Diaper Rash : Causes And Treating

Diapers were a wonderful invention, controlling infants' waste products in a relatively convenient, clean, and healthy way. Still, ever since children began to wear diapers,  rashes  has been the most common skin disorder of infancy.

Causes:

Skin wetness is the common denominator underlying the various causes of diaper rash. Urinary wetness increases skin friction, raises the skin pH, makes the skin less cohesive, and makes it more permeable. These effects combine to intensify the action of stool enzymes or other irritants that then inflame the skin.

A surprising number of different entities fall under the label of diaper rash.

Treating:

Every baby is going to battle diaper rash at some point, and you don’t have to resort to using that stinky white cream that feels like you can never wash off your hands.

Unrefined coconut oil is a super easy diaper rash cream. Coconut oil has natural anti bacterial and anti fungal properties, so it will help to heal up the rash, and protect the skin at the same time. If you use cloth diapers you’ll want to be careful about using coconut oil though, because it could cause oily build-up on the diapers and make them repel. Your best bet is to use a liner to keep the coconut oil off of the cloth diaper.

Also, diluted Apple Cider Vinegar can be used to heal diaper rash. You can mix about a teaspoon of ACV with a half cup of water in a little bowl and then dip a washcloth in the mixture and lightly pat it onto your baby’s bum. Apple Cider Vinegar also has anti-bacterial qualities that help to fight diaper rash, but be aware that it may sting when you put it on your baby’s skin, if the rash is severe.

Finally, air and sunshine speed up the healing of a diaper rash. When the weather was nice I would sit outside with Blair in my lap on a prefold cloth diaper, just in case, with the sun shining on her bum. Diaper rash thrives in dark and moist areas, so if you can increase air circulation and expose the area to light, that will help the skin to heal more quickly.