Treatment:

The best treatment for a diaper rash is to keep the diaper area clean and dry. This will also help prevent new diaper rashes.

• Always wash your hands after changing a diaper
• Ask your doctor if a diaper rash cream would be helpful. Zinc oxide or petroleum jelly-based products help keep moisture away from baby's skin when applied to completely clean, dry skin
• Avoid using wipes that have alcohol or perfume. They may dry out or irritate the skin more
• Do NOT use corn starch on your baby's bottom. It can make a yeast diaper rash worse
• Do NOT use talc (talcum powder). It can get into your baby's lungs
• Change your baby's diaper often, and as soon as possible after the baby urinates or passes stool
• Lay your baby on a towel without a diaper on whenever possible. The more time the baby can be kept out of a diaper, the better
• Pat the area dry or allow to air-dry
• Put diapers on loosely. Diapers that are too tight don't allow enough air and may rub and irritate the baby's waist or thighs
• Use water and a soft cloth or cotton ball to gently clean the diaper area with every diaper change. Avoid rubbing or scrubbin the area. A squirt bottle of water may be used for sensitive areas
• Using highly absorbent diapers helps keep the skin dry and reduces the chance of getting an infection

If you use cloth diapers:

• Avoid plastic or rubber pants over the diaper. They do not allow enough air to pass through
• Do NOT use fabric softeners or dryer sheets. They may make the rash worse
• When washing cloth diapers, rinse 2 or 3 times to remove all soap if your child already has a rash or has had one before

MEDICATIONS:

Topical antifungal skin creams and ointments will clear up infections caused by yeast. Nystatin, miconazole, clotrimazole, and ketaconazole are common ones.

Sometimes a mild, topical corticosteroid cream may be used. Talk to your doctor before trying this on your baby.

Expectations (prognosis):

The rash usually responds well to treatment.

Complications:

Complications from Candida-associated diaper rash can include:

• Secondary infection

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

• The rash gets worse or does not go away in 2-3 days
• The rash spreads to the abdomen, back, arms, or face
• You notice pimples, blisters, ulcers, large bumps, or pus-filled sores
• Your baby also has a fever
• Your baby is taking an antibiotic and develops a bright red rash with spots at its edges. This might be a yeast infection
• Your baby develops a rash during the first 6 weeks of life