Chances are if you have a baby, you know what baby diaper rash looks like. Your baby's skin will be irritated and red, but not raised and without welts. Baby diaper rash is obviously uncomfortable for your little one, but is thankfully easily treated.
So although you may have a good idea of what typical baby diaper rash looks like, perhaps you aren't exactly sure what causes it. First, it's important to understand just how delicate your baby's skin is. Her skin is tender, thin, and very sensitive. Add to that the acidity of urine and stools, cover it with a diaper that prevents the circulation of air and rubs the skin, and voilà — you've got a baby with an irritated bum.
Other factors can also cause other types of skin irritations on the diaper area. Bacteria can cause infections like impetego; and candida albicans, a fungus, can cause yeast infection diaper rashes which tend to infest the folds and rolls of skin with satellite lesions. These rashes will not respond to typical diaper rash remedies and will require an antibiotic ointment or antifungal cream, respectively.
Always be sure to consult you doctor if:
- Your baby develops a fever.
- The rash begins to show open sores or oozes pus.
- Treatment with diaper rash cream and other typical diaper rash remedies shows no improvement after 3 to 4 days.
