Children's Health Newborns and Toddlers

Preventing Diaper Rash

(iVillage Total Health) - Parents who know first hand the effects of painful diaper rash on their crying babies should be encouraged by recent news from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Experts say advances in disposable diaper design and new antifungal creams developed for child-sized applications have helped relieve little bottoms of the discomforting condition.

Diaper rash, or diaper dermatitis, is a common childhood skin condition experienced most often by babies seven months to 12 months of age, although older adults who wear disposable diapers may also have the condition. Red, inflamed, itchy and irritated skin on the thighs, buttocks and genitals can be extremely painful for babies.

Two common forms of diaper dermatitis are irritant dermatitis and candidal or "yeast" dermatitis. The irritant diaper rash occurs when your baby's delicate skin is exposed to irritants like fecal matter and urine for long periods of time, such as when a soiled diaper goes unchanged. Babies who have been prescribed antibiotics may be more likely to develop candidal dermatitis, which is a rash caused by a yeast infection.

"Over the years, there have been considerable improvements in the design of modern disposable diapers and, as a result, severe diaper rash is not as common as it once was," Dr. Mary K. Spraker said in a press release. Spraker, a dermatologist, spoke February 3 at the 65th annual meeting of the AAD. "Numerous studies have shown that infants who wear today's disposable diapers get fewer diaper rashes than infants who wear traditional cloth diapers."

Disposable diapers manufactured today have material that absorbs moisture and pulls wetness toward the center of the diaper and away from the baby's skin. Other diapers have linings made of breathable fabrics that also help reduce humidity and keep babies dry.

Spraker offered the following tips for avoiding diaper rash:

• Change soiled diapers containing fecal matter as soon as possible. Diapers with urine are generally not irritating so mildly wet diapers can remain on the baby longer.
• Clean fecal matter from the skin with non-irritating disposable wipes.
• Apply creams containing zinc oxide and petroleum jelly to the baby's skin to relieve symptoms.
• Do not use talcum or baby powder to soak up moisture in the diaper. These products increase the risk of pneumonia if the baby should inhale the powders.

Spraker recommended that pediatricians and dermatologists prescribe new antifungal creams and ointments to treat candidal dermatitis. In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a cream designed to treat diaper rash. The new products have a fraction of the miconazole nitrate found in adult antifungal products.

"The introduction of this prescription antifungal is a breakthrough because we finally have a product that is specially formulated for infants," Spraker said.

Copyright 2007 iVillage Total Health.