Diaper Rash Extreme?

Without knowing more about the situation (and seeing the rash itself), it can be difficult to speculate, as there are a number of potential causes. However, one possibility is that all the moisture led to a candidal (yeast) rash, that will likely respond to topical medications. I suggest your friend take the child to a pediatrician for an evaluation. In the meantime, using a topical zinc oxide cream will not hurt, and if they are comfortable with it, than spreading a small amount of clotrimazole ointment on the area might help as well. Again, I stress, this is only based on conjecture. Only a doctor (or someone with a lot of child rearing experience) can accurately diagnose the rash.

Thanks Shilolo (once again!). I think the pediatrician is the best route as well, but I will wait for those experienced with child-rearing to chime in as well. I’ll tell you, though, that seeing a young-en with so much exuberance wailing like that is heart-breaking.

Poor kid! The worst part about kids with these kinds of rashes is the first thing you think of is to use a zinc oxide topical treatment like Desitin. The problem is that when you try to clean the area the treatment is kind of difficult to get off. I have heard of people dumping Maylox into the child’s diaper (some of the mothers I know swear by it) I haven’t had much luck with it though. The thing that my pediatrician suggested was to use petroleum jelly. Wal-Mart carries a brand that is not as viscous as Vaseline which I prefer. It is on the baby needs asile near the topical ointments like Desitin (I am pretty sure that it is just the Wal-Mart brand). The thing I like about it is that it creates a barrier but because it is water soluble it wipes off easily. Also, I am sure your friend already knows this, but keep the diapers dry. If she is able to let him walk around without a diaper on for a while that will help (air dry after changings) Oxygen is one of the best remedies for sores. Good luck, and I hope he gets better.

This might not work with a very young child, but if you can take him out of diapers for a few hours, and just let the air dry him—at least until you get him to the doctor, which I would also do. But the moisture of the diaper can’t be helping him at all.

The pooping bit exacerbates the situation, but under normal circumstances, as lynzeut said, letting as much air as possible get to the little fanny is advisable. I have even blow-dried the little bottom to get it dry. I have not heard of the maalox routine, but agree that zinc oxide is hard to get off.

Your friend may need to have the doctor call something in to the pharmacy for the bowel issues; you usually don’t have to been seen for this sort of thing, or the druggist may be able to suggest something.

I’m in the ‘air dry’ camp as well. When my oldest was a very young infant, she had horrible diaper rash. Our doc suggested leaving the diaper off as much as possible. This involved cleaning up some serious messes a time or two, but we kept her in the playpen while air drying, so at least it was contained! It worked like a charm. Not only does the air help w/ the rash, but wearing even a dry diaper can feel quite bad against such raw, sensitive skin so she was much happier with a bare bottom.

Switch to cloth diapers for a time an use no rubber pants. Cloth breaths and feels quite comfortable. If already using cloth tell the parents they may want to add a little corn starch to the diaper which will help neutralize acidic urine. Often, rashes are caused by highly acidic urine because of some change in diet. Lastly, a thin coating of something as simple as Crisco on the baby will do wonders to keep the poo from irritating the skin. Zinc and other topicals work, but can be expensive. Also, seeing the baby’s Doc is never a bad thing.

Visit your natural food store and ask them for “golden seal” (an herb) in powder form. Apply it to the rash every diaper change. Try what you like, nothing works like goldenseal. Great for infections and bleeding gums too.

The only thing that ever worked for me when we had similar situations was A&D ointment. It worked like a charm.

Until the baby can be taken to the doctor I recommend Aquaphor. That stuff is like a miracle in a tube.

Wow, great suggestions everyone! I’ll pass this all on.