How to Treat Chronic Diaper Rash

In many babies diaper rash can become a recurring condition that seems impossible to heal completely and keep at bay. Diaper rash is caused by a combination of factors--exposure to bacteria in urine and feces, prolonged contact with moisture, lack of air, and irritation from contact with the diaper. To treat chronic diaper rash, parents must eliminate exposure to the causes of diaper rash and work with their child's pediatrician to clear up the rash once and for all.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cotton balls
• Washcloths
• Mild baby soap
• Waterproof pad
• Diaper rash ointment

1. Call your baby's pediatrician. He may want to see your baby or prescribe an antibiotic or steroid cream to treat your child's particular chronic diaper rash. However, most common chronic diaper rashes can be treated and resolved by following these steps at home.

2. Use the appropriate size diaper for your infant. Diapers that are too tight rub on your infant's sensitive skin and irritate it, making chronic diaper rash difficult to heal.

3. Change your infant's diapers frequently to limit exposure to urine and feces, especially when she is suffering from chronic diaper rash. When changing diapers, use cotton balls and warm water to cleanse the infant. Dry the infant's skin completely with washcloths before putting a new diaper on. Keeping baby's skin dry is imperative to treating chronic diaper rash.

4. Use diaper rash ointments to treat chronic diaper rash. These ointments help keep urine from coming in contact with an infant's bottom by creating a seal against wetness. Before applying the ointment, make certain his bottom is completely dry. Then apply it liberally on areas where diaper rash is likely to occur.

5. Only wash your baby in mild baby soap. Other soaps can be too abrasive and irritate an infant's skin. Never wash an infant more than once a day, as this can dry out his skin and make treatment of chronic diaper rash more difficult. Always dry an infant's skin thoroughly after bathing to help clear up chronic diaper rash.

6. Let your infant's bottom air out each day, especially when she has chronic diaper rash. Place her on a waterproof pad and remove her diaper. Incorporate this into her daily "tummy time" or any other part of the day. Allowing her sensitive bottom some air helps eliminate the constant exposure to wetness and bacteria that often causes chronic diaper rash.

7. Contact his pediatrician again and schedule an appointment if, after you have tried all of these steps, your infant's chronic diaper rash still shows no signs of improvement. Your infant may have one of the rarer types of chronic diaper rash that requires prescription medicines and ointments.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your infant's pediatrician for his recommendations on the best brands of baby soap and diaper rash ointment to prevent diaper rash.
• Baby cornstarch can also be used to keep an infant drier and prevent diaper rash.
• If your infant is suffering from chronic diaper rash, wake him in the night to change his diaper. Prolonged overnight contact with urine in his diaper aggravates the diaper rash even more.
• Never use baby wipes on an infant with chronic diaper rash. Baby wipes can irritate some infants' skin and make recovering from chronic diaper rash even harder. Use cotton balls and warm water during diaper changes instead.
• If an infant's skin is not completely dry before applying diaper rash ointment, the ointment will actually trap that moisture and cause diaper rash instead of preventing it.

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