You care, you nurture your baby's skin, you take care - however, despite your efforts, a reddish skin colour appears which causes you concern. How do you deal with nappy rash? Is recurrent dermatitis a cause for concern?
Skin problems of babies and young children
The skin of newborns, babies and young children is extremely delicate. Sudden changes in powders or washing and bathing liquids can cause it to develop an inflammatory reaction and the skin to become rough and dry. Nappy dermatitis is categorised as an inflammatory skin condition. Characteristic red patches appear on the skin, resembling erythema, papules and vesicles. The skin begins to peel and becomes prone to irritation. As the name suggests, the areas where the lesions appear are the areas where the baby's skin meets the nappy.
What are the causes of nappy rash?
There is no single cause that influences the appearance of nappy rash dermatitis. Among the factors that can contribute to causing the symptoms of the condition are :
- contact allergy - contact between the baby's sensitive skin and the nappy material,
- contact allergy linked to the diapering material - e.g. absorbent gel, nappy coating,
- mechanical skin injuries such as abrasions, chafing - e.g. after the use of baby wipes, rubbing of the skin against the nappy surface,
- moisture and accompanying skin damage - mechanical abrasions on the sensitive skin of the bottom that come into contact with the urine easily develop into extensive skin patches,
- changes in the pH of the urine - the alkaline pH of the urine contributes to the emergence of bacteria that irritate the baby's delicate skin,
- incorrect or insufficient hygiene of the child - not washing the skin, use of allergenic wet wipes,
- yeast and faecal yeast, promote skin irritation,
- prolonged diarrhoea and associated irritation,
- congenital abnormalities of the urinary system, associated urinary / faecal leakage which causes skin irritation.
Will nappy rash also affect my baby?
No! Nappy rash is a common dermatological condition for babies between 7 and 12 months of age, but it does not affect all babies. The best advice for mums is to keep an eye on their baby's skin - it's not a good idea to change nappies all the time if a nappy brand is good for your baby and doesn't cause skin changes. If you change nappies/wipes/creams all the time, at some point you may come across an allergen that sensitises your baby.
