When is diaper rash serious

Sometimes, you'll need a prescription medication to treat diaper rash. The best way to prevent diaper rash is to keep the diaper area clean and dry. A few simple strategies can help decrease the likelihood of diaper rash developing on your baby's skin. In the past, it was common to use powders, such as cornstarch or talcum powder, to protect a baby's skin and absorb excess moisture. Doctors no longer recommend this. Inhaled powder can irritate a baby's lungs. Many parents wonder about what kind of diapers to use.

When it comes to preventing diaper rash, there's no compelling evidence that cloth diapers are better than disposable diapers or vice versa. Because there's no one best diaper, use whatever works for you and your baby. If one brand of disposable diaper irritates your baby's skin, try another. If the laundry soap you use on cloth diapers seems to cause a diaper rash, switch products.

Whether you use cloth diapers, disposables or both kinds, always change your baby as soon as possible after he or she wets or soils the diaper to keep the bottom as clean and dry as possible. If you use cloth diapers, careful washing can help prevent diaper rash. Washing methods vary and many routines work well.

They key is to clean, disinfect and remove soap residue. Here's one effective method:. Can also become a painful red lump boil Cellulitis Serious. The bacterial infection spreads into the skin. Gives redness that spreads out from the sore.

The red area is painful to the touch. Staph Scalded Skin Syndrome Serious. SSSS is caused by a Staph bacteria. The main finding is widespread large blisters. The skin is bright red. The baby acts very sick. Symptoms of Diaper Rash Mild rashes just have areas of pink, dry skin. Severe rashes have areas of red skin.

In some areas, the skin may become raw or even bleed. Pink rashes are not painful, but raw ones can be very painful. This can lead crying and poor sleep. Prevention of Recurrent Diaper Rash Change diapers more often. Within the body folds it is red with few if any scales.

Once you have diagnosed the problem as diaper rash, there are simple things you can do to treat it. These are all cause for extra concern, and you should definitely have the baby examined by your doctor. Fortunately, most cases of diaper rash can easily be treated at home and even prevented. Be one of the first to learn about our latest promotions as well as great tips healthy for skin, hair, and nails.

Skip to main content Skip to footer. Coker, Jr. Leslie R. Coker, M. Rachel Ellis, M. Charles Sola, M. Depending on what type of rash your baby has, the doctor may choose to use an antifungal cream or an antibiotic cream, or may recommend other changes to your diapering routine. Sometimes, if those changes don't help a rash caused by an allergic reaction, the doctor may prescribe a mild steroid cream for a few days until the rash goes away. Reviewed by: Michelle P. Tellado, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.

What Is Diaper Rash? What Causes Diaper Rash? Usually, diaper rash is the result of an irritation, infection, or allergy. A baby's skin can get irritated when a diaper is left on for too long and poop or the diaper itself rubs against the skin repeatedly. Urine pee changes the skin's pH levels, and that lets bacteria and fungi grow more easily. The substances that stop diapers from leaking also prevent air circulation, creating a warm, moist environment where bacteria and fungi can thrive, causing a rash.