How to Get Rid of Diaper Rash in 24 Hours?

Nappy rash is a very common issue that can happen anytime no matter how carefully you look after the bottom of your baby. Almost every child gets diaper rashes at some stage. Sometimes the skin area near the urine and bottom of the baby becomes red is refers to as nappy rashes. The nappy rash occurs due to the lack of enough air between the baby’s skin and the nappy. Due to repetitive passing of urine and potty, the skin is constantly exposed to moisture and rashes occur. Since the skin of the baby is very sensitive, we are discussing nappy rash treatment and prevention in our blog.

What are the Possible Causes of Nappy Rashes?

Usually, the genitals of the baby remain covered the whole day and therefore, it needs air exposure for some time in a day. There are some common causes due to which nappy rashes occur.

• When the skin of the child is exposed to urine and potty for a long time and some mothers did not clean the potty properly from the baby’s bottom then rashes occur.
• When you don’t clean the genitals with wet cotton then rashes occur.
• Sometimes when the skin is rubbed aggressively then rashes occur.
• When anti-rash cream is not applied before wearing a nappy.
• The use of disposable nappy and not changing it every four hours makes the diaper rashes severe.

There are many other things that can also cause a nappy rash in your child. The main cause of diaper rashes is when your child wears a wet or dirty nappy for a long time. The urine of the child contains ammonia substances released from it which causes prolonged dampness and friction which can irritate your child’s skin. Avoid the use of plastic pants that often cause the nappy rash to get worse. Since the air stops circulating normally and keeps the nappy area damp. Soaps and detergents left on the cloth of the nappy also contribute to nappy rash. Children having conditions like eczema, thrush, impetigo, and psoriasis also makes the nappy rashes get worse.

What Are The Symptoms of Nappy Rashes?

When the skin on your child’s bottom starts looking red and sore then your baby is having diaper rashes. Sometimes nappy rash might go up towards your child’s tummy or spread towards the back of your baby. Some areas of skin are found to be raised or swollen, and there might be breaks in the skin as well. These breaks are called ulcers. The skin folds aren’t usually affected because wee doesn’t get into them. The rash can cause discomfort and pain, which can make your baby irritable.

When to see a doctor about nappy rash

You should take your child to the healthcare professional under the following cases:-

• the rashes haven’t improved after one week, even when you take the proper precaution,
• When your child is upset and isn’t sleeping properly,
• Appearing of blisters, crusts, or pimples,
• When your child is facing unexplained fever,
• When the rash is getting more severe and spreads all over the body,
• the penis is red and swollen or has a scab on it.

Nappy Rash Treatment

Simple measures are often the best to treat nappy rashes. You can follow the steps mentioned below to get rid of nappy rashes within 24 hours:-

• Change your baby’s nappies frequently

Frequent nappy changes keep the nappy area dry and give your child’s skin a chance to heal. Check your child every hour or so to see whether his nappy is wet or soiled. Change wet or soiled nappies straight away. Disposable nappies are better for nappy rash as it absorbs more moisture.

• Let your baby’s bottom ‘air’

Give your baby’s bottom some air for as long as possible every day. You can leave the baby lying on an open nappy or a towel (naked from the waist down) even while he’s sleeping. You can also try fastening her nappy loosely, to allow air to circulate freely.

• Clean your baby’s skin

Use lukewarm water and cotton wool or light cotton cloth to gently wash your baby’s skin after each nappy change. Avoid the use of disposable wipes as it might irritate the skin of the baby, and some babies might get allergic to the preservatives present in them. When taking your baby to the bath, use a gentle, soap-free wash and avoid soaps and bubble baths. After bathing, pat your baby’s skin to let it dry and apply a simple moisturizer.

• Use an Appropriate Protective Cream After Each Nappy Change

Apply a simple diaper rash cream with every nappy change. Such creams include zinc and castor oil or Vaseline, which is good enough to protect your baby’s skin. You can get these creams from a supermarket or from a pharmacy store without a prescription. Apply the thick layer of baby diaper rash cream to avoid wee or poo sticking your baby’s skin. Talcum-based powders aren’t recommended to treat nappy rashes. If a baby accidentally breathes in a puff of talcum powder, it can cause breathing difficulties.

• Rinse Nappies Thoroughly After They Are Washed

When you rinse the nappies thoroughly then it helps to get rid of soap residue in it. Bleach is the most effective way of killing bacteria, but make sure you rinse the nappies well with fresh water after using bleach-based detergents. Ensure the nappies are quite dry before using them again.

When do you Require Medications to Get Rid of Nappy Rashes?

For severe nappy rashes that won’t go away with simple measures, you need to contact the doctor as soon as possible. He might recommend using corticosteroid creams or ointments that contains1% hydrocortisone. Always follow the instructions written on the packet while putting these creams on your baby’s skin.

Complications of Nappy Rash

• It takes weeks for your baby’s skin to repair itself, so her skin will be more vulnerable to things that irritate it.
• Thrush usually looks like bright red, shiny patches with clearly defined borders in the nappy area. Thrush can also affect the skin folds.
• Lots of red dots or pus-filled bumps (pustules) might appear beyond the outer edge of the rash.
• Treat thrush with an antifungal cream prescribed by your doctor. Thrush can take longer to clear than regular nappy rash and often comes back. The treatment might take a long time, which could be frustrating sometimes.

Type of Diaper

• Disposable Nappies
• Non-Disposable Nappies/Cotton nappies

Disposable Nappies

Disposable nappies can be used only one at a time. It is just for use and throw purpose and should not be re-used again.

Non Disposable nappies or cotton nappies

These nappies are made of cotton clothes. These are washable and you can use such nappies as many times as you want. But make sure you make it germ-free every time you wash it.

What is the Prevention for Nappy Rashes?

Always keep your child’s nappy area clean and dry. Change your child’s nappy frequently and give his bottom air as often as you can. Make use of protective barrier creams like Vaseline or zinc and castor oil that can help to keep your child’s skin in good condition.