Home > Skin Resource Center > Articles > Diaper Rash

Email Digg Delicious

Diaper Rash

CAUSES AND TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT IT

For many parents, baby's diapers are a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they control their child's waste in a relatively convenient manner. On the other hand, they are responsible for one of the most common skin disorders of infancy: Diaper Rash.

One of the primary causes of diaper rash is prolonged skin contact with moisture. Under these circumstances, natural oils are stripped away, the outer layer of skin is damaged, and there is increased susceptibility to infection. Occasionally, more severe cases of diaper rash can originate from allergies, viruses or underlying skin disorders.

Diaper rash is a term that covers a broad variety of skin conditions that occur on the same area of the body. The most common forms are:

FRICTION RASH: This usually affects all babies at one time or another, and is commonly found on areas where friction exists, such as under the elastic of diapers and around the inner thighs.

IRRITATION RASH: Found on the buttocks and generally results from direct contact with stool and urine, soaps, baby wipes, topical treatments, and detergents.

ALLERGIC RASH: This is normally found around the buttocks, and looks similar to a Poison Oak rash. It's usually the result of allergies to food, dust, pollen, and even insect bites.

SEBORRHEA RASH: The diaper area equivalent of cradle cap. It is scaly and greasy in appearance and may be worse in the folds of the skin.

INTERTRIGO RASH: Found in the folds of a baby's sensitive skin and caused by repeated exposure to moist heat.

Tips to prevent diaper rash: