NEED Advice on Diaper Rashes!

Updated on October 14, 2007
M.C. asks from Mount Washington, KY
49 answers

My daughter is six months old and has her first diaper rash. It is not bumpy or anything, but is very red in her little butt crack. We have always used desitin original at every change, but she is still getting raw. This is the first time this has happened and since we already use a diaper cream what else can we do.

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So What Happened?

My daughter has had sensitive skin since she was born. When she was first born her butt started to get raw before we even left the hospital, so I started using desitin on her. And every now and again I would skip and she would start looking raw again, so yes I have to keep it on her at every change. The past few days I have been bathing her morning and night and letting her soak and play for a while instead of just before bed, letting her play naked on a pallet, and using butt paste, but after a few days, while still using the paste, the rash retuned so I tried Triple Paste and the rash looked better at each change and was completely gone after 2 days. So now I LOVE IT!! It is wonderful. NO MORE DIAPER RASH!! Thank you all for your time and thoughts. And well wishes for my LO.

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C.B.

answers from Evansville on

Here is a home one that I used with my older kids. Get a bottle of Orginal Malox and a jar of sween cream and mix the two together in another bowl or something. Don't get the flavoed Malox. You may have to ask the pharmist where to find the sween cream.

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T.B.

answers from Kokomo on

many people will say not to, but baby powder kept my sons rear clear. He's 18 months and besides a yeast infection, rarely gets a diaper rash. I do also like beaudea's butt paste, something like that anyway.

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C.H.

answers from Parkersburg on

Maybe try giving her some nakkie time. put a blanket on the floor & let her have time to air it all out... Desitin had always worked for my little guy too but when we had a difficult rash we did nakkie time everyday or every other day just to give him time out of the diaper.

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N.P.

answers from Lafayette on

M.,
When my LO gets red or a rash, I put corn starch or Aveeno bath soak in her tub & let her play a little longer to soak her bum. Using desitin at each change may dry out the skin. I don't use anything when her tush is in good shape... when it is red... I swear by vaseline. Smear some on at night & in the morning... everything looks much better. Even with a bad, bumpy, raw rash from diarrhea, the vaseline & baths cleared it up in a few days. When her bowls are loose I put vaseline on just as a barrier to protect her & that keeps her from getting a rash. Good luck & hope LO feels better quick.

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L.A.

answers from Lexington on

hi,
my son had a terrible diaper rash last week and took him to the doctor after trying everything!!!
he gave some cream's sample and actually the rash disappeared instantly, it was like magic!
i found the cream at walgreen in the baby section: BOUDREAU'S BUTT CREAM.
It's yellow, walmart doesn't carry it but thanks God walgreen does, and believe it's the best!
GOOD LUCK

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L.A.

answers from Indianapolis on

M.- Whenever you are at home try leaving your daughter on a blanket without a diaper on (make sure it is after she has had a bowel movement) to allow air to get to her rash. You can also try getting bag balm (it is sold in the pharmacy of most places, just ask and they usually know what you are talking about, it comes in a green can) this seems to work as well. Also make sure that you are changing her diaper often (something I'm sure you already do, just thought I'd mention it). If it seems you have tried everything and nothing is working, be sure to see the doctor to make sure it isn't a yeast infection of some sort.

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B.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Ask your doctor, it could be a yeast infection in which case she would need a prescription cream. They have a new one out now called vusion, I believe. My daughter is very prone to them. I put a post up like this some time ago about her diaper rash and I got A LOT of GREAT ideas but nothing worked or lasted long. Once she saw the doctor and we got the prescription cream that worked right away and I use that whenever she starts getting red down there. Good luck!

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N.H.

answers from Jacksonville on

Hi M.,

I had a simular problem with my little baby (now 2 years old) as it turns out she was having yeast infections. So you might want to ask your doctor about it and see if you can treat her with monastat or something simlar. My baby's started looking better in a couple of days.

Good luck,
N.

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C.S.

answers from Indianapolis on

Try A&D ointment (its in the baby isle with the diaper rash stuff). If it gets really bad and burns with urinations or defications, my pediatrician recommended using baby powder on top of the ointment, it just keeps the medication from rubbing off so quick onto the diaper. Also, you might try to isolate foods and or juices. I have 11 month old boy girl twins and just found out that Apple Juice is breaking them both out. Hope it helps-C.

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C.P.

answers from Kokomo on

As a former pediatric nurse, I will make a few suggestions. It might be yeast...yeast diaper rash is beefy red, almost raw looking. You can get over the counter yeast medicine...like monistat or generic...get the 7 day kind and apply it like a diaper rash 2-3 times a day for 7 days. It will start to dry and appear peely as it heals. yeast diaper rash tends to be painful too..so if she is really fussing during diaper changes that might be it. Otherwise, you can add a tiny bit of hyrdrocortisone to the desitin routine to see if that helps it clear up if you think it something other than yeast. Hope that helps!

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L.B.

answers from Wheeling on

Hi M.,

I am a mother of three beautiful daughters ages 3, 2, and 1. So, I know first hand what you mean!! I too first used desitin, and noticed that it started to burn my daughter's bottoms (They would literally scream in pain from the burning). I was reading in a parenting magazine(cannot remember which one) about a diaper rash cream unlike any other...It is called Boudreaux's Butt Paste (I buy it at Walmart). It is made by a pharmasist, and I was absolutely hooked from the first time I used it. To this day, it has taken away soooooo many cases of diaper rash in my girls...Usually within one or two applications. It has never made my girls scream when I put it on them--Even the worst case of diaper rash. I would strongly recommend trying it. Good luck!!!
L.

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S.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

It may not be diaper rash it could actually be a yeast infection. You may want to take her to her doctor because daiper rash creams won't work if it is. Good luck.

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D.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

Balmax is really good! I prefer the powder but it is hard to find but the cream is just as well!

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A.V.

answers from Louisville on

hi my name is A. im 35. Im new to this place but I think I can help I have 3 kids of my own and they had the same thing when they was little. i would let them roll around on a sheet on the floor with out a dipper on and let the air get to it. I also used triple antibiotic hc ointment on it and it went away. also you may want to call your dr. he or she may be able to give you some med. to put on it.

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J.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I never used anything on both of my babies unless they had a diaper rash. I wasn't sure if you meant that you used that desitin every single time you change her, with or without diaper rash. If so, she may have developed an immunity to it. You don't need to use anything on them unless there's a rash. If you've been using it all along, try switching brands. I think the one I've seen people using sometimes is called Butt Cream or Butt Butter, something with the word "butt" in it. I would think there aren't too many of those out there if you look for it.

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K.I.

answers from Indianapolis on

The best thing I have ever used on my kids diaper rashes was just a teaspoon or so of plain old grocery store corn starch with every changing. It works miracles! It's also the main ingredient in most baby powers but you cut out all the annoying perfumes. :)

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S.S.

answers from Terre Haute on

I've always used A&D ointment on my kids. Desitin always burned when I put it on them. Usually one full day of application and/or overnight application usually does the trick. I wouldn't really recommend putting diaper rash ointment on at every diaper change if there is no rash.

Hope this helps...S.

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A.D.

answers from Louisville on

We had a lot of issues with my son. Two things that worked were:

1) Pinxav (you can get it at Walgreens or CVS). It is a pink salve that really helps...our pharmacist recommended it.

2) Unbleached diapers. I ordered these off diapers.com and they were very reasonable.

Good luck.

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H.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

Desitin NEVER worked for my kids! I always use either Balmex or Bueadreau's Butt Paste. Both of those have seemed to clear up any diaper rash my little ones have had. Try one of those! Hope it works!! :)

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K.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I use corn starch....either plain or with baby powder it seems to always work

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R.H.

answers from Kokomo on

This is a time consuming solution but it worked for me and has worked for generations before me. Everytime you change your daughters diapers, instead of using baby wipes that can further irritate your daughters delicate skin, wash her bottom with warm soap and water. Then instead of drying her off, let her skin air dry. When dry apply vaseline, just plain old vaseline, nothing else. If you don't already, and can, use cloth diapers, no plastic panites. The purpose is so that everytime she even just urinates, you can clean her up, her urine and feces are irritating her skin.
I know it is time consuming, as my 22 year old twins would get a rash like this everytime they teethed.
Good Luck

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N.B.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi M.

My kids used to get diaper rash quite frequently. Lotrimin (yes over the counter jock itch med) is what my doctor used to say to use a couple times a day and it worked. Sometimes depending on the rash the best thing was to give up wipes and use a washcloth or just put them in the bath when they go the yucky. The other thing is sometimes just good old fashioned vaseline. I swear different rashes respond to different things and I rarely got much help from Destin and those types of medicines. Call your doctor if it isn't getting better.

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A.G.

answers from Muncie on

Use pure cornstarch. You can buy it at the grocery store in the same aisle as baking soda and flour. I use it by itself or sometimes I put the diaper creme on and the cornstarch over the diaper creme. My son had a rash Saturday and it only took a couple days to heal with the cornstarch.

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W.C.

answers from Lexington on

Try changing diapers. If you're not nursing, it's very possible all immunity she had at birth from you has worn off by now and she's starting to evidence an allergy to something in the diapers - remember that disposables are bleached and treated with other harsh chemicals. I would definitely suggest discontinue using rash cream at every change until she evidences a need for it. Yet more chemicals....and you don't want her to develop any kind of immunity to it or anything. Also, remember that she didn't start defecating until she was born. She's been doing that for six weeks now. It will change the color of her rectal region, though strawberry red is cause for concern.

I would start with switching diaper brands though. I know some people who swear by Walmart brand. Though we're allergic to those, we found the Kroger brand to be the best el cheapo diaper that worked well for disposables.....we're now using cloth tho (go bumgenius one-size 2.0)! No longer are cloth diapers DSQ prefolds, safety pins, and rubber pants. We found the new AIO's and pocket diapers are just as easy as disposables and instead of spending $100/mo, we just laid down $300 and voila! no more diaper costs ever.

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K.B.

answers from Louisville on

Instead of using cream with every change, you could try using a powder with cornstarch in it. Just use caution not to let the powder puff up into baby's face. We use Johnsons cornstarch powder with each change, and our 7 month has only had one rash, and that came on while he was on an antibiotic. Make sure that you are getting the area dry after each change. and if nothing else works, it could be a fungal inf. and your doctor can give you some nystatin cream, it works wonders!

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H.L.

answers from Terre Haute on

I recommend using triple paste diaper paste. It works better for bad rashes. Also, give her behind some air time. I would just keep mine naked on the changing table for a few minutes at each diaper change (or 10 minutes at the evening diaper change when I had my husband to help entertain). Those two together cleared up any rash that my two got in a day or less.

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V.E.

answers from Indianapolis on

butt paste is the best

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K.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

I would try baby powder. Sometimes the desitin didn't work as well for my girls. Or if that doesn't seem to help, try just plain vasaline. Good luck!

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J.T.

answers from Indianapolis on

Budreaux Butt Paste is awesome! My daughter had diaper rash so bad that we took her to the doctor and were using prescription cream. It didn't do a thing. Then a friend told me about the butt paste and within a day her diaper rash was gone!! It's great. You can get it at Target, Wal-mart, etc. It's a little pricey, but well worth it!!

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K.S.

answers from Elkhart on

AQUAPHOR!!!! it works wonders!!

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A.R.

answers from Bloomington on

Try A&D Ointment, it's the only thing that works on my 18 month old. Destin is what we used on my 5 year old and it worked after only 1 time.
My baby is also allergic to diapers. When we use certain ones, his little butt gets so red and raw and when you wipe it you can see a bit of blood on the baby wipe. We've tried everything and the Huggies Sumpreme worked for a while, but now we're using the White Cloud because the Huggies started to make him raw too.
Just something to consider, I've found it's more common than I thought.
When he was 2 weeks old I had the dr look at the rash, and in order to get the raw-ness away they had to give me some cream, it worked after a few times.

Hope your little one gets better!

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A.G.

answers from Indianapolis on

My daughter had a very bad diaper rash when she was only 4 months old. Our doctor recommended air drying, warm wash clothes to change all diapers with, but the best thing was a baking soda dip. We put 4 teaspoons in the warm bath water, let her soak for 10 minutes & followed that with desitin creamy (or whatever cream you choose) & it was gone by morning. Baking soda dips are amazing & anytime she has started to get a rash the dip always works. She didn't cry, it was very soothing to her. Best of luck!

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J.F.

answers from South Bend on

I've found with my own daughter that different rashes sometimes need different creams. We would go between the desitin overnight and the bourdeux butt cream. If it persists, I would call the doctor just to be sure.
J.

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J.H.

answers from Lexington on

i've always used a&d original cream, but mine had a bad rash i just couldn't get rid of one time-- my pediatrician took a look at it and prescribed me some nystatin cream. he said all diaper rashes are really yeast infections (not the kind we unfortunately get sometimes, but on the skin), and this one she had was not going to respond to anything but that. you could also try a different cream, called triple paste (you can get it at wal mart or any drug store). it's a bit more expensive, but it's really thick and has more medication in it. are you starting to feed her solids or has there been anything new in her diet lately? when they start eating new foods, alot of times this can happen, because their poop has so many different things in it than their bottoms are used to. another friend of mine told me to put some maalox on it and use a hair dryer on cool and low to lightly dry her butt out, but she hated the hair dryer. any time you can expose her skin to air that helps, too. it can get messy, though :) good luck!

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V.T.

answers from Muncie on

we used boudreaux's butt paste. i still use it on my 2 year old's bottom.

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K.R.

answers from Chicago on

I know some people have suggested baby powder with cornstarch, but sometimes that can have things to scent it that might irritate her bottom more...when my son was a few months old he got a diaper rash that just wouldnt go away...I used plain old cornstarch when I would diaper him and a couple times a day I would let him play on a towel and blanket on the floor without a diaper on so that his little bottom could dry out and spend some time out of a diaper! I hope some of this helps. Oh, and I've also used butt paste for him and I agree, it is wonderful!

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B.H.

answers from South Bend on

i used to use diaper cream too, the aveeno kind. but it didn't work nearly as well as a little sprinkle of johnson's medicated baby powder with aloe and vitamin e.

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T.J.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hey M.,
My son is teething and has started to get bad diaper rashes. I used desitin and others but I have found that the Bourdoux (sp?) Butt paste is awesome!!!! It is a little pricey but it goes on smooth so you don't feel like you have to rub it in so much. Which they will not let you do since it hurts. It works really well for my son.
Good luck,
T.

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J.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

try aveeno oatmeal rash cream, my daughter couldn't use Desitin but aveeno works great for her

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J.C.

answers from Louisville on

You should try A & D Ointment it's great for diaper rashes and doesn't dry out the skin like Desitin can. My son had sensitive skin and this ointment worked a lot better for us. Good Luck!

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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi, I don't want to read through all the responses, so this might be a duplicate answer.
If it hasn't gone away yet, it could be thrush (yeast) and she needs more than oitment. Have the doc check it out if it persists.
Also, babies' skin and systems are always changing, so she may have grown irritated to the ointment you have been using. Or it could be the diapers. Switching to cloth almost always takes care of diaper rash.

Good Luck!

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P.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

My daughter got rashes constantly. She still has sensitive skin at 4 years old. Desitin never worked for her. What did work was an ointment instead of a cream, such as A&D Ointment.

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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Butt paste is the best diaper rash cream. It's pricy, but clears up diaper rash very quicly. I know you can get it at Target. Also, I wouldn't use a diaper rash cream at every change. Just use it when she'll be in a dirty diaper for awhile. We use it at night and if we're going on a long car ride. They can build up an immunity to the cream. Good Luck!!! Diaper rash is no fun.

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D.S.

answers from Indianapolis on

I used Bag Balm, you can get it at almost any store, i know you can get it at Walmart, i am sure CVS or Wallgreens carries it also, it works really well.

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R.G.

answers from Lexington on

M.,

My advice would be to use cornstarch, gently dampen her bottom and sprinkle cornstarch in the area that is irritated. This will absord all the moisture and give her some relief. This is from experience. My oldest son had sensitive skin and we used every perscription and over the counter cream and the only thing that worked was cornstarch. You can apply this as much as you like. A little goes along way!

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M.L.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Have you tried a little corn starch?
My mom did this to all 7 of us children.

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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I know you've gotten lots of responses, but two things I didn't see mentioned are Balmex and Neosporin. My daughter gets lots of diaper rashes, and I tried ALL the different diaper rash creams. Only Balmex worked. I think different creams must work differently for each baby. Also, when my daughter got stuck in a diaper rash cycle I couldn't break, my mom told me that her pediatrician had recommended Neosporin to clear up the rash. I tried it on a rash I had been fighting for a week (it would start to go away and then get inflamed again), and two days later it was completely gone.

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H.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

I read a few of the responses. If the rash has her completely raw, and it's not yeast, you should try vaseline only. My son had it soo bad his butt was raw, they told me to stop using any diaper rash creams and go with strictly vaseline (Petroleum jelly)for several days until it starts to heal. The vaseline creates a moisture barrier so nothing wet can touch thier sore little bottom. Let her go with her diaper off if you can for a little while between changes. Also, put a little bit of baking soda in her bath, that will help heal the butt faster. Good luck.

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J.H.

answers from Fort Wayne on

My 2 year old just got this horrible diaper rash and I called my Ped and she said to mix MYLANTA MINT with DESITIN. She said it has to be MINT flavor. It seemed to clear it up. Also A&D makes a diaper rash cream that I stand by. Good Luck

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