Symptoms of nappy rash

Worrying symptoms indicating that your child may be suffering from nappy dermatitis include :

• severe reddening of the skin,
• the appearance of red patches on the skin of the bottom,
• flaking of the skin,
• swelling,
• papules and vesicles,
• the appearance of erosions in the affected areas,
• itching of the skin.

Importantly, the symptoms of nappy rash dermatitis cause great discomfort to the child, so treatment should be started as soon as possible! A doctor who suspects nappy rash may order additional mycological and bacteriological tests. It is important to remember that nappy rash is often accompanied by fungal and bacterial infections, so in order to implement effective treatment, it is essential to diagnose which bacteria or yeast we are dealing with.

Treatment of nappy rash

The treatment of this dermatosis is multidirectional. Firstly, it is necessary to diagnose what is causing the condition. It may be enough to change the brand of nappies or change the protective cream for the bottom so that the problem does not recur. First, of course, the lesions that have already affected the baby should be treated. Preparations that are often used to treat nappy rash are steroid ointments and creams, which bring relief to severe symptoms. Attention: Steroid preparations are only used in the case of severe symptoms! Preparations that do not cause many side effects - like steroids - are the so-called calcineurin inhibitors. If tests confirm a yeast infection, the doctor will prescribe medicines containing antifungal agents, and in the case of a bacterial infection, antibiotics.

photo: pantherstock

Treatment after cure - prevention

Once the illness has been cured, special attention should be paid to the care of the baby's skin hygiene. It is possible that the doctor will tell you to change the washing products and will advise you to change the nappies. Some nappies, even from well-known companies, can cause allergic symptoms - the baby can be allergic to the components of the wetness-absorbing gel, the surface of the nappy can be too rough for the delicate skin of our baby, and even the poor absorption of urine - and therefore the wetness in the nappy, can contribute to the appearance of the symptoms of nappy rash.It is possible that it will be beneficial for the baby's skin to stop using nappy wipes altogether, especially those which are additionally enriched with fragrances. Wipes can irritate delicate skin and the fragrance compounds they contain can further aggravate inflammation. It is worth paying attention to whether the wipes are free of fragrances or SLS. If changing nappy and skin care products does not work and your baby again shows signs of illness, visit your doctor immediately. It is possible that your child is allergic and that the symptoms are caused by an allergenic factor, which can be identified through detailed allergy tests.