9 causes of diaper rash in babies
We here describe in details causes of diaper rash. Hope it will help in prevention of diaper rash.
Diaper rash is a fairly common common problem in children specifically in young infants. It is generally painful to infants and also causes pain to parents considering the pain it causes to infants. Many parents complain it keeps occurring repeatedly. They just get frustrated because of this problems and spend a lot of time and energy to prevent or cure it. Let us see how this problem occurs and how to avoid it.
Diaper rash is a broad term that includes conditions causing redness and irritation and pain In infants in peri anal region and buttock. Causes can be various in each infants. Most common causes are:
Table of Contents
Wetness :
As we all know infants do not have control on bowel and bladder. So when they pass urine and stool it remains in diapers for long time. If the caretaker is not attentive it stays their for prolonged period and becomes worse. These young infants have immature and soft skin it gets affected because of this and becomes red and swollen. Wetness also attracts many bacteria and fungus giving them good environment to grow their.
Urine and feces:
Urine contain chemicals like uric acid which are irritants to skin if they stay in skin contact for a long period. Stool also contains many bacteria and lipid which will help bacteria to grow near skin. The chemicals of urine and stool slowly get changed and in turn they damage the skin around the diaper area.
Not changing diapers frequently:
If diaper is not changed frequently It mostly remains wet. Infants normally pass stool 8-10 times a day and also urine many times. That all gets accumulate in diaper. It is a good place for bacterium and fungus to grow. So not changing diapers of your bebies?? Not a good idea.
Bacterial infection:
Bacterial infection cause the diaper rash. Bacterial infection is more common if above all factors are already present in the case. It either itself cause diaper rash or may worsen it.
Chemical irritants:
It you are using diapers use it cautiously if new ones. The chemicals in diapers may be causing irritation. If you are using washable diapers then too your detergent may be causing irritation. New cloths colored ones may cause irritation due to their new color. The cloths should be washed and dried before use. If one brand is causing problem in your infants its better to change brand of diaper or brand of your detergent.
Fungal infection:
Fungus is a hidden enemy of the infants. It like to stay on soft immature skin of your infants. If it gets chance and nice wet environment in humid climate it grows vigorously damaging the soft skin of your baby.
Zinc deficiency:
Zinc deficiency is important cause in infants and children causing acrodermatitis enteropathica. It causes rashes at many other places in body like also perioral rash.
New cloths:
As we discussed earlier new cloths because of their color and new texture cause irritation to skin.
Allergy:
In young infant it is very rare cause of diaper rash. The baby products that you may use to prevent diaper rash may cause allergy and diaper rash themselves, fortunately rarely though.
Dr Yatin Bhole MBBS DCh DNB
Bhole Children clinic
Pediatrician in Ravet