Diaper rash is one of the most common skin concerns during infancy—and while it’s usually harmless, it can be incredibly uncomfortable for your little one. As a parent, it’s hard to see your baby in discomfort. Most diaper rashes are treatable, and oftentimes, diaper rashes can be prevented. By learning to recognize the different types of diaper rashes and understanding the best ways to manage each one, you’ll be better equipped to soothe your child’s skin and help prevent future flare-ups.
Common Types of Diaper Rash
A diaper rash is any kind of rash that occurs in the diaper area. While most diaper rashes occur due to prolonged contact with moisture, urine, and feces, there are many other types of diaper rashes. It is important to understand the cause of your child’s rash as that will help you treat it and prevent future recurrences. Let’s look at common types of diaper rashes:
Irritant Dermatitis Diaper Rash
The most frequent type of diaper rash, irritant dermatitis, occurs due to prolonged contact with moisture, urine, and feces, which irritates the skin. The use of scented or otherwise chemically harsh products can also be irritating to the skin or strip the skin’s barrier.
To learn more about what to look out for in skin care products, read this article: 5 Common Toxins In Skin Care Products
Some of the other rashes described below (like bacterial and yeast diaper rashes) may start off as an irritant dermatitis rash, as the damaged skin barrier coupled with the warm, moist environment inside the diaper can function as a breeding ground for yeast or bacteria. The good news is that irritant dermatitis diaper rashes are preventable and if they do occur, they usually respond well to treatment.
To learn more about rashes in infants, read this article: 8 Common Infant Skin Conditions
Preventing and Treating Irritant Dermatitis Diaper Rash
The best way to prevent irritant dermatitis diaper rash is by staying on top of frequent diaper changes and ensuring the skin is dry before putting on a new diaper. Additionally, using plenty of diaper cream can help maintain a barrier between the skin and a soiled diaper. Be sure to read ingredient lists and familiarize yourself with toxic ingredients that are common in many commercial baby products so that you can choose gentle, nontoxic skincare products you feel good about.
If irritant dermatitis diaper rash does occur, don’t panic. If possible, opt for diaper-free time as much as possible, and stay on top of frequent diaper changes. Choose a nontoxic barrier cream that has soothing ingredients to help heal the skin and manage symptoms. For symptom relief, you may choose to utilize an oatmeal bath. If these home care techniques do not work, or the rash looks especially angry, you may be dealing with a different kind of diaper rash — perhaps a bacterial or yeast rash.
Intertrigo Diaper Rash
Intertrigo is an inflammatory condition that occurs in skin folds — like those adorable ones in your baby’s thighs! This kind of rash can be exacerbated by friction and moisture, leading to a red raw-looking rash.
Preventing and Treating Intertrigo
Keeping skin folds clean and dry and using barrier creams can help prevent intertrigo. If you notice the skin folds in your baby’s diaper area are beginning to look inflamed, treatment involves cleaning the area, allowing the area to dry fully, and then applying your preferred barrier cream. The use of baby powder is not recommended, but arrowroot flour can be used sparingly to keep folds dry. It is common for secondary infection to occur in intertrigo rashes, so prompt care is important.
Yeast Diaper Rash
Candidal dermatitis, or yeast infection, is most often caused by the fungus Candida albicans (1). This type of rash is typically bright red, with distinct borders and possibly small red bumps spreading beyond the main area of the rash. Yeast diaper rash may be more likely in infants that have recently taken antibiotics or whose mothers have recently taken antibiotics (2). If the rash isn’t responding to basic diaper rash care and fits the characteristics of a yeast rash, it is time to treat it for yeast.
Preventing and Treating Yeast Diaper Rash
The main way to prevent a yeast diaper rash is to keep the area clean and dry. If you or your baby have recently taken antibiotics, you may wish to have both of you supplement with probiotics to maintain gut diversity. This is because antibiotics can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the gut, making it easier for yeast to overgrow not only in the digestive tract but also in moist areas like the diaper region. Probiotics can help restore this balance by replenishing the gut with healthy bacteria, potentially preventing the overgrowth of yeast.
If your baby already has a yeast diaper rash and you need to treat it, make sure to keep the area clean and dry. Colloidal silver can be applied topically to the rash at diaper changes. Allow it to dry completely and follow it with a barrier cream. If these home remedies do not work, an over-the-counter cream like clotrimazole followed by a barrier cream will be the best way to clear up the rash.
These articles may help, too: How To Heal The Gut & Understanding Infant Thrush: Symptoms, Home Care, & When To Seek Medical Attention
Allergic Dermatitis Diaper Rash
Allergic dermatitis arises from an allergic reaction to diaper material, wipes, laundry detergent, or lotions applied to the skin. An allergic rash usually presents as red itchy skin, possibly accompanied by blisters or welts.
Preventing and Treating Allergic Diaper Rash
To prevent and treat an allergic diaper rash, identifying and eliminating the allergen is crucial. Consider if your child has been exposed to any new skin care products, wipes, diapers, or laundry detergent. An oatmeal bath can be soothing and help wash away any residual allergen. As with other rashes, keeping the area clean and dry and applying a gentle barrier cream can encourage healing. If the allergic reaction is severe or spreading beyond the diaper area, contact your child’s doctor immediately.
Bacterial Diaper Rash
Bacterial diaper rashes result from a bacterial infection, often caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Group B Streptococcus. Symptoms include a bright red rash, possibly with yellow, crusty patches or pus-filled blisters.
Preventing and Treating Bacterial Diaper Rash
A bacterial diaper rash is more likely to occur if an irritant diaper rash or an intertrigo rash has already occurred first, as the damaged skin barrier will make it possible for a bacterial infection to be able to take hold. For this reason, an important way to prevent a bacterial diaper rash is to prevent diaper rash from occurring at all. Maintaining skin cleanliness and dryness is key.
Colloidal silver can be sprayed or gently dabbed onto a diaper rash a few times per day at diaper changes to maintain health while the skin barrier is healing. If you suspect your child has a bacterial diaper rash, contact your healthcare provider as treatment will usually include antibiotic creams or even oral antibiotics for more severe cases.
If you would like to learn more about how to support your body through a course of antibiotics, read this article: How To Avoid Side Effects of Antibiotics Using Natural Medicine
Eczema and Psoriasis In The Diaper Area
Eczema and psoriasis are not diaper rashes but rather they are skin conditions that are common in the diaper area.
Eczema is characterized by dry and itchy inflamed skin that often results from contact with irritants and may be linked to a family history of allergies or asthma (3). Preventive measures include using hypoallergenic skin care and avoiding known irritants.
Psoriasis presents with well-demarcated, sometimes shiny lesions, with a silvery-white scale and may also appear on other body parts (3). Keeping the skin clean and moisturized is key, and sometimes corticosteroid creams may be recommended by a healthcare provider in severe cases to help manage symptoms.
If a rash in the diaper area does not respond to general care or keeps coming back, you may be dealing with psoriasis or eczema. A healthcare provider will be able to assist in diagnosing your rash.
To learn more about eczema, read this article: Eczema Treatment 101
How To Figure Out Which Type Of Diaper Rash You Are Dealing With
Navigating the various types of diaper rashes and their treatment options can feel confusing. Here is a guide to help clue you in to what you might be dealing with. Note that this does not replace medical advice.
Step 1: Observe the Symptoms
- Look at the Rash’s Location: Is it only in one area or spread out? Certain rashes like intertrigo typically occur in the skin folds. Psoriasis tends to be one distinct spot. A yeast diaper rash is usually in one distinct area but may have “satellite” splotches or dots surrounding it. An irritant diaper rash may be more spread out.
- Examine the Appearance: Note the color (red or yellow), texture (smooth, shiny, or scaly), and if there are blisters or pustules. Blisters or hives are common with allergic rashes, while pustules are a sign of a bacterial rash.
Step 2: Consider Recent Changes and Behaviors
- New Products: Have you recently started using a new brand of diapers, wipes, lotions, or laundry detergent? If yes, this may be irritating your child’s skin or causing an allergic reaction.
- Recent Antibiotics: Has your child taken antibiotics? This could predispose them to yeast infections.
- Dietary Changes: For babies who have started eating solid foods, note if the rash appears after eating certain foods. This food could be increasing the acidity or their stool, causing an irritant rash or causing an allergic reaction.
Step 3: Assess the Rash’s Response to Basic Care and Treatment
- Barrier Creams: Does applying a barrier cream seem to improve the rash, or does it persist?
- Keeping Dry: If the rash improves significantly by simply keeping the area dry, it might be irritant dermatitis.
- Persistent or Worsening Symptoms: If the rash doesn’t improve with general care, it may be something requiring specific treatment, like a yeast or bacterial infection, and you should contact your child’s doctor.
- Antifungal Creams: If you’ve been advised to use an antifungal cream and the rash improves, it’s likely a yeast infection.
Step 4: Look for Additional Signs
- Other Symptoms: Fevers and signs of severe discomfort can accompany more severe rashes or infections and are all reasons to seek medical care.
- Spread Beyond Diaper Area: If the rash extends beyond the diaper area or exists in other areas of the body, it might indicate an issue like eczema or psoriasis.
Step 5: Consult a Healthcare Provider
If any of the symptoms listed below are present, contact your doctor or healthcare provider:
- Rash persists for longer than 3 days.
- Rash gets worse despite home care
- Rash that is accompanied by a fever
- Rash presents with blisters or sores or is oozing or bleeding
- Rash that spreads beyond the diaper area
Summary
Baby diaper rashes are no fun, but they are very common. Understanding the specific type of diaper rash your child is experiencing is the first step in effectively managing and treating the condition. Both prevention and treatment include a focus on keeping the diaper area clean, dry, and protected. In some cases, treatment may also include the use of antifungal medications or antibacterial treatment. Medical care is recommended if the rash persists despite home care, is accompanied by a fever, or is causing severe discomfort.
References:
- Benitez Ojeda AB, Mendez MD. Diaper Dermatitis. [Updated 2023 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559067/
- Mayo Clinic. (2018). Diaper rash – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diaper-rash/symptoms-causes/syc-20371636
- Griffiths CE, van de Kerkhof P, Czarnecka-Operacz M. Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017 Jan;7(Suppl 1):31-41. doi: 10.1007/s13555-016-0167-9. Epub 2017 Feb 1. PMID: 28150106; PMCID: PMC5289118.
