Raw Bloody Diaper Rash

Is he eating lots of oranges? Strawberries? Grapes? Tomatoes? Juice? These can all cause diaper rash. I would give him milk and oatmeal baths (just do it in the sink so you don't have to waste so much!) a couple of times a day and let him go sans-diaper whenever possible every day (outside when it actually looks like summer around here!). I have heard the recommendation of cutting out the zinc-oxide diaper cream (i.e. Desitin, etc.). A friend used a product containing something called calendula (I think she got it at a health food store - she read about it online). Also, avoid using wipes. Most of them contain alcohol and can cause burning and irritation. Just use a soft wet cloth when needed.
Good luck!

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You know...my son turned out to be allergic to baby wipes. So it turned into a vicious cycle, where we were treating the resulting raw/bloody yeast infection that occured because his skin was blistering/breaking from the allergic reaction to the babywipes.

It was a delayed contact dermatitis (aka, no immediate reaction) so we & the doctors were clueless until one time the student loan check came late and we were dead broke for 2 weeks.

Wet paper towels.

His rash cleared up, but we didn't make the connection, until I so gratefully went out and bought more babywipes and *poof* the rash was back. Hellllooooo paper towels.

This allergy was one of the ones that got worse over time...it wasn't until my son was 6 months old that he started getting these rashes...and they varried in intensity (come to find, the more "hypoallergenic" something is the stronger a reaction he has to it. Go Figure).

I know of several wee ones who've had this same problem, and one who turned out to be allergic to the diaper itself. Or to be more precise, the diaper when wet.

Anyhow, as it literally can't hurt, you might try the wet paper towel trick. They're also a LOT less expensive then wipes.

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I would recommend a hazelwood necklace. Go to www.hazelaid.com to read about how they work. The gist of it is that the hazelwood has the natural property of absorbing excess acidity when it is in contact with your skin. I got one for my daughter who was covered in eczema and within 2 weeks it was completely cleared up. It helps with all kinds of issues related to excess acidity such as eczema, acid reflux, teething pain (yep, that too!), diaper rashes caused by acidic bowel movements (as is your problem right now), and many more issues.
There's also a zinc oxide diaper cream with hazelwood extract that helps to neutralize the acidity of the BM to let the skin heal.
Hope you find something that helps soon.
Take care.

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Just a question, but has your doctor checked for strep? Some kids get strep infections on their tushes, which can cause all sorts of problems.

Other things to try include: rinsing all the soap and chemicals out of wipes (which can really irritate) or using cloth wipers and warm water; drying his bottom with a hair dryer on low (keep your hand on his thigh to make sure it's not too hot) until completely dry; diaper-free time in a room with no carpet so messes are easy to clean. We've had good luck with the Weleda Diaper Cream...it contains calendula which heals and has zinc oxide, a moisture barrier. Only apply creams to completely dry skin.

Good luck!

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Here's an idea that might help, along with all the other ideas, like seeing what's in his diet that could be causing it, or trying some other ointment or powder.

If you can tell when he's about to go poop, hold him over the toilet or set him on a little potty (he's big enough to sit up on one, even if his feet don't touch the ground, right?). That way the poop won't get all over his bottom. My son is 5 months, and I've been doing this with him, and I rarely have to clean poopy bottoms (or diapers, since I use cloth mostly).

As far as timing, it's different for each child. You could try taking him after meals, whenever you go, every time you change his diaper, etc. I'll bet after a few days he'll probably start to get the idea. Not sure about an 11 month old's signals, but my 5 month old wiggles and sometimes fusses before he needs to go--and often I catch pee too. :) Like last night, at 4:00 am he was wiggly and would not settle down. I took him to the bathroom, and he pooped for me. That was good, because he has eczema and it's all over his bottom, and sitting in a poopy diaper until 6:00 or 7:00 am is no fun! Even when the poop isn't acidic. Oh, he went to sleep rather quickly after that!

Do let us know what happened!

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Any discussion about food allergies? I know that at his age he probably isn't eating lots of solids, but perhaps some. Sounds like the other stuff is working... it's worth a try. Hang in there!

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Hi S....
this is a couple days after your post...
thank goodness it is summer...
let him run without a diaper.. usually you are kind of aware of when he'll be ready to poo.. so all the other time let him be free..
I used to let my little fall asleep with his diaper and then cafefully removed it. :)
also. don't use wipes at all. use only shower spray and washcolths. when it was bad with mine.. I even brought ziplocs and washcloths on outings to other houses and a milk jug of water. (I use the back of my Tahoe as a on-the-go diaper changing station!!!)
good luck.

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So sorry to hear about your little guy's horrible issue! My daughter had something called toddler tummy, which isn't harmful, except that she never had formed poos, always runny and acidic. We went through the ringer with diaper rashes for such a long time! I do have a couple of potential suggestions, but realize you are probably going to get a ton of responses.

1) I realize you've been to the doctor for this which hasn't seemed to offer any relief. Have you considered a naturopath? You're insurance may not cover it, but for an $80 office visit that could be you're saving grace, it may be very well worth it. If you live in the Portland Metro Area, I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Jared Zeff in Vancouver. He is amazing and has been invaluable when our regular pediatrician has not been able to be as helpful with a few issues.

2) I second being very careful with wipes. The 7th Generation brand are very mild and soft and don't contain alcohols.

3) The Calendula might be very effective for your son. A brand called Weleda makes an entire line for babies that is centered around calendula and they make a diaper rash cream. You can get it at New Seasons and Whole Foods. We didn't use that one, but I do know that in general, calendula is very calming and healing to the skin.

4) If that doesn't work, I also highly suggest the Arbonne diaper rash cream. It was the only thing that really helped our daughter. It is a direct sales company, but you can buy on their website I think and you may be able to get it on Ebay if you don't know someone who sells it. I know a lot of people are leary of buying products like that, but the diaper rash cream is really worth it.

I do wish you the best of luck in finding a true remedy for your son. There's nothing worse for a normally healthy baby as severe and chronic diaper rash!

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Used cortizone and neosporin together one time on my daughter - took about a week to heal and clear. On my son (4 years later) used regular baby powder - it soaked up all moisture and only took two days to clear everything up.

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When my son (almost five now) was a baby he had the same thing. I agree with the other comments on using a wet cloth or paper towel or shower and no diaper as much as possible.
On the other hand, does your son have any allergies? It might be hard to know at that age, my son was born with exzema and we later found out the hard way he was allergic to nuts, eggs, and cats. It seemed overall that he was just very sensitve to all sorts of different foods as well that gave the worst diaper rashes that no cream or antibiotic would clear up for too long. I don't know if your son has any skin conditions or allergies but maybe you should ask your doctor about it. They could be causing these bloody diaper rashes. If you know what foods to stay away from, which the allergy tests tell you, then you could minimize the severity of the rashes. For my son, he still continued to get bad diaper rashes but we learned how to try and prevent them.
Sorry about the length of my response, I just understand what your going through. Good luck.

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I have had a diaper rash problem with my baby too, she had a rash so bad that I just didnt know what to do. I saw a locan herbalist and she suggested giving her a warm bath (in the sink so it is easier) with oatmeal and calendula flowers every time she goes pee or poop. In addition to this I kept her out of diapers and just lightly wrapped her in a blanket at night and changed it several times during the night. Its the best season to go diaper free and I suggest keeping his little booty aired and sunned out for a while. It took 2 weeks to clear up my baby's rash this way and so far it hasnt been back. Good luck, and I hope this helps

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Maybe try letting him go without a diaper for a little while each day? My daughter has had diaper rash on and off, but never as bad as you're describing.

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Check his diet. What is he eating? Reduce the acidic content of his diet--i.e. fruit first. That will help solidify his bowel movements.

Add yogurt--the kind without fruit. My son loved the plain stuff at that age. Read the content to make sure you get the kind that has acidofilus and bifidus.

Use cloth diapers if you can.

Also, never use those baby wipes. I had to use them once on myself, and they sting. The chemicals on sores are terrible for sensitive skin. I used for my babies squares of thing terry cloth I got from the fabric store. I hemmed them up and they lasted through two kids.

Now that summer is here, let him "air dry' sometimes.

Good luck, time will help with this.

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Wow. You've had a lot of responses, so sorry if I'm repeating someone.

My first child has very sensative skin and frequently had bloody diaper rash. We did warm baths with baking soda to soothe the soreness (about 4 inches deep and 1/3C baking soda swirled in). Then, we'd put her in the playpen naked with a large, washable blanket folded up, lining the bottom of the pen. We'd let her play in there naked so that her bottom could dry out. Just throw the blanket in the wash and repeat as needed. Sunshine helps too. If you have a private yard he can play in, just let him run around naked (or atleast bottom-less) when the weather permits.

I also don't use wipes on a sore bottom. Use warm water-soaked soft cloths. Even wet paper towels are better than wipes. All wipes sting sore butts. Then, I pat dry and put Neosporin (or equiv: triple antibiotic ointment) on the sore areas.

Persistance! It does eventually stop. Good luck.

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Hi S.!

First of all, you poor things! I sympathize. I have heard that most diaper rash is caused by what they're eating, and that has been true for my son. The only time he got diaper rash was when I fed him strawberries before he was old enough. I stopped; it cleared. I gave him a couple as a test, and--sure enough--it came back. I have heard that dairy is often the culprit for really severe diaper rash. Something to think about.

Good luck!
L.

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I know how hard that is. Both of my boys had that problem. My pediatrician recommended their "butt paste" which is equal parts Desitin, Lotrimin, hydrocortisone cream and Bactroban (prescription). It worked for us, although when it was really bad, it would take a couple days. One time the pediatrician thought my son's bottom looked more burned than a rash and prescribed Silvadene. That really solved the problem that time.

Also look at what is in your son's diet. We finally figured out with my oldest that it was very related to tomatoes. We pulled tomatoes and he very rarely had diaper rash after that. (We did add the tomatoes back in a year or so later.)

Good luck!

Okay, when I saw the number of responses, 35!!, I figured someone was sure to give you the first thing that came to my mind. As it turns out not a one!

Please take your little guy to see a pediatric dermatologist. He obviously has skin issues beyond the norm and needs to be seen by an expert. If you can find a pediatric dermatologist/allergist even better; yes, they exist.

For your sake as well as his do it quickly.

We just dealt with this very issue....after 8 appointments and a trip to swedish infectious didease a friend from overseas told me to use egg whites.....I know it sound scrazy but it worked.....I just whisked the egg till frothy then scooped some on her bottom and rubbed it all over.......threw a diaper on and it was amazing. I did it at every diaper change.

Hi S.,

Air will help as will using a wet washcloth instead of wipes to cllean him up, you can also rinse the wipes out with water and use them with just water instead of the chemicals. My youngest son had a similar problem with some medicines he had to take and when it got to the point where you were we did a combo of air and Ilex paste for when he had a diaper on. We got the Ilex by prescription from our Children's hospital but your ped/pharmacy can probably order it. Here's the company Website http://www.ilexpaste.com/about.shtml If you decide to use it you clean the area, coat with Ilex, and then put petrolum jelly over the Ilex so that it doesn't stick to the diaper. Once you get it cleared up go the air route whenever he starts to get irritated and hopefully you can head it off before you get to that point. Oh and one tube of the stuff lasted the entire time he wore diapers.

Good luck!

Hello. Been through this. My daughter had open heart surgery and the antibiotics she had to take gave her horrible diarrhea and diaper rash. Luckily, my daughter was in the hospital when this happened. She actually ended up with burns on her bottom, even though she was kept naked to the air. We went through many creams, ointments, ect. before we found something that helped her. Here is what worked for her:
Econazole Nitrate Cream 1%
You need a prescription. It is very expensive without insurance. However, we fought this rash for a week. Once we started this medication, it disappeared within a few nights.
Good luck. I hope you find something that works for your little guy!

Hi,
I had the same problems when my daughter was teething. I ended up doing an old-fashioned remedy and it worked for her. It's where you brown flour on the stove and apply it like powder each time you change diapers. Also Aquaphor ointment is wonderful stuff for diaper rash. My kids used to come home from daycare with a diaper rash, I would use it and over night it would heal. These have worked for both of my kids, hope they will work for you. Good Luck!

My niece also has this problem... Try pure zinc oxide. It's what is in diaper rash ointments but they have very little mixed with lots of other stuff. It's very cheap ($1.50) for a tube, but buy more than one as it will require litterally covering his bottom in a thick paste. But I assure you, I swear by it. My son was allergic to applesauce and juice and broke out in blisters within seconds of having either... one dose of zinc and he would be fine. Don't be afraid to layer it on thick.
You will find it in the pharmacy rather than with the baby stuff... most likely in the first aid section as it is generally used to treat sunburns.
Also... blow dry his bottom 2-3 times a day. I found with my son, that he was constantly staying moist and that didn't help. And try to cut back on the acids he eats during this time... more cheese and yogurt, less fruit.

Sharon, my 2 boys had some really bad rashes as well. I put a sheet down on the kitchen floor and put them down on it without a diaper on. I would put a shirt on him, but no diaper. The air seemed to help and actually the boys thought it was pretty fun. I would sit and play with their toys with them. I did this for an hour or so 3 or 4 times a day. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

S.,
We just went through something similar with our daughter. We discovered that she is sensitive to the soy formula that she was getting. Nothing we did would help with the rash until we figured out what was causing the diarrhea. We ended up switching to goat milk, and the rash cleared up in a few days. I would look at his diet and start cutting things out, even things that you think aren't a problem, if they are known to be an allergen. (i.e. soy or milk)
Our daughter had been getting one bottle of soy formula a day for a month, so we didn't even think of it initally as the source of the problem. It turns out that she was tolerating it in a small amount, but when we upped the amount, she started having problems.
Good luck. I know how hard and frustrating it is.
K.
PS. We did find that using a blowdryer to dry her butt after diaper changes, before any ointment, seemed to help some.

I also recommend the clotrimazole and desitin for really bad diaper rash. My daughter had this around 1-1/2 years old,and her daycare center recommended it. It can be found in the foot care section of most drugstores, and you can just by the generic brand. would also recommend avoiding the wipes until the area starts to hea., and just wipe with water or stand them in the sink/shower. Good luck! E.

I had an issue with my youngest daughter getting a bug causing loose acidic stool which caused her to develop the bleeding rash. I have 3 children and that was the first time I'd seen that. I finally took her to the pediatrician and he told me to stop the milk products until it clears up. There is a process that goes on that causes the intestine structure to break down with viruses, the natural way to flush the bugs out. However, milk products have similar effect on that structure. I was very surprised when he told me to give her gatorade instead of formula. She was only 8 months old. The milk was not allowing her system to heal so her stool was very acid causing the rash. To treat the rash, I agree with the zinc oxide with no other ingredients or Mustella-found at high end childrens store(babiesrus sometimes). I also stop using commercial wipes temporarily. I use a wet wash cloth and pat it dry or thow her in the shower/sink after each BM. It's hard and time consuming but makes it much better. She currently has a rash right now from Augmentin and we are going camping this weekend. I've found you can smash a roll of select a size paper towels, pull out the cardboard, cut them in half to the size of TP, wet them with water then put in a ziplock for travel. Start from the inside and they come out like the popups. you can soften the water with a little baby oil and baby magic. Good luck!

Try Weleda Calendula oil. Slather it on a lot. Also, just let him crawl around with no diaper. Cover the floor with towels or blankets and let it just air out. Once you get a rash like that it is so hard to get rid of! Good Luck

I've had really good luck with bathing my son in Aveeno's Colloidal Oatmeal bath packets when he has a rash this bad. Seems to make the rash stop bleeding and disappear almost instantly. You can get them in the baby section at Rite-Aid. Also, you might want to try a hazelwood necklace. Sounds hokey, but you never know. You can order them online at http://www.tearlessteething.com/about_tearless_teething.html
They seem pretty cheap and there are lots of people who swear by them...

Our boys got that a few times, but not for that long, that sounds so terrible for him! One thing that really worked for us was drying it out. We didn't use wipes, every time we changed their diapers we'd clean them off in the bathtub. And we would dry their rear with the hairdryer. And then we'd apply some aloe and on top of that diaper cream (I found that Burts Bees was wonderful and found it during that time and never switched back to anything else). My doctor also gave me a home made prescription for bad diaper rashes but I no longer have it. Not sure which doctor you go to, but if you call Creekside Medical, perhaps you could talk one of the nurses into giving you the formula Dr Speaker hands out for home made diaper rash cream? Good luck, I know exactly what you and your boy are going through and it's so sad to hear them scream at diaper change time!

I have to second what Kristin said. I usualy buy lotrimin (foot cream), hydrocortisone, and instead of A&D, I use the store brand of Desitin and then mix equal parts and store it in a little tub and then put it on at each change and then top it with corn startch powder, this mixture used to be a prescription years ago. Also on my son, before I knew about this, I would use monistat yeast cream and that would totally kick his. Both my kids had the same bloody diaper rash while teething and it is no fun! I would have to hold them down and it was so painful for both of us! Good Luck!

I had something close to this with my son. Something that worked for us...through a lot...was Lansinoh Lanolin. The same purple tube you would use to place on your breasts after breastfeeding. We used this stuff on his bum when he had a serious diaper rash, on his cheeks/lips/hands to keep from chapping in the winter. The reason why I love this stuff? Because it heals and your child could touch it to their mouths and it doesn't hurt them. Hope this helps!

Okay, well the last bad one my son had, was bloody also and the doctor told me to use bag balm, it comes in that square tin. It's about $8.00. The rash was GONE the next day. I couldn't belive it. You of course could still see where it had been raw but we kept using it and that part healed really fast too. Good luck, I know how heart breaking it can be.

put his little naked butt in the sun... :) works everytime.. it will dry it all out for him and the sun will heal it.. and little boys love to run around outside naked... just put him on a blanket in the sun all naked..

Aquaphor healing ointment is great product! My 1 st son had acidic (aka chemical burn/diaper rash) from eating too much cheese. It was terrible! Aquaphor did the trick and now I use it prophylactically, and we havnen't had another rash since... Hope your boy heals soon!

Consider changing his brand of diaper. My daughter got rashes from a couple brands of diaper, but not others. Along with this goes the advice that I saw from others: stop using baby wipes. Or, again, consider changing brands. I found *1* brand that works for her, the others made her rashy.

My daughter never suffered from such severe rashes (Thanks goodness!) and I REALLY hope you can find the solution that works for your little guy :(

You need to get him into his pediatrician immediately...it sounds like a yeast infection (babies commonly get this, both boys and girls ) and they can give him something to clear it up.
My daughter had a similar rash, like you I thought it was just a diaper rash. One day she just broke out in these bumps all over the trunk of her body so I rushed her into a doctor and they diagnosed her with yeast infection.
It was bloody and raw and would not heal no matter what I did. I even had her run around without a diaper, stopped using wipes and just warm water, desitin, corn starch EVERYTHING....

just take him in and have him looked at...it will make you both feel better.

I S.,
its been awhile since i have written on here bt seems you could use some real help from a older mom,
yes, my first two sons went through that phase, its a lot to do with teething so first off stay away from giving him any juices for awhile ok, second you can add a little water like 1/4 to his milk in his bottle if he uses one, third and best there is a product on the market called aveeno it comes in a bar of soap or best a powdered kind you can put in the tub with water for a bath but no other soaps or shampoos in that water let him sit in cool warm bath to sit or play just a small amount to bath in to cover his bottom for about ten mins at the least then when done pat dry they have the aveeno cream too for rashes but do give the bottom air time without a diaper i know he may wet sometimes but he's a baby you love no big problem ok,regular daily bath just for the bottom with this aveeno soap you will see it heal in about a week or less and willl remain healing. Take care and always be your best as their mom you will be rewarded many times over in their lives from them, god bless all S.,

We had to deal with a bad rash with my son, but nothing this severe. I hope it clears up soon. Aveeno Oatmeal Bath is very soothing. You can buy it at any drug store. I would let him soak his bottom in a clean tub with 1/2 an envelope of oatmeal bath a couple of times per day. Aquaphor worked on my daughter and A&D with Zinc Oxide worked for my son, but it sounds like you have tried many different creams. If it is yeast, OTC yeast infection creams will work. I hope you and him find some relief soon.

One other thing...don't use wipes. If you don't have a bunch of wash clothes, rinse the wipes thoroughly with warm water before cleaning him.

K.

First I know how difficult this is. try bathing him in a bath with baking soda. it cuts the acid and balances the ph of his skin. I would do it as offtem as you can when it is so raw. even if you use warm water with the soda in it to wash his butt with when changing. make sure the area is good and dry, then put lansolin, the breast ointment, on it. it will protect the area. last, let his bottom breath as much as you can by letting him lie with no diaper on.

Good luck

My daughter had something like you described when she was on antibiotics for an ear infection. What worked for us was giving her yogurt to eat (you mentioned probiotics so that may turn the trick) whenever she was on antibiotics. My other daughter had a bad rash when I changed to a different brand of diaper that had a strong flowery smell to it. I always thought it was the fragrance, but its hard to say.

I would also use two kinds of creams. One was like A & D and the other was Desitin. The A & D was lighter and had healing things in it, but the Desitin seemed to protect better.

This happened for us in the Winter time so naked baby was not an option, but I think that will help a lot too.

Good luck. Hope his little bum is feeling better soon!

I have mixed a&d, with Desitin and a small amount of Hydrocortisone cream , even add the nystatin in it and made my own but paste use until the bottom has healed. You can also try using desitin or vaseline on the bottom at every diaper change after it's healed for a barrier to protect the bottom. Try baths daily and air dry a little before you put the cream on, don't let it dry out it will crack and get worse. It needs to stay moist.

Cut down on juice they can cause the runs and try more bananas as they will form the poo more. Look a little closer at his diet he could be sensitive to something. Or have to changed diaper brands or bath products lately? Good luck...from a mom of 3 who has seen this many times.

Have you considered him being gluten (or other food-) intolerant. Note that it may not show up on any tests. My daughter has it bad and would brake our badly if she had a speck of gluten, yet she looks like a rose on any allergy test that has been done. That means its not an allergy exactly but intolerance. This could also be dairy, or any other food for that matter.

Good luck,
H

Warm bath with baking soda in it. I usually put quite a bit of baking soda in there. Then antibiotic ointment and diaper creme over it. Sorry he's in so much pain. My daughter had a very similar experience(s).

Oh, when you wipe the area just use a wet wash cloth and not the wipes. You might look for some other wipes at Whole Foods that don't have harsh stuff in them. I used those when she was having sore times.

I recommend nudity! Seriously, my baby sister had that when she was a baby, and we just let her run around bare bunned for a few days and it finally healed. Yes, you have to clean up some messes, but he'll be more aware that he's going and you can get it off his bum immediately.

Also, go to your healthfood store and see what they recommend... perhaps he could eat something that will calm the acidity of his poo.

Good luck!!

My little guy had horible bloody rashes too. We used Desitin regular cream, then vaciline on top of it...sounds like a lot of trouble, but it works...then we would use the diaper cream and vaciline when he didnt have any signs of rash for a couple days, too make sure it was all gone. THe vaciline REALLY helps in several ways: it makes the cream easier to spread around (without hurting the affected area), it keeps the poo off the area entirely, and it makes cleaning it all off so much easier!

Sounds like time for something more drastic. You need a diaper-free day (or 2) for him to heal. He needs air time. Cover the floor with plastic, cut up trash bags, whatever, (keep them away from his mouth) and let him be naked.

Hi there - I have some experience with something very similar with my son. He was younger but this sounds the same. I tried all the butt pastes and everything! What finally worked believe it or not was using a warm washcloth with just warm water to wipe his bottom and to let it dry in the air as much as possible. I would gently pat his bottom dry with a dry cloth as well but what one of the doctors finally told me was that the rash was happening because he was getting wiped so much and the bottom was not getting dry that it basically just got chapped and got a "chemical rash". It is from wiping his bottom so much and using wipes and his bottom not getting dry. I was shocked at how fast it started to go away when I used the warm wet washclothes and then let him air dry and patted dry with a towel. I also used a hair dryer on the cool setting for a little bit too...that was kind of a pain but it really helped! We only use the Desitin that is white and pasty too, that seems to heal things overnight a lot of the time. It could be that citrus foods are not helping with the type of poop he is having right now either. I have been convinced (though never tested him) that my older son has sensitivity to oranges and the acid in them. It seemed he would end up with the runs a day or so after eating them so you may want to try to cut acidic things out and see what happens too. Good luck and hope this helps!

I would take him back to the doctor, maybe a different doctor, and make them figure out what is going on. This is not normal and they need to look into what is causing it. Not just treating it. It may be something in his diet or maybe he's allergic to the diaper or something. I wouldn't stop nagging them until they figure it out. Good luck!

My daughter had this when she was a baby. After several painful months, we finally found someone who could help. Turns out she was not able to digest the protein in fruits with an edible seed. This meant that strawberries, kiwi, bananas (!!!) and even grapes were off limits. We took her off such foods completely (even in baby food and rice cereal) and the rash stayed away. We reintroduced the fruits after her second birthday and she was able to process them, just like the specialist said.

May or may not be your issue, but it is likely worth a try. Good luck!

Let him air out. Leave the diaper off and let the rash get some air.
Also watch what he eats. Grapes were the culprit to my son's diaper rash.
Good Luck
~G. Davenport

Dear S.,
I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I have twin girls who are the same age and only one girl went through that. I tried Desitin. It worked the first time but then the rash came back and was persistent. I kept doing the Desistin. I would mix it with Petroleum Jelly. That didn't work. I tried Neosporin and Petroleum Jelly. That worked for a little while. And then it came back again. I bought pure zinc oxide cream and mixed that with Desitin. It worked a little bit but didn't remove it. Finally I'm just using A&D and it's working! I couldn't believe it. My friend who is a nurse at the NIC unit in Seattle recommended it for me. It's amazing how certain creams work! So try different brands! Sometimes you'll get surprised.

We always use A&D ointment for anytype of rash or abrasion. The other thing to remember or look into is if he's allergic to whatever you may be treating him with topically or something he's ingesting, sure... could be making the situation worse. I know how hard it is to see your little one hurting. What other suggestions does the doctor have? My son had a very bad rash just one time and we were using balms and desitin... we switched to A&D and he's never had a rash since. We use it everywhere on him because it's clear and not pasty, so when he gets a chapped nose with a cold we'll use it there, when his cheeks get raw from wind, we'll use it there... whatever. I swear by it. The best.

What has he been eating?

My grandson only had a rash once - after he was introduced to corn. And it was hellacious... much like what you're describing.

The doctor said that its not unusual for babies to have a bad reaction to corn... the first time. Then he said it will go away. He was wrong...

My grandson went on to get diabetes... I've since learned that when someone has a negative allergic reaction to something like corn, it is only apparent for awhile and then it goes deeper... into the organs.

Watch the movie, "King Corn", if you need more info about corn.

Good luck with that... it must be difficult for you and baby.

My daughter had this happen as a reaction to strawberries, and it turned into a yeast infection. We had luck with putting lotrimin (or some sort of over-the-counter anti fungal cream) and hydrocortisone on at the same time, and then putting A & D over it all. We also avoided baby wipes and just used warm washcloths. It was horrible to se her so miserable, but once we started this concoction, it cleared up pretty quickly. Good luck!

Try mixing baking soda with vaseline. It worked for me when my son was a baby. Mix it until it's a medium stiff paste. Good Luck.

The problem here is not a rash that won't heal, but poop that is burning him bum. To get his poo less acidic and more firm, feed him foods from the BRAT diet (bananas, applesauce, rice, toast), and stay away from fruit juice.
To keep the poo from burning him, there are two things you can do, but I wouldn't necessarily do them together. One, you can heavily coat his bum with Vaseline. This will create a physical barrier so his poo cannot touch his skin. Another thing to try is grandma's solution... just corn starch. Do not use baby powder as it can cause more problems, but just put corn starch in his diaper. Corn starch will neutralize the acid.

Good luck

Hi S.,
The only suggestion I have that I don't think has been mentioned (too many for me to take the time to read) is to give him a lot of water to drink. My first child had the same problem and I gave her a lot more water than she normally got and it just seemed to disappear. Just to much acid in her system. Good luck. I know how disturbing this is.