A baby with diaper rash is a baby that's crying and in severe pain as well. Here's some ideas for treating rashes at home.
Some severe rashes require a doctor's care such as ones caused by a bacterial infection. Others simply begin because the area stays damp. If the rash is bacterial it will be hard to treat without a prescription therefore, rashes that don't seem to clear up in a day or two should be seen by a doctor. All rashes that are bleeding or blistered should receive medical attention immediately. Mild to moderate rashes that get better after two days of home treatment are usually caused simply by wetness.
Never use diaper wipes on a baby with a rash. Most contain alcohol or other stinging ingredients that can cause extreme pain for your baby. Use warm water on soft washcloths instead. Once a day bathe the baby in warm water.
The best thing to do for a diaper rash is to prevent it at all costs. You can prevent most diaper rashes by simply using petroleum jelly to coat baby's bottom after each changing. Petroleum jelly coats the area with a protective gel layer that prevents moisture from getting next to baby's skin. Since wetness next to baby's skin is one of the main causes of diaper rash the jelly works well to prevent the problem. Petroleum jelly is gooey and must be smeared adequately onto the baby's bottom, front side and the upper part of the inner thighs. To prevent germs from spreading use paper toweling or bath tissue to spread the jelly onto the skin. A warm washcloth should be used each time you change the baby and the jelly should then be reapplied. Since petroleum jelly is waterproof it's difficult to wash off with baby wipes unless they're heated.
Cornstarch is a sure way to get rid of most mild to moderate diaper rashes. At first sign of a rash sprinkle cornstarch onto a dry baby and in the diaper. Cornstarch absorbs moisture and powders baby's bottom at the same time. Change diaper often when using cornstarch because of clumping.
Over-the-counter anti-fungal creams will also take care of most diaper rashes in a couple of days. Keep some on hand to treat occurring rashes quickly. Ointments containing zinc oxide will fight the rash quickly while giving almost immediate relief.
Herbal preparations include calendula, which disinfects while it heals and chickweed ointment that soothes the rash.
Never give babies acidic foods or introduce them to new foods while they have a diaper rash since they can cause the rash to take longer to heal. All rashes that are bleeding or blistered should receive medical attention immediately.
