How to Treat Diaper Rash

Diapers are necessary, but they create moist environments, and urine/stool that sits on the skin can be irritating, so it’s a perfect storm for rash development. At some point, most children will get a diaper rash. It happens, you go to change a routine diaper and surprise there’s a diaper rash. We all will instinctively reach for our trusty diaper cream of choice, but what if it’s not enough? Let’s talk about how to treat a diaper rash, and I’ll also let you know what I use on my own child.

How to choose a diaper cream

My favorite store-bought diaper creams are those that contain Zinc Oxide. My two favorite brands are Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Maximum Strength Diaper Rash Cream, and Triple Paste Diaper Rash Cream Ointment. Both contain great components that help to clear diaper rash quickly. The main ingredient in both is Zinc Oxide and that’s what you really want to look for in a diaper cream.

Can you use Breast-Milk to treat a diaper rash?

YES! I also LOVE using breast-milk for rashes!!! For moms that have this available or are breastfeeding, there are some wonderful biological properties in breast-milk that provide healing and I use this frequently on diaper rash and other sensitive-skin rashes my child develops. I first apply the breast-milk and then let it dry before applying a store-bought diaper barrier cream on top.

How to apply diaper cream

The key is to create a barrier, so really diaper cream should be called “diaper barrier cream.” The zinc oxide will help provide relief to the skin and help it heal, but it also creates a barrier between the skin, the diaper and the urine/stool irritants. To make a good barrier you need to apply a THICK amount. I had an attending once tell me “apply it like icing on a cake” and that’s the perfect way to think about it. You of course can use your fingers to apply it, but one of my favorite purchases was this Bumco diaper cream spatula. We have one for home and one in the diaper bag and get so much use out of it.

How often to apply diaper cream

I apply a thick layer with every diaper change, definitely until the rash disappears but may even continue this for 24 hours after to ensure it doesn’t return. You may consider changing diapers more frequently than normal as well to keep a more dry environment, and also allow the child some time without a diaper so help the area air out. At times if my child is ill or having looser stools, I may even start applying cream prophylactically before rash develops. I also apply diaper cream every night before bed regardless of if there is a rash present, now that she sleeps through the night without a diaper change.

But the rash is really bad, it’s hurting my child

Sometimes diaper rash can lead to skin breakdown, the skin can get very raw and sometimes even bleed a little. It’s so hard to see your child in pain, there is a cream called Calmoseptine that provides both healing and pain relief. In situations where wiping the child is very painful, you can use water in a washcloth to squeeze over the area to wash off the area. You do not have to remove all of the prior cream if it’s not soiled, just rinse the area and apply more cream on top. Remember the barrier is key, so a THICK layer of cream is helpful.

When a diaper rash doesn’t heal

Typically a simple diaper rash will improve fairly quickly, within 1-3 days. However, if the rash worsens despite using diaper cream as described above, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea, fever or the rash starts spreading beyond the diaper you may consider seeing your child’s pediatrician.

If a rash developed immediately after changing to a new brand of diaper or wipes, it may be that your child has a sensitivity or allergy to that brand so discontinuing the brand and going back to the original can help.

Are there any prescription diaper creams?

At times there is a special type of diaper rash called a candidal or yeast rash that requires prescription medication to treat. If the rash is accompanied by oral thrush there is an oral medication that can treat both the thrush and diaper rash at the same time. Sometimes a very severe, but not infectious, rash will be refractory to the over the counter creams, and will require a special compounded medication that your pediatrician can prescribe.

Never be afraid to contact your Childs doctor if you are concerned, they will know what to do! Diaper rashes are never fun, but treating them early and consistently are what will help them go away and stay away, and remember, always use more cream than you think you need. Like icing on a cake, it’s never failed me as a mom.