My 13 month old son has had what appears to be a diaper rash for the past week or so. I have been rotating Balmex and baby powder, trying to let it heal and dry out but it doesn't seem to be working. Two days ago I noticed a couple spots, each about the size of an eraser head, that look like open sores. I've never seen anything like this before. He doesn't seem bothered by it at all. I'm wondering if I should take him to the doctor to get it checked out? Do any of you moms have any other suggestions as to what it could be or what I should or should not put on the infected area? Thanks in advance for any thoughts!
It could be a yeast rash. When my oldest gets a rash it turns into a yeast rash frequently. Try using some anti fungal cream (I use the generic brand from Target, you could us Lotrimin or Monistat). Diaper rash creams will do nothing for yeast. Put the anti fungal cream on in a thin layer, let it dry for a little bit then put the diaper rash cream on top of it so his bottom still has a moisture barrier. You could use some anti itch cream every few changes, too. Just in case the rash is bothering your little one.
well i would definetly take him to the doctor to see wat they may think those sorees are. but in the mean time, i have a&d ointment and desitin to do wonders for my sons diaper rash. its really good for treating and preventing. i always put ointment on him when changing his diapers. ever sice he has never had another rash.
Hi Kate,
I would take him to the doc just to be on the safe side.
He might have a reaction to the powder.
I don't know if you are aware of this but, talcum-based powders have a chemical in them called Diazinon.
If you were to look this up, it would tell you that it is a chemical that is an allergenic, sensitizer, highly neurotoxic. Toxic to fetus & to birds. Used in lawn pesticides and flea collars.
Please, please, please all you moms, invest in the book called:
The Safe Shopper's Bible = by David Steinman & Samuel Epstein, MD. You will be glad you did!
It is the best book out there. It will educate you on the chemicals out there that are creating all these health problems for our children. I have been doing research for over 8 years on this because of my own health problems and through my many endeavors have come across some pretty scarey stuff. I use this in my business to help educate families.
I would stop using the balm & the powder for sure. Just use water for now until you see a doctor.
Best wishes,
Jill
I would take him to the doctor and get it checked out. It sounds like a yeast infection and my girls had it before too. They will give you a prescription for some cream to put on it. He told me to let it air out some too which your have other risks than=)
Good luck!!
Please, if there are open sores take him to the doctor!!
First I think Triple Paste is the best cream out there. Very expensive but worth every penny. I buy it was CVS. You may want to bring your little one to the Dr. He may have a yeast infection which needs a different treatment.
My son used to get those sores all the time if I didn't change a BM diaper right away--super sensitive skin. As everyone else said, take him to the doc to find out if it is indeed a yeast infection--my son's was not. I found Target's diaper cream w/ zinc oxide was the best for protecting his bum and keeping it dry. His rash cleared up in a couple days.
Hi Kate:
It sounds like a yeast or bacteria infection, both of which are very easy to clear up. Just give the doctor a call and he'll recommend some ointment. No need to worry!
Kate,
You should check with the DR to make sure it's not yeast infection first, but it can be so frustrating trying all the ointments out there. When my son was 2 mo he got RSV and was in the hospital for a week. He had such a rash from antibiotics that his little bottom was bleeding everytime he was wiped. The nurses kept putting a really thick white ointment on (I can't remember what it was called). However, the DR came in one morning and looked at the rash. He made sure the nurses were out of the room and told me to go home and mix up some goop. He further explained that he was not supposed to tell me about this, since it's a home remedy. Very simple and very inexpensive, mix equal parts of cornstarch and Vaseline (petroleum jelly). I brought some back to the hospital the next day and put a thick layer on and told the nurses that I would change him as needed (which they much appreciated, with 5 other cases of RSV in the peds unit). Twenty four hours later the rash was almost completely gone. I continued to use it for my last two children and recommend it to anyone I know.
Triple paste is the best!!!!!!!My son had such bad rashes that there were spots that were bleeding. I also let him be in his birthday suit between diaper changes to air him out and just keep a old blanket under him for accidents. Good luck.
Like most everyone said, it could be a yeast infection. It could also be Infatigo. A very good friend's daughter had it a month or so ago and it sounds similar to what you discribed. I would definitely take him to the Dr. It should be getting better by now not worse.
Good luck and I hope he feels better soon.
It might be a yeast infection on top of the diaper rash, but definitely call your doctor to check out the sores. Until then, let your son run around without a diaper periodically throughout the day, as fresh air is one of the best things to cure yeast infections/and or diaper rashes. The best part is it is cheap!! (The worse part is it can be messy.) When my kids where in diapers and had a bad rash, I would let them go about thirty minutes or longer without a diaper, two or three times a day. Good luck.
HE could have a yeast infection, or secondary infection with the diaper rash, take him to the Dr. and have it checked.
My 17 mo. old just got a yeast infection that I was mistaking for diaper rash. I, too was using desitin and medicine for the rash. He started to get bumps in that area so I took him into the doctor and she said it was definitely a yeast infection caused my antibiotics. I ended up using lotrimin on it, and it went away in a few days. So, it could be something other than diaper rash, and I would have it checked out. Good luck!
Balmex is made from Petroleum (the same stuff we put in our cars). Baby Powder is made from Talc, which is a mineral (rock from the ground) that irritates open sores the way glass or sand would. Baby Powder is also perfumed, which is toxic and causes irritation.
To treat diaper rash naturally so that it goes away for good:
Bathe the area in warm water/vinegar (put 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a bowl of warm water). The vinegar will dry out the rash and neutralize the ph. Vinegar is cooling and soothing, so don't worry about it being an irritant.
DO NOT USE CREMES on diaper rash. Diaper rash and all rashes need to dry in order to heal.
LET HIM AIR DRY as much as possible ~ running around without a diaper on will make it go away much faster.
Switch to non-perfumed diapers (Seventh Generation). They are made with mostly paper instead of plastic and jelly, which both trap moisture and irritate skin.
Stop using WET WIPES. They are toxic (perfumed, plastic, contain anti-bacterial agents), irritating and unnecessary. When you wipe his bottom, use a warm washcloth.
I agree, take him to a Dr. But also, in the future, I would skip the powder & just use diaper rash crm each time you change his diaper. Our 2nd son was very constipated, so was in a diaper a little longer than I had hoped & got severe diaper rash a few times when he was old enough to let us know what hurt & didn't. I had desitin & burts bees he would tell me 'it hurts' when I would but on the desitin, complain a little less with the burts bees. So when I found out about Arbonne ABC diaper crm I bought some & he didn't complain when I put it on. So now with new baby girl, Arbonne is the only cream I use - just an fyi.
My son had a tendency towards diaper rash and once in a while he would develop open sores. First, take him into the doctor to make sure it is a regular diaper rash versus a yeast, etc. Second, I've tried practically all the diaper cremes out there. In the end I keep coming back to regular Desitin (versus creamy). The trick is to put it on as thick as frosting, as my doctor recommended. What you are doing is creating a barrier from moisture and other irritants. I imagine the Triple Paste would work the same, but at that price I did not put it on that thick. Zinc Oxide in Desitin is the mositure barrier, and it has the highest content around. Another doctor recommedned Aquaphor, but it never worked the same for us. I've also heard Udder Creme works! Never tried that one! I just stick to very thick Desitin and it works everytime. With open sores it does take a few days though. GOod luck!
I like Anettes response. As everyone else said take him to the Dr.
but please stop using baby powder. It should be banned! It is very bad for your infant. They inhale the tiny particles and it really is useless.
I have always found Desitin to be the best cream. But the main trick I have found is to actually dry their diaper area at every changing. I still need to do this for my 2 year old or he breaks out. I bought cloth diapers and we call them butt rags. If someone else changes him and doesnt' dry he gets an instant rash. It's crazy!
I would also try letting him soak in the bath and run around nudy for a while.
Good luck!!
If the redness has been there for a week, it might be a yeast infection. My daughter and son both had yeast infections on their little toochies after their diaper rashes just didn't heal - much like what you described. The doctor prescribed Nystatin which is a yellowish somewhat thick cream. They both cleared up within a day! Good luck!