It may worry you to discover tiny red bumps on your baby’s bottoms for the first time. These pesky little bumps are usually referred to as diaper rashes and are a pretty common skin concern that affects most babies. While diaper rashes are typically not a matter of concern, they can make your munchkin extremely uncomfortable and fussy, and need to be addressed proactively.
The good news is that this skin condition is easily treatable at home, and there are many diaper rash treatment methods to provide your baby with much-needed relief from these stubborn rashes. One way to soothe your baby’s skin and keep them happy in their nappies is by using a diaper rash cream formulated with natural ingredients. A diaper rash cream can effectively treat irritation and discomfort and protect your baby’s skin. Let’s find out more about what a diaper rash cream does and how to apply diaper rash cream correctly for maximum benefits.
Firstly, What Causes Diaper Rash?
Before we get into the uses of diaper rash cream, let’s first understand what causes a diaper rash. A diaper rash occurs within the area covered by diapers, including the buttocks, groin, and parts of the inner thighs. Some of the factors contributing to diaper rash include:
- Irritation: Urine and stool can combine to form ammonia, which causes irritation on your baby’s skin, and leads to rashes.
- Fungi: The moist environment of the diaper is the perfect place for fungi to multiply. One of the most common fungi to affect your baby’s diaper area is yeast, also called candida.
- Bacteria: Your baby’s stool contains a lot of bacteria. Hence, leaving a soiled diaper for long can cause these bacteria to invade the upper layers of your baby’s skin and cause rashes.
- Autoimmune rash: Skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis can also result in rashes in your baby’s diaper region.
What Does A Diaper Rash Cream Do?
The purpose of a diaper rash cream is two-fold:
- It helps treat rashes and soothe your baby’s skin: Applying a diaper rash cream on your baby’s skin helps soothe the itching and irritation caused by the rashes. It also aids in the quick healing of existing rashes and relieves inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema.
- It prevents the future outbreak of rashes: A diaper rash cream forms a protective barrier on your baby’s skin to prevent moisture absorption and exposure to potential irritants. This in turn helps reduce the future occurrence of rashes and discomfort.
When To Use A Diaper Rash Cream?
You can apply a diaper rash cream during every diaper change to keep your baby’s skin dry, calm, and protected. Additionally, you should consider slathering a diaper rash cream on your baby’s skin during the following instance:
- If your baby has a rash.
- If your baby is showing signs of discomfort and redness.
- If your baby has diarrhoea (frequent stools can cause irritation in your baby’s skin and lead to rashes).
- If your baby has sensitive skin and experiences future diaper rashes.
- If your baby has a cold, is teething, or taking antibiotics, causing loose stools.
How To Apply Diaper Rash Cream
Step 1: Remove the dirty diaper
Place your baby on a changing station and remove their dirty diaper. Use a plant-based water wipe to clean their diaper area properly and remove residual stool or urine. You can opt for a natural water-based wipe with aloe vera and vitamin E, or bamboo water wipe designed with bamboo fibre, and almond oil.
Step 2: Place a clean diaper underneath your baby’s bottom
After wiping your baby’s diaper area, get a clean diaper and place it underneath their bottoms. This will help you put them in a good position, and you can quickly fasten the diaper after applying the rash cream.
Step 3: Apply diaper rash cream
Take a generous amount of diaper rash cream and slather a thick layer of it on your baby’s diaper region, especially on the areas where the skin appears red and inflammed. You can also apply the diaper rash cream in the following areas:
- Between the inner thighs
- Around the anus
- In the folds of the labia and around the vagina for baby girls
- On the scrotum and penis for baby boys
Step 4: Fasten The Diaper Belt
After you’ve applied the diaper cream, you can quickly fasten the diaper belt around your baby’s waist. Make sure you don’t keep your little one waiting, as it can make them fussy. Lastly, wash your hands with soap and water to remove any bacteria lingering on your skin.
Safety Considerations For Diaper Rash Cream
Consider the following criteria and factors while picking a diaper rash cream for your baby:
- Look for a diaper rash cream with zinc oxide: Zinc oxide helps form a protective layer on your baby’s skin and prevents ammonia and fecal bacteria from causing rashes on their skin. This compound is also helpful in preventing the future outbreak of rashes in your baby’s skin.
- Look for a diaper rash cream with natural oils: Plant-based oils, such as calendula oil, moringa oil, and almond oil help nourish your baby’s skin and soothe irritation and itching.
- Natural body butter is good too: If possible, opt for a diaper rash cream with natural body butter, like shea butter—it naturally contains vitamins and minerals that further moisturise your baby’s skin and prevent rashes.
Best Diaper Rash Creams To Choose
The Moms Co. Natural Diaper Rash Cream
Features:
- It has a 100% natural formulation. It is made with plant oils like chamomile, calendula, and jojoba that soothe the skin and heal diaper rashes gently.
- Has 15% zinc oxide content that forms a protective barrier on your baby’s skin and prevents future rashes.
- It is hypoallergenic and ideal for babies with sensitive skin.
- Contains shea butter that moisturises and protects the skin.
- Does not contain any chemicals, such as parabens and SLS, and is free of petroleum jelly.
BabyChakra’s Diaper Rash Cream For Babies
Features:
- Made with non-nano zinc oxide to reduce skin redness and irritation.
- Contains naturally derived plant oils, such as neem, moringa, chamomile, calendula, and shea butter.
- Offers relief from inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema.
- Paediatric tested and hypoallergenic, making it ideal for sensitive skin.
- Contains bentonite that aids in the quick healing of existing rashes.
- Free of harmful chemicals, such as sulphates, parabens, and SLS.
Knowing how to apply diaper rash cream correctly can help you provide quick relief to your baby, and also prevent the occurrence of those stubborn rashes in the future. Just make sure to consider the safety criteria that we have mentioned, and look through the ingredient list thoroughly before purchasing a diaper rash cream. For best results, always look for rash creams formulated with plant-based oils and zinc oxide, as these ingredients soothe your baby’s skin and reduce discomfort.
Also read:
Best baby skincare products: Here’s a checklist of the best baby skincare products that provide the gentlest care to your little one.
Summer skincare tips for babies: Check out this awesome list of summer skincare tips for babies to enhance your little one’s skin health.
Featured Image: Freepik.com
