Nappy Rash: triggers, causes and solutions

What is Nappy Rash

Nappy rash happens when a baby's skin is covered by a wet or dirty nappy for too long. How long is 'too long' varies a lot with different babies, and varies for any one baby depending on, for example, whether the baby is well or unwell. Nappy rash is very common and can happen no matter how careful you are. Some babies with the best care still get a lot of nappy rash, while others hardly get it at all, so a lot depends on how sensitive the child's skin is.

Nappy rash hurts - babies with nappy rash are often miserable and have problems sleeping.
 TAKE NOTE:  A rash or sore red skin in the nappy (or diaper) area is not always just nappy rash. It can be caused by eczema, allergies or infections. It is important to see your doctor for any rash to be sure what it is and how it should be treated.

what does Nappy rash look like?

* Nappy rash is red swollen skin that looks damp and may have some blisters or ulcers.

* The whole of the skin covered by a nappy may be damaged, or it may be on much smaller patches. 

* It is usually in the area that is covered by a nappy. The skin inside the folds such as between the buttocks may not be so red. 

* Sometimes there can be small patches of red skin on the tummy, legs or buttocks with healthy skin around them. This can be a sign of an infection on top of the nappy rash.

 What triggers nappy rash?

 * Many babies get nappy rash when they are unwell, particularly if they have diarrhea. Their skin seems to become more sensitive.
* Starting a new food seems to trigger the rash for some babies.
* Having a wet or dirty nappy on for too long - change nappies regularly. 'Too long' is very variable - it depends, for example, on:

~the baby - some babies get nappy rash more easily than others

~the type of nappy - babies were more likely to get nappy rash when they wore cloth nappies with pilchers
~whether or not there is poo there
~Chemicals in disposable nappies were a problem for some babies, but this seems to be much less of a problem now.
~An infection on the skin, such as thrush, can make the rash worse. Thrush normally lives in the gut and on skin without causing any problem, but when the skin is damaged thrush can make the damage worse.

Causes of nappy rash

• A baby's urine is sterile (there are no germs in urine), but there are germs on the baby's skin, in poo and on clothing (including nappies).
• These germs make ammonia when wet with urine or poo.
• Ammonia can burn the skin.
• The nappy can rub on the skin (especially stiff cloth nappies).
• Plastic pants over the nappy prevent air flow around the nappy, and they also hide a nappy which may be very wet or dirty, so the skin stays wet for a long time.

 What to do about nappy rash

*  Change nappies often so that the skin is dry most of the time. 
*  Having time when there is no nappy on can also help the skin to dry fully.
*   Disposable nappies, with linings which absorb the urine and keep the skin dry, seem to help a lot of babies. 
* Wash baby's bottom very gently so you don't rub the skin, but make sure that the skin is clean (check in all of the folds). Using a simple cleanser such as sorbolene rather than soap may be better to wash your baby's bottom. 
*  Use only skin wipes that are made for babies. Skin wipes for adults often have alcohol in them and this can hurt damaged skin.
*  Use a barrier cream, to keep dampness away from the skin, every time you change the nappy - eg zinc and castor oil, or zinc and cod liver oil. Note: these creams stain clothes and nappies. Many people use disposable nappies to avoid stains.
*  If you are using cloth nappies, change them often and wash using soap powders which are labelled for sensitive skin. Drying them in a tumble dryer, if you have one, may make them softer than drying in the sun. Avoid using plastic pants whenever possible.

 Pain relief

Nappy rash is painful.

• Most babies with nappy rash will be more irritable than usual, and may sleep poorly. They often need more attention, holding and comforting.
• Pain relief using paracetamol can help. Make sure the dose is the right one for your baby (check the label on the bottle).
• Covering damaged skin using a barrier cream gently and often can be soothing. You could talk with your local pharmacist (chemist) to help choose one.

 Powders

 Powders are not necessary. Talc powder and other powders may be breathed in by a baby, and this may cause some health problems. The yeast that causes thrush feeds on cornstarch powder (corn flour), so this powder should not be used either. 

 What to do if nappy rash does not go away

• Sometimes the rash does not clear up because there is an infection on the damaged skin. Thrush can make nappy rash worse as can some bacterial infections.
• A baby may have an underlying skin problem such as eczema. In this case the baby may have rashes on other parts of the body (such as the face). The rash may be inside the skin folds, while nappy rash mostly does not affect skin that is not in contact with the nappy.
• See your doctor or health care worker.
  • Creams that treat thrush or eczema may be useful. They can be spread on the clean dry skin, left for a few minutes, then covered by the barrier cream.
  • If it seems likely that thrush is part of the problem, oral drops which lower the amount of thrush in the gut may be useful too.