I've been treating my baby's diaper rash with traditional creams and allowing plenty of diaper-free time to air out her bottom, but the diaper rash will not go away. Could this be a yeast infection diaper rash?
A stubborn diaper rash that refuses to go away despite typical treatment with diaper rash cream might possibly be a yeast infection. In the early stages, it can be very difficult to tell the difference between a normal diaper rash and a yeast infection. As a yeast infection goes untreated, it becomes noticeably different.
Signs of a Yeast Infection
There are several telling signs that your baby might have a yeast infection rather than a rash. You may see the following symptoms:
- The bold red rash will be contained with a slightly raised border.
- "Satellite lesions" may appear. These are smaller spots of inflamed areas separated from the main rash.
- The skin may become scaly.
- The rash is still hanging around after two days of diaper rash treatments.
- Frequently the infection is found in the skin folds of the groin area.
If your baby has a yeast infection, she may not necessarily need to see a doctor right away. The yeast infection may be nipped in the bud with over-the-counter yeast infection treatments. However, if she develops a fever or the rash begins oozing or has open sores, be sure to call your pediatrician. This could be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires medical attention.
