increasing acidity in the urine helps too.
Good luck.

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J.W.

answers from Orlando on

Good Afternoon B.,

I had the same type of problem with my youngest daughter, she had little blisters all over her diaper area (now she is 4 yrs old), my sister-in-law suggested Balmex (the white cream not clear) and we have been using it since.

Jen~

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S.K.

answers from New York on

SALT Bath!

Pour 4 cups epson salts into warm water in your tub, fill about 4 inches deep and let her play in it with toys or whatnot. I highly recommend 10 minutes at minimum, preferrably 2+ times per day.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.

answers from Miami on

Hello B.,
If there is anyone out there that understands exactly what you are going thru it is I. I just went thru this back in september with my son. The doctor perscribed me the same thing it DID NOT WORK AT ALL, it made it worse. I didn't even take him to day care for a whole week because I figured if I left him without a diaper all day it would get better. I did the corn starch it worked great but then I took him back to the Doctor & she gave me this cream called Vision. OH MY GOD, this cream is a miracle I put some on him in the doctors office & by the time I got home it was ten times better. I wish I would have seen my doctor the fisrt time I went to her office instead of seeing the one that was there at that, time my doctor was off that day.
If I were you I would call my Doctor right now & ask her for this cream the name is Vision. It is the best, I still have the empty tube at my house so that I don't forget the name & in case it happens again I know what to ask for. I was suffering so much when my child had this every time I changed his pamper I would wash him with soap & water not wipes, he would scream, cry & kick cause it hut so much I felt hopeless.
I know what you are going thru. You'll see when you put this cream on your child you will see an improvement in just 1 diaper change.

Good Luck
L.

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G.O.

answers from Port St. Lucie on

Oh my dear friend, I feel your pain. My daughter had a terrible rash... the prescribed Nystatin and it made it WORSE. That stuff literally burned her skin! I felt so bad for her.

I gave her oatmeal baths (Aveeno) at night, changed her diaper more often and caked her up with Balmex with each diaper change. Within a day or two she was comfortable. It actually took about 10-12 days for it to completely go away, but it was minimal during that time.

Good Luck!

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D.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

hi my name is D. i am 32 i have 3 kids ages 12 6 5 .as for your diaper rash it will go away just keep useing the med. the dr gave you that stuff is the best out there i think also do lots of sitbaths with harmenhamer bakeing soda it will be gone in no time your new mom friend D. i am glad this site found me thanks guys.

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R.P.

answers from Miami on

I went through that with my daughter when she was small and believe it or not she was 18 months the last time it happened and I toilet trained her so it wouldn't happen again. I would also try leaving the baby without a pamper so that the rash could get some air in the daytime. I wish you lots of luck and hope your baby feels better...I know how upsetting it is to see your child in pain or uncomfortable. We hurt the most because we cannot do anything to fix it.

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J.R.

answers from Lakeland on

Well it getting worse may be a sign of her being allergic to the nystatin.Take her back to the dr. they have other medicines to try.

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A.F.

answers from Lakeland on

Hi , B. :0)

From what I understand , Nystatin is usually prescribed for yeast or fungus related rashes. From all the women I've talked to about it , it's not very effective , probably because it has sugar in it and yeast or fungi THRIVE on sugar !

Go to Wal Mart or a health food store and buy some Gentian Violet... paint her rash with it a couple times a day.
A word of caution : it stains EVEYTHING purple , so you don't want to apply it with your bare hand , and you may want to put an old towel under her. I have heard WONDERFUL things about this ; I think it's worth giving a try !

Hope this helps ! ~ A.

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A.Z.

answers from Orlando on

Hi B.,
I found that for my daughter's yeast rashes nystatin was useless. Believe it or not, the best thing that worked was using clotrimazole. It is over-the-counter, and you apply it 2 - 3 times a days beneath any other creams. I think the brand I used was labeled for athlete's foot, but was the same as mentioned above. I also added acidopholos to my daughter's food every day for about a month, until I was sure the yeast was gone. You can get it at Whole Foods in the refrigerated supplement section. Currently, to keep the yeast away, I make sure she eats yogurt at least 3-4 times a week.

I hope this helps!
A.

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L.T.

answers from Orlando on

B.,
I have been told not to use wipes when my children have a rash. The soap that is in them could irritate and make the rash worse. Also, the nystatin never did anything for my children either. Desitin always worked for the small rashes, but what I have found works best for big ones is aloe. I have my own aloe plant, but you can buy aloe cream at any store usually. I just take a piece off the plant and squeeze the "juice" onto the babies and spread it then put baby powder with corn startch. I sometimes put the aloe in the fridge and it helps to soothe. It may sound strange, but I have used the aloe for my own yeast infections before and it's the only thing that helps soothe:) Hope this helps:)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Boca Raton on

Hi B.,

Continue to use the Nystatin cream, but periodically throught out the day allow your daughter to go diaper free. Todays diapers dont' let the skin breathe, your daughters bum needs to be moisture free to help it heal. A mild hydrocortizone cream might be helpful as well.

I hope this helps,
S.

PS. Being diaper free might triger the potty training process and no more diaper rashes.

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S.B.

answers from Fort Myers on

1 part Desiting, 1 part Pepto Bismol. I used it, it works!

S.

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E.S.

answers from Miami on

My son easily gets diaper rashes (rashes in general) especially when on any type of medication. Some less and worse than others! I've been given some prescriptions and they all make it worse. Probably because they are so strong.
Stop using baby wipes and just use wet paper towels. (viva is the softest) Certain diapers (like pampers and huggies) can aggrivate diaper rashes because of some of the technology that they use. Generic diapers can actually help you. You definitely need SHOW your Dr. And let him know that the meds aren't working. Whatever you use you should see improvement with in 24 hrs. (48 at most) Desitin wipes off easily and won't aggrivate as much as Balmex, BUT zinc can actually cause more problems to open sores. Vitamin A&D (w/ no zinc) is good but sometimes my son will say "Oww" , so I don't know if it stings.
The Ultimate Best thing that I have found is plain AQUAPHOR. it creates a barrier and is water based. It allows the skin to help itself. Also 'no diaper' time can help air it out - which is good. Also, you should stop using bubbles and soap in the bath tub because it can aggrivate.

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V.

answers from Boca Raton on

this is odd but here it goes. my girls have been having this stomach virus and of course diaper rash developed. one had it pretty bad and she would scream after putting cream. i tried desitin and A&D and nothing worked. well two days ago my husband without asking me put johnsons baby powder and she loved it. no more cries from pain and today her rash is gone. is it possible the powder did it? i don't know but that's the only thing we have been using for two days so maybe you should give it a try. also our ped. says to give lots of yoghurt (the live cultures) when having a rash and we have been giving them different kinds of yoghurt
V.

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K.E.

answers from Miami on

I had a similar problem with my little boy a few months ago. He had little white bumps on his bottom as result from a yeast infection. I know this sounds weird, but my pediatrician told me to use Lotrimin AF. I was very leary of using an athlete's foot cream on my baby's bottom, but nothing else seemed to work. After 2 days of using the cream the rash was gone. I also found that warm baths seemed to help. Good Luck!

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B.C.

answers from Mobile on

Don't know if anyone has suggested this but my daughter got diaper rashes really bad and we used Dr Smith's diaper cream.. You might have to ask the pharmacist for it (at some places) but it works like a charm.. Also would suggest the diaper free for a little bit and make sure you don't leave the baby wet (after wiping or a bath).. Hope something is working..

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M.W.

answers from Boca Raton on

My daughter is 6 months old, and she had a pretty bad rash at one point. I did a combination of things including no wipes (I used a wet washcloth - no soap), putting her naked bottom in the sun, that was fun!! (We had a wonderful accident all over mommy), I even put her bottom in salt water, and when I diapered her I used Butt Paste (sold in Target,Walmart, etc.). The Butt Paste is great because it is VERY thick, and really sticks to the skin. But we did have success, within 2 days it was clearing up. Hope it helps.

M.

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T.B.

answers from Miami on

Dear B.,
Yes, I have experienced a resistent diaper rash. When my son was a newborn and I had to supplement with formula, his very first bowel movement with his first bottle of formula produced one of the WORST diaper rashes I had ever seen (I have 3 children and never saw a rash this bad with my first two children). It lasted for about 3 weeks and I was absolutely beside myself. I had switched to wipes without fragrance, I used Desitin, Desitin Creamy, A & D oinment. Nothing worked. Finally a friend of mine suggested that I soak his bottom in oatmeal at every diaper change. And, I changed his diaper even when it was just wet just to be sure he was dry. I also found a product that I think every mother should try. It's called Boudreaux's Butt Paste. Now when my son gets a diaper rash from time to time, I use this stuff and I swear it works wonders. A friend of mine swears by this stuff too. It has a higher percentage of zinc oxide. It's a creamy based ointment that goes on creamy and it doesn't smell bad. I would try the oatmeal soak (
Aveno has a "baby" oatmeal soak but any brand should work) and a different ointment and if that doesn't do the trick, then by all means call the ped again. Another thing I did for my baby was spread antibiotic ointment on his bottom when it was cracked and bloody. Please let me know how this situation turns out.

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R.S.

answers from Orlando on

Hi B.

I think you should see a pediatric dermatologist.

Good luck!
R.

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C.B.

answers from Fort Myers on

Wow, I've lerned so much from all of these answers! My daughter was allergic to every diaper except Huggies, of course the expensive ones. Also, make sure her her bottom is completely dry before putting on any of these creams. They usually trap in moisture. Good luck

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M.M.

answers from Gainesville on

I know it seems that a diaper rash is a small thing, so it should go away when you use the medicine. Unfortunately, the diaper rash is just the tip of the iceberg, so this is a fantastic opportunity for you to make some changes that will affect your baby's health for the rest of her life.

I used to believe that antibiotics were so fantastic because they only targeted the pathogen, and had so few side effects. Little did I know! Antibiotics destroy the immune system by wiping out the flora of the gut, which is where our immune systems are based. The bacteria in the gut is what keeps the yeast from overgrowing.

I also used to believe that fruits and starchy carbs were healthy for myself and my children. That was a big mistake! The sugars in fruits and the sugars that our bodies make out of starchy carbs are fuel for yeast.

Once the yeast gets going, it makes incredibly powerful demands on us to continue to fuel its desires with sweets and carbs. It causes a terrible irresistable craving for more sweets and carbs.

A combination of antibiotic use and a typical "healthy" American diet are fantastic for yeasty-beasties, which thrive on these modern human follies.

The answer is a potent probiotic like BioKult or Garden Of Life Primal Defense Kids. Raw cultured milk and dairy is also great.

Also, complete restriction of sugar, not just refined sugar, but also things like maple syrup and sucanat which are OK if your child doesn't have candida. No sweet fruit, and no starchy carbs until it clears up. No grains, including wheat, corn, millet, all that. Licorice tea is a nice sweet that a child can enjoy that doesn't involve sugars.

Coconut oil is good for candida because it nourishes the good bacteria and your gut lining, which is designed especially to house the good bacteria. It's anti-fungal, also. You can cook with it or she can take it by the spoonful daily.

Lots of meat, butter, eggs, real cheese (not processed), full fat dairy, and some well-cooked vegetables (not starchy ones) are all good foods for this age. Best if you can get organic meat and dairy and even better if pastured. Don't forget to include liver in her diet weekly at least, and a half or full teaspoon of high vitamin cod liver oil every day.

Bone broths are great for candida, also, and Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions cookbook describes in detail how to make them and cook really delicious gravies, sauces, and other foods with bone broths.

You can do the drugs, but it's very likely that if the diet isn't aligned, or if the antibiotics are used again, the candida will come back. It's a lot more than just a rash, too. This resistant rash may be telling you that some fundamental changes need to be made, beyond just taking a medicine.

This will be a great thing to know about, also, for your medical training. I think when modern medicine first began it assumed that people knew what a healthy diet was and knew many home remedies to use, so the medical problems dealt with were only the worst ones, which were acute, likes trauma and near-death expereinces, not the chronic diseases that so many people have now.

Now that the public is all so confused about nutrition, and nobody knows any herbal or home remedies anymore, there is a huge gap between modern medicine and what people can do to take care of themselves.

I believe nurses are a fantastic filling for this gap. My own mother told me that it was a nurse who taught her how to breastfeed her baby (me, and I'm thankful for that!). I have met many nurses who also take it upon themselves to learn about environmental health and alternative modalities that make them invaluable to their communities.

Best Wishes to you and your precious family!

M. Minno
mother of 2, grandmother of 2

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L.N.

answers from Gainesville on

Hi,

We had the world's worst diaper rash after a week in the hospital with two little girls with salmonella. I recommend don't use wet wipes! Instead make your own wipes with strong chamomile tea between changes and give her baths with no soap but put in strong chamomile tea. Hang in there!

L. D.

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S.S.

answers from Miami on

B.,

If you are still looking for a goood diaper rash cream then may I suggest Grandma El's Diaper rash & prevention cream? It is awesome! It can also be used on cloth diapers & won't affect the material. If you are interested let me know as this has to be ordered. It only costs $19.95 & it is Earth friendly too. Send me a private message if you would like to order this & I'll give you a 10% discount on your order.

Good luck!

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R.M.

answers from Lakeland on

When a rash is present clean the diaper area with a damp paper towel (usually much softer than a washcloth when wet) during diaper changes b/c wipes can contain alcohol and burn.

Then apply DESITIN CREAMY zinc oxide diaper ointment. After applying the ointment sprinkle baby powder liberally over the ointment so that it won't rub right off onto the diaper.

During baby's bathtime, sprinkle baking soda into the water- as it is a neutralizer and will help with the redness and burning.

This has worked with all of my children.

Good luck.

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N.H.

answers from Daytona Beach on

This just happened to my 8 month old daughter too. Same thing down to the last part. I took her back to the doctor yesterday because of her rash and he gave ne Dr, Smith's ointment and it is already gone this morning. Try this " Dr. Smith's", it really seems to work!

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V.S.

answers from Orlando on

Hi B., My Sister and I have a child that had a rash that the Doctor couldnt get rid of,we eliminated milk. We found out they were lactose intolerate. Start w/milk then feed her the same foods for a week or two,if rash still looks strong then switch foods and continue until you find what food is giving the rash, keep a food journal,but I bet its the milk. V.

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