With few kids under my belt, one thing I do know about is diaper rash. While raising my little ones I have tried several baby diaper rash treatment options, some natural remedies and a few creams and ointments. With my vast experience, I can look at a diaper rash and instantly tell you what might have caused it and your best treatment options.
As a mother, sometimes you just don’t have time for the Doctor or you’re not totally health covered. During the few times I visited a Pediatrician for severe diaper rash on my baby, I paid close attention to what was done. I learned a lot, and will be passing on some of the tips to new mothers or expectant mothers.
Mothering is both a privilege and blessing but requires work, which some men do not understand. Towards the end of the article, check my reviews of the best diaper rash treatment creams I tried, like baby Aquaphor healing ointment, and Triple paste medicated ointment.
A baby’s skin is both soft and delicate, and the many rashes that will come in due time will be caused by many factors. Regardless of how careful you are as a parent, inflammation of your baby’s skin is something to be expected, so do not panic as it will subside using common sense and some of the tips and treatment options in this article.
What exactly is Diaper Rash?
One day you’ll discover your baby’s skin is inflamed, and that can occur in several body areas with different colors. The most common skin areas for rash are the buttocks and genital areas. Two of the most causing agents are the diaper used and general cleanliness.
The inflamed skin is sometimes referred to as dermatitis, which is one of the big words Doctors use to impress patients and charge you more for the visit. The most visible color of the rash can be slight reddish or pinkish in color, depending on your baby’s racial background.
If this is your first-born, try not to panic or freak out, for it happens to every human baby in the world during growing up years. Before I get to some at home remedies you can deploy to make the rashes go away, let’s look at some of the factors responsible for causing diaper rash in babies.
Known Causes of Diaper Rash
As a mother, one can get tired and ignore the wet or soiled diaper with promise to change it in due time. Do know that a great percentage of diaper rashes are caused by soiled diapers not being changed on time. Most babies will cry or fidget when the diaper is soiled, so watch out for those signs. Delays in changing wet diapers can and will cost you in many other ways, trust me on that one!
Another often ignored factor is the brand of diapers you’re using on your little one. With products sourced from many parts of the world, you never know what exactly is included when they made the diapers and your baby might just be allergic to that particular brand.
If you switch diapers because it was cheaper and you soon notice rashes, stop using it immediately. Just like adults skin, babies react differently to diapers. The brand that’s working well for your girlfriend’s kid might be toxic to your child, so keep that in mind as you play Doctor to determine the reason why the rashes occurred in the first place..
I have done this many times, whereby my baby outgrew the size of the diapers I have on hand especially if you buy them in bulk from a store like Costco. While the diaper might still fit, if it is too tight, rubbing and chafing will result in the creation of rashes if you continue to use them. So be mindful that your baby is growing, as you buy your diapers in bulk. A fitting baby diaper should neither be too loose or too tight.
If you’re into using cloth diapers, pay close attention to the type of detergents you’re using. If you notice any allergic reaction or rashes, change the brand of detergent you’re using. Try not to use any fabric softener, as most have ingredients that are toxic to a child’s soft delicate skin.
Breastfeeding does help prevent many infections, provided the mother is clean and keeps to an active lifestyle. As the mother, if you drink or smoke please try not to breast-feed your baby regardless of what some medical people might say. Breast milk is just as nutritious as the source.
Other minor causes of diaper rashes are yeast infection or bacterial infection. From my many years being a mother, those can come about due to poor hygiene habits of the parent. I have witnessed many nasty and dirty habits of parents, which ultimately can lead to infection because a baby’s immune system is not as strong yet.
You need to pay attention to everything they touch and put in their mouth. I am sure you’ve seen parents take pacifiers out of a large bag and just shove it into the baby’s mouth. Mind you that bag might also contain unused diapers, keys, food, cellphone etc. Your baby will hardly get any infections if you practice safe and clean habits.
So rashes or inflammation caused by infections will probably need the attention of a medical Doctor for best treatment options. If you use diaper rash cream or ointments and still see no improvement after a day or two, you might need to take your child to see a pediatrician for more powerful prescribed diaper rash treatment medication.
Other causes of inflammation or rashes might be due to change in dieting, especially when they star eating solid foods. The ingredients in some medications like antibiotics might also provoke the appearance of diaper rashes. I will state again, cleanliness is you best weapon against many forms of rashes, especially the ones not caused by diapers.
Here are some of the Most Common Symptoms
The most obvious symptom to watch out for is changes in the skin texture of your baby. Your average diaper rash will result in puffy, pinkish, red and very tender looking skin right in the area covered by the diaper. Examine the buttocks, thighs and genitals for inflammation when doing diaper changes.
One of the best ways your baby lets you know something is wrong, is to cry or change attitudes. A playful baby that suddenly becomes irritable or fidgety might be sending you a signal to check things out. If you hear more than your usual noise when the diaper area is touch, pay close attention to find out why.
When the rashes are developing it might not be so obvious to the necked eyes. It is far easier to treat diaper rashes in its infancy, as compared to full blown inflammation.
For most of my kids, the most diaper rashes occurred once I introduced solid food into their diets. While it can happen intermittently, your most severe cases will occur between the ages of 6 months to 24 months.
When Best to See a Doctor
Despite your best efforts your baby’s rash might not be getting better, which means you’ll need to see a Doctor as soon as you can, which is immediately. Here are some tips to help you determine if the inflammation or rashes require the attention of a pediatrician.
After applying severe diaper rash treatment and the rash still appears worse after two or three days.
If the rash is coupled with fever, high temperature or sluggishness.
If there are symptoms of yeast infection present, or you see fluid-filled boils.
If you see the appearance of small reddish pimples inside or outside the diaper area.
If the diaper rash appears very red in color, it might be a sign of more serious infection.
As a new mom, you’ll soon develop an antenna for how your baby is doing. Unfortunately, the first born is usually the “tester” for your un-perfected nurturing skills. Always err on the side of caution, and see a doctor when your gut feeling tells you something is not right with your baby. My pediatrician must have thought I was a pain in the ass, when I had my first born.
Tips to Treat a Diaper Rash
For those seeking how to cure diaper rash, the following tips should help you moving in the right direction. Let me point out a few steps you can implement, before reviewing some of the best creams or ointments you can use to get awesome results in relieving diaper rash symptoms.
Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly, after each diaper change. Get yourself a good anti-bacterial soap () to ensure proper elimination of germs that might affect your baby. Never touch meat or other poultry stuff and then change your baby’s diaper without first using the anti-bacterial soap.
I must admit I have made my share of mistakes of not adhering to this good rule, but try your best to implement it as it is the key to keeping your baby well and out of the Doctor’s office.
It is better to first use plain old reliable water to get poop off your baby’s skin, before using any mild wipe cleanser. This might be a hard rule to follow when you’re outside, but try as much as possible to follow it. Baby cleansers might smell good, but not as effective as using water in my opinion. Using one after water is the ideal way to prevent infections that could become diaper rash.
Be careful how you use wipes, for some are not worth the asking price. If you can, buy one without fragrance or alcohol (). You can also use a soft, clean washcloth to get the same results.
Another key point is to make sure the diaper skin area is completely dry, before you rush to put on a new fresh diaper. Now for treating diaper rash that simply appeared out of nowhere, the following reviews of best diaper rash creams or ointments will get you the timely help you need.
Diaper Rash Cream Reviews
What is the best diaper rash cream? The right answer might depend on how much you have to invest in a good brand. A reputable product will soothe your child’s sore skin, while also creating an ironclad protective barrier against new occurrence.
Most of the creams and ointments reviewed below can offer healing power while also preventing new breakouts. I have used my personal experience to reach opinions in this review, while also examining what other customers that have tried the product had to say.
This is by no means a complete list, but the link provided at the end of the article would take you to the complete list page, with discount pricing and sometimes free shipping based on quantity purchased.
Here are the 2 Best Ointments or Creams for Diaper Rash Home Remedies
1 – Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment Reviews
Aquaphor baby healing ointment is definitely a very good product, and can qualify for best ointment for diaper rash due to its healing properties.
Aquaphor healing ointment is gentle and yet effective for dealing with a myriad of skin conditions, including diaper rashes. This multi-purpose ointment is one the most widely recommended product by pharmacists, pediatricians, and dermatologists.
Pros:
Aquaphor for babies is the right one for children with sensitive skin. It not only can soothe, but the healing ingredients allow it to protect chapped, cracked, dry skin, while also helping to prevent chafing.
Baby Aquaphor healing ointment name should be changed as adults love it too, just ask my husband. It got so bad, I had to hide it from him just so it will last.
Once applied the ingredients goes to work right away in clearing symptoms. It can be used on red irritated cheeks and noses, and you should see good improvement within 24-hours, if used on baby’s diaper rash.
This best cure for diaper rash ointment should be used after every diaper change, to prevent the occurrence of new rashes or inflammations.
Cons:
Despite the great accolades from most of the consumers that bought and tried the product, there were few disgruntled users with bad experiences with the ointment. A few complained that it worked well at eliminating diaper rashes, but was just too greasy.
One complained it worked on the diaper rash but not the rashes on the hands. Some had issues with some of the ingredients in the formula.
Bottom Line:
Aquaphor baby is definitely a product you can be proud of, and it helped me get through some worried troubled times with my first and second born. While it is marketed as a best diaper rash cream, you can also use it on other inflammations.
If you have other adults in your household, they just might adopt the ointment for their needs like my husband did. I did suspect some guests used the product after using the bathroom, so I had to hide it to preserve the quantity. If you’re that generous, then let everyone go at it!
Aquaphor baby healing ointment ingredients
The most active Aquaphor healing ointment ingredients are:
Petrolatum – This is a well-known and widely used skin protectant
Lanolin Alcohol, Ceresin, and Mineral Oil – The skin barrier protection provided by this product is made possible by the unique combination of the three emollient and skin conditioners.
Glycerin – This is a humectant with skin conditioning power, which also moisturizes and hydrates the skin.
Panthenol (provitamin B5) – This skin conditioning agent is active in providing needed support for skin barrier repair
Bisabolol – This ingredient is derived from chamomile, and has the ability to help soothe the skin
If you’re seeking first-class diaper rash remedies, this is an excellent healing ointment with good performance metrics. I used to buy them in packs of two for better savings. Please do not use this product near the eye area; neither should you use it on exposed wounds or serious burns.
This is one of my top choices for best cure for diaper rash. I found the 14-Ounce container that it comes in to be real solid, and will not easily break as I did drop it several times on different floor types including ceramic.
2 – Triple Paste Medicated Ointment for Diaper Rash
This is the most expensive product for curing baby diaper rash. Truth be told, it did deliver quicker results than the Aquaphor baby, but at double the price. This medicated ointment is formulated to provide relieve for raw irritated skin.
You can buy Triple Paste Medicated Ointment in a 2-ounce tube, or 8, 16 and 32 ounce container. I bought the 16-ounce twice and never did re-order due to the high cost. Let’s see the pros and cons, before I give you my final say on the product.
Pros:
Some have called this product the Best diaper rash cream ever, because it has the ability to deliver faster results. This should be the preferred best diaper rash treatment for those that could afford it.
From the time I used it on my baby’s rash, it all disappeared like magic within three days. This medicated ointment is usually the recommended alternative by pediatricians and dermatologist for patients seeking the ultimate best diaper rash ointment.
It is hypo-allergenic, and Fragrance free. If you want baby diaper rash treatment with guaranteed results, this is the ultimate product to purchase. My triple paste ointment was only used for severe rashes that the others could not handle.
Cons:
Triple baby rash ointment has one of the highest approval ratings I have seen online for a health related product, but there were few negative reviews for the medicated healing ointment.
Few consumers complained about the different sizes, and one person measured the quantity and said it was not enough. Other complaints centered on the ointment not been able to handle thrush or yeast rashes.
My only complaint was the price, but the performance was miles ahead of the rest.
Bottom Line:
Is it the best diaper ointment? In my opinion yes, but it is also the most expensive ointment for diaper rash one can find online with an absolute performance guarantee.
Triple paste medicated ointment for diaper rash can handle a variety of inflammations and other types of rashes. The powerful ingredients in this ointment can soothe and calm your little ones pain and itching.
It is the ultimate product for severe cases, right before you call the Doctor. Use this only for extreme rashes and keep the other brands on hand for regular use.
Triple Paste Medicated Ointment Ingredients
This product is for external use only, and should not be applied to the eyes or bleeding open wounds. You must keep it out of the reach of children. If you do not see great improvement within seven days, you might be dealing with a serious condition that requires stronger prescribed antibiotics from a medical practitioner.
The most active ingredients are: Zinc Oxide – a skin protectant, White Petrolatum, Bisabolol, Stearyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Corn Starch, Anhydrous Lanolin, Cholesterol, Water, Glycerine, Kernel Extract, Oat (Avena Sativa), and Polysorbate 80.
Of all the diaper rash ointment brands, this one delivered the fastest and most permanent results. If you can afford it get this Triple medicated ointment, if not, buy the other brands for almost the same performance metrics.
Paula F. Kennedy
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