J.P. asks from North Anson, ME on August 17, 2010
Rash - North Anson,ME
My 10 month old daughter has a diaper rash thats not going away. Its not very severe but its not gone either. I have tried letting her air dry then using desitin maximum strength or powder (i go back and forth between the creme and powder). Should I call the doctor? What could be causing it? I had thought of maybe a food allergy but its staying around her diaper area and nowhere else.
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M.D. answers from Burlington on August 18, 2010
E.O. answers from Boston on August 18, 2010
I agree...don't use the powder it could make it worse! I've had good luck w/ the air dry method and then just a thin layer of petroleum jelly (vaseline).
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K.D. answers from Dallas on August 17, 2010
C.C. answers from Boston on August 19, 2010
They always get rashes. It comes and goes. Try using a different brand of diaper. Get the unperfumed hyper allergenic type. You need to change the diaper at least every 3 hours during awake time and right away in morning. Use as gentle a baby soap as possible and sparingly. Dry with a clean soft towel each time you bathe the child, which should be daily. Do not use powder - not good - dries out skin too much. Put on normal Desitin and put it on fairly thick - the best you can do. When at home, I use good soft toilet paper to clean the child and then give him a quick wash in the tub or a bath. Then get the most sensitive wipes for when you go out somewhere and have to change the child.
D.B. answers from Boston on August 18, 2010
Stop the powder. My pedi says it causes yeast and it shouldn't be used at all, ever. Is she teething? Sometimes the increased saliva aggravates the digestive tract and the diaper area. I've heard Butt Paste is good too. Some people say not to use wipes and instead to use a warm washcloth and plain water. Good luck.
K.M. answers from Boston on August 18, 2010
What kind of diapers are you using? I love Pampers Baby Dry. The only time my son has ever had a diaper rash was when I used the new Pampers Cruisers and it would not go away for days after I stopped using them and would come back right away if I put them on him for even a short time. I live and die by the Baby Dry's though.
K.S. answers from Los Angeles on August 18, 2010
Maybe you should change your diaper brand. Pampers works well with sensitive skin like my daughter's. Good luck!
A.B. answers from Boston on August 19, 2010
Very likely it's the diaper. Our daughter had a rash for 6 months (even with chlorine free disposables) until we switched to cloth diapers, it went away instantly! Not to mention we've saved so much money by switching to cloth :) We love our Fuzzi Bunz, Thirsties, and SmartiPants. It's not for everyone, but worth a try. I thought I would never use cloth, now I wouldn't go back if you paid me!
D.B. answers from Providence on August 19, 2010
I haven't read the other responses so I apologize if any of my advice will be repeats.
I'd say to apply good old plain Vaseline to the rash at diaper changes...then use powder liberally at every diaper change.
The Vaseline will prevent any further wetness from getting onto the rash itself, which is essentially why your daughter has a rash in the first place...from sitting in her wet diaper consistently. Using baby powder at diaper changes will prevent any new rashes from developing once this current one heals.
And continue the use of powder even after the rash has healed.
Powder does wonders at preventing diaper rash in the first place.
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D.N. answers from Chicago on August 17, 2010
My daughter had what I thought was diaper rash. It started when she was about 15 months. It would not go away no matter what I used on it. The worst part was she would scratch and make it really sore. Then she got a few others outside the diaper area and the doctor took a closer look. She has exzema in that area. Since it is a moist area, it can really thrive. About 2 yrs old she started getting it inside her elbows. Using hydrocortizone for a few days helps to clear it up. I would have it checked to rule out yeast or anything else. It is so easy to say diaper rash in that area, especially when it does not seem move to other areas. Change her diaper often to kept the area dryand let it "air out" when possible.
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