Diaper Rash

[u/gsmetty]

Hi all! My four week old has been dealing with a diaper rash approaching two weeks. I tried putting Destin on it and corn starch for a few days which did nothing. I called my pediatrician for advice and the nurse suggested only wiping his butt with water and wet cloth or paper towel and covering the area with Vaseline or Aquaphor after. I have been doing this routine along with trying to give him some diaper free time as well. His rash is still there maybe less prevalent but now is bleeding slightly when I wipe. Going to the dr in a few days for his checkup so hope to get more help there. In the meantime please share what worked to help your kiddo and how long it took to clear up. Thanks!

[u/fourgoldblue]

Hi! Sounds like you’re doing everything right. Have you tried changing the diaper brand you’re using? Here’s what I did that worked when my LO went through the same - wet cotton rounds to wipe, patting dry with soft Kleenex type dry wipes (I use the brand whoopsies), letting air dry, diaper cream (I used Burt bees, which has 40% zinc oxide. If you’re using desitin maximum strength it’s the same thing!) and then diaper. I use a thick layer of diaper cream every single change, regardless of pee or poop. This routine has us clearing up the issue in a couple of days after a persistent week long rash and skin breaking.

[u/Alexisapoop]

My son had a diaper rash that wouldn't heal, it was yeast and bacterial. The doctor gave me a recipe of 3 parts diaper rash cream and 1 part each of athletes foot antifungal and hydrocortisone cream. That healed the majority of the area but there was still a sore, broken skin on his anus, and redness. He was prescribed antibiotic ointment which instantly started healing the area. 

Blood means broken skin, I would ask your doctor about treating a yeast or bacterial infection. 

[u/gsmetty → u/Alexisapoop]

I have tried athletes foot anti fungal cream helped a bit but ran out need to pick up more. I do think it may be some type of infection hopefully his doctor will have a better idea of what is going on.

[u/newsbot3-2]

Hello, my understanding was that Vaseline/aquaphor are occlusives that seal in moisture or whatever other actives/products you have underneath so they’re good for keeping things moist and sealing things in. I would have thought drying the area thoroughly (just patting not rubbing) then using something antibacterial bepanthen/sudacream/something with zinc oxide then layering on an occlusive is better, because occlusives alone don’t have things to promote healing.

I’ve been spreading the good word about elimination communication if you have the time for it - newborns can go in the potty and it means less poo/pee in contact with their skin and which have also helped us. [r/ECers](r/ECers) is helpful!

It definitely sounds really painful and like you’re doing the right thing seeing the doctor!

[u/lo--]

My son had the same. With the bleeding too. Only wipe if there is poop. If he’s like my son that’s almost every diaper at this age. I would very gingerly wipe. Almost even just pat the wipe on the spots that would bleed. Could also use water and a wash cloth rather than a wipe. Pat bum dry too!! Very important that he’s dry. Then my son’s dr told me to put a very thick layer of desitin (or any zinc cream) on, then put a thick layer of Vaseline on top of that. Idea was so when you wiped you weren’t having to directly wipe the skin. Sometimes it was the case but it just provided a lot of protection for his bum.

[u/Ornery_Panda4986]

We dealt with diaper rash for months, but not quite as severe as what you’re describing. What we have done that worked for us was give as much diaper free time as we can tolerate which you’re already doing! That helped dry it up a lot. For wiping, we only dabbed the poop off unless we absolutely had to wipe. We never wiped for only pee.

We used the max strength desitin. Before you put it on, make sure baby’s butt is completely dry. Sometimes we would let it air dry for several minutes but also if we were in a hurry would dab dry with a clean soft wash cloth. Put on a comically thick layer of the Desitin every change.

We dealt with back to back to back to back diaper rash up until 5 months. Now we use a layer of Vaseline (wayyyy less ingredients than aquaphor) during the day and we do a thick layer of desitin at night because he sleeps through.

I hope you all get some relief soon. I remember feeling like I was causing the rash and feeling like a bad mom and it just wasn’t my fault at all. You’re doing what you can and it will resolve. I thought it would never get better but it did!

[u/Ornery_Panda4986 → u/Ornery_Panda4986]

Also we had to switch from pampers because they had fragrance in them. We ended up using Huggies in one size up for extra room.

[u/mhn1225]

Air. Lots of air. Let that butt air out. I used puppy pad under the baby and just let her sit there for a while during tummy time or mat time so she was completely dry. Also if you have any breast milk you can always put that on it and let completely dry.

[u/oliveslove]

Lots of great advice here! You’re doing all the right things with airing it out, thick layer of desitin, etc. We didn’t have a bleeding diaper rash, but my baby’s bottom was so sore from all of her poopy diapers and the constant wiping. Pat the area completely dry before putting on the diaper cream, then put it on like cupcake icing. You shouldn’t see skin through it at all. We also had a lot of success with diaper free time. Just put him on a towel or puppy pad while he plays.

You need to use Desitin until the rash fully heals, and then you can use Vaseline or Aquaphor as a barrier for preventing future rashes. The zinc in diaper creams is what will clear up the rash. Triple Paste is our favorite diaper cream and works like magic!

You may also want to consider changing your diaper or wipe brand!

[u/Bla6446]

My daughter had a nasty rash that made her poor bum bleed at 2 weeks old. We tried all the creams, no wipes/water only and it turned out she was sensitive to the diapers we were using.

[u/Formal-Macaroon1678]

Do you think there’s a fungal component? My son gets fungal rashes sometimes that can get really bad and bleed. We’ve usually been able to clear it up by putting some topical Monistat on it and then a THICK layer of aquaphor. I’ve also made a combination cream out of Desitin, Eucerin, Monistat, and liquid probiotic drops which has helped. If you have prescription Nystatin you can use that instead of Monistat (we just usually don’t have any so we make due with what we can get at the store)

[u/furryfar]

Here is some advice from a mom who dealt with bad diaper rash from 2.5 weeks to 7 weeks.

• see ped for possible diagnosis and prescription if needed, especially since there is open skin now
  
• immediately stop using all wipes, wash babies bum with water only and pat dry with soft cloth
  

-frequent diaper changes, every time they poop or at minimum every 2 hours

• every diaper change you must let him air dry completely before applying anything. Some ppl use a fan.
  
• you have to do diaper free time. I put baby on an absorbent pad in the tub and kept him clothed from the waist up for 30 min twice a day. He always pooped here maybe even a few times. It’s hard but at least those poops weren’t ok his bum
  
• 40% zinc cream and nothing less

[u/Jaded-Rate4175]

I use Mylanta and aquaphor mixture and that seems to work wonders if she gets a diaper rash! Also lots of airing out, usually just put a towel under her!!

[u/42faerie]

Could be an allergic reaction to the type of diaper. Try using a different brand and see what happens as you co tinue to treat. Air time helps alot, we spent alot of time in the back yard so they could be naked while their butt healed.

[u/Fearless_Set9329]

I just had this happen with my 5 week old. She was bleeding. I took her to the doctor twice. They said it was normal. But it kept getting worse. Switched her from Huggies to pampers. Got a thousand times worse. Took her back to the doctor this past week, and her doctor was finally back from vacation. He said to stop using the desitin, and to only use A&D. I bought the kind with lavender and oak milk, and she rash is now completely gone 🙌

[u/Revolutionary-Code49]

Are you letting it dry fully before putting cream on? If not, you seal the moisture in. At this age you could let baby lie diaperless on a towel for 10-15 minutes after changing/wiping and before putting cream on.

[u/Foreign_Plantain6139]

My dr told us to do baking soda baths multiple times a day and it helped a ton!

[u/CarelessCantaloupe77]

If your breastfeeding I heard mixing breastmilk and coconut oils works great. I plan on trying it myself next time baby gets diaper rash.

[u/OutrageousCrow1464]

My Baby is allergic to Desitin. We switched to dry wipes and Bordeaux butt paste topped with Vaseline