Treatment for Constant Diaper Rash

R.:

I have a 9 month old daughter myself and my husband and I just took her into Urgent Care tonight because she has had a severe diaper rash that hasn't cleared in several days. The doctor told us to go to Walgreen's and get some "Bag Balm." It is in a tin can in the cosmetic section. She also said to use organic diapers if possible and to leave the diaper off as long as you can throughout the day to let the rash air dry. She said to buy sensitive wipes. She also said to dip her in a luke warm bath or sink full of water after every diaper change for the first few days instead of using any wipes or washcloths. Also, are you feeding her table food yet? If so limit any acidic foods because that can cause more diaper rash and poops. I hope this helps. Oh and she said to alternate between Motrin and Tylenol for pain. Let me know if you have any other questions!

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My first son had this as well and I researched into my husband's family and found out that a citric acid allergy ran in his family for boys until they were about 10 years old. So, that explained why he was always getting a diaper rash- poor bleeding butt and hives at times too. So, we eliminated all citric acid from his diet (well, as much as we could as it is in almost everything) and it helped significantly. So, you may want to look at what she is eating.

To help the diaper rash, I have tried almost everything (some previous posts here had some things I haven't tried) but I absolutely swear by Weleda Diaper Care Cream (make sure it is the Diaper Care, as they make another one too). You can get it at most health food stores (call first)and on line stores too. It works wonders and their little tushes are better by the morning (well, the bleeding part will scab over and take a few days to heal). I would wipe his butt with a cotton pad dipped in water (wipes will burn), then put on some baby powder to dry it off (that's key, to make sure their skin is dry before putting on any ointment, then put on a layer of Weleda Diaper Care Cream, then put on a layer of vaseline. Do this every time and they won't get diaper rash. My son used to be so bad that we couldn't change him in public because people thought we were hurting him and would actually ask me through the stall door if we were ok, etc. It was bad. I have also read that you can put some flour in the oven and brown it and use that and it works wonders too. I haven't had the time to try that one. But, we have used all the ointments, triple paste, maalox, lotrimin cream, etc. The last 2 work occassionally. You may want to take her to your pediatrician and rule out a yeast infection. Good luck!

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I was going to suggest cloth diapers, too. My daughter always had bad diaper rash and the only thing that worked was Boudreaux Butt Paste and cloth diapers. Even just using them for a few days would help clear up the rash and I could go back to disposables as long as I kept an eye on her skin. Some kids are just sensitive to the chemicals in diapers. My daughter would get so bad she was bleeding and we had to spray her bottom off with water rather than wipe. My son has no trouble at all.

R.:
It is hard on moms to see our little ones in such agony and pain. I agree with many posts about the citric acid (juice too), but most important, about how disposable diapers have chemicals in them that baby skin just can't handle, especially extremely sensitive skin. What you bathe her with, launder her clothes with may also be a culprit. Seeing the post of coming home from the hospital with a rash raises the flag that hospitals wash everything in bleach and it is a chemical that eats away at metal! Why would we put it on our newborn's skin?

I truly believe that what you put on your skin and your daughter's is very important. Please know that when putting on Vaseline or a product similar does NOT heal the current rash. It just sits on top of the skin and doesn't do anything except create a chemical barrier so that her skin cannot breathe! That is what is necessary to heal, plus you need a product to penetrate and heal the skin from beneath the surface. There are so many products out there that claim all sorts of things and it is hard to know which ones are good and which ones are actually causing more harm than good. If you are interested in learning more about baby care products that are better for your baby's skin, then just email me and I will tell you about a whole line that is all botanically based and helps the skin to breathe and heal. I can't post pictures, but if you would like to see before and after results, please feel free to email me back. Seeing is believing and doing a little research on skin care products will help you all in the long run. Don't waste more time, money and crying. It is painful for you both! Take care and happiest of holidays to you all.

Here's info my friend gave me for you..hope it helps :)

Get a tucks pad,wipe their bottom and any other affected areas- they'll scream cause it burns for a minute....but it works-it's the witch hazel in it-you might also try the dermaplast spray they give you at the hospital when you have a baby-they sell it at walmart too.

Then get some of that Bordeux Butt Paste or Triple Butt Paste and slather them up a few times...should help. You can also give them a bath in baking soda -luke warm water.

Something else just for future references-for everyone who takes a bath in the tub-put a capful of listerine in there and you will keep from getting kidney infections of urinary tract infections.

Try going up a size in diaper, try to keep her naked as long as possible, the air helps, I always loved Desitin, but not the creamy type. Good Luck!

I totally agree with Carrie U. Make sure you are putting a size diaper on that is fitting and not too snug. Also, let her be free for awhile. Lay down a bunch of blankets, a couple of pads under the blankets or on top and let her be free for awhile. The air will do well with healing! I know it's awkward, yet she will truly benefit from it. And you should call your doctor too. That's always a good one to do when something we've tried for quite awhile does not help.

Have you asked a doctor about it? Sometimes diaper rashes are associated with staph infections, and this actually requires an antibiotic cream to help it clear up. It could be something related - could also be a yeast infection.

My sister's boy always gets a rash when they feed him juice (apple juice I think) so it could be a food thing too.

Otherwise, you might try cloth diapers. She may be allergic to the chemicals in disposable diapers (there are a lot of them in there). You can always try them for a few days and see whether that clears things up (borrow from a friend or if you're really stuck, let me know because I have a large stash), and switch to them perminantly if it does.

Try picking up some Corona Lanolin Rich Antiseptic Ointment at the local Farm and Fleet. It says it's for Horses, Cattle and Small Animals, but it works wonders on diaper rash for babies. It usually takes care of the rash in one treatment.

I've used this with all four of my children. One tub of 14 oz has lasted through 4 kids!

I don't know a lot about this, because fortunately my son doesn't get diaper rash that often. But I did hear that chronic diaper rash can be caused from a yeast infection. I would ask your doctor at least it wouldn't hurt to ask! Good Luck!

For diaper rash creams, I have had the best luck with Aquafor. I get mine from Target or Walmart. It is a little bit more expensive than creams like Desitin and such. It has the appearance of vaseline rather than that of typical diaper rash cream. But, like I said, it has always worked for my 2 kids.
Good luck & I hope your little one gets over this rash soon!!
~J.~

We have sensitive skinned girls at our house too and diaper rash is a problem. With our first we used regular Desitin then covered it with Vaseline to protect it. We let the diaper area air dry (even went so far as to use a hairdryer with a cool setting to dry the area).

Our newborn (two weeks old) has had a diaper rash problem already (before we left the hospital) and I just saw her MD yesterday. She wrote a prescription for Vusion Ointment and said that it has worked wonders for her other patients with diaper rash. My husband is at the pharmacy as I type this so I can't say how it works but it might be worth asking your MD about.

Good Luck!

Have you tried triple paste?

Also, when our son had a cold he had diarrhea and what we discovered was that he would go right after taking his last bottle before bed and would sit all night in it. After 2 days we figured that out, we would feed him then change him then put him down.

When my daughter was about 2 months old she had a horrible diaper rash that like your daughter would not go away. We brought her to the doctor and he told us to use Lotrimin. My sister had told me before we brought her there to try Lotrimin because her little guy had the same problem when he was a baby and it helped him. It definitely did the trick.

have you tried cloth diapers?
My daughter has not had a bad rash since we switched.
Even the more "natural" disposables like 7th Generation were too chemically for her and caused rashes.

Hi R.,

I don't know if this will stop the always problem but it will clear it up. I have used this for all 3 of my kids and seems to be the only soothing thing that stops it... crisco. I buy the sticks of crisco & slather it on their little bottoms. My sister does this as well.

Hope this helps!
C. (SAHM of 3 - 5yr, 3yr & 15mo)

Talk to your doc about the new prescription for diaper rash. I think it's called Vusion or something like that. It may be a yeast infection rather than a diaper rash. You can also use washcloths instead of wipes.

I think you should definitely ask your pediatrician about this issue. Also, it may be possible that your baby may be having a reaction to chlorine which is in most diapers. I would suggest that you can try the Seventh Generation chlorine-free diapers & wipes. It's worth a try. Definitely take your baby to the pediatrician in case its some sort of infection though.

I would talk to your doctor first and foremost. If you can, change the diaper with the slightest bit of wetness. We swear by Bordeux's Butt Paste. Maybe also make sure you rinse her at night with some water and let her go naked for a little bit. Hope it heals soon.