Diaper rash in newborns: what it looks like and how to treat it

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A rash on the buttocks can be a consequence and symptom of a wide variety of diseases, including infectious, allergic, and hormonal. The rash itself should not be considered a disease, but it is an unconditional sign of it. This is why diagnosis by a medical specialist is necessary, because the disease can be serious and therefore treatment must be started immediately.

Of course, this could be a simple allergic reaction, which can be dealt with by identifying the allergen and getting rid of it. Allergens may include food, items of clothing (the same panties), pets, and so on. In this case, antihistamines help. In other cases, treatment may be longer and more serious.

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Answers to frequently asked questions about skin rashes:

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What does diaper rash look like in babies?

Experts distinguish three degrees of diaper rash in newborns.

1st degree.

The initial stage of diaper rash in children is characterized by slight redness. Such diaper rash most often occurs in the folds of the skin. Usually the child will not pay attention to this minor discomfort, but parents should take the symptoms very seriously. As a rule, getting rid of diaper rash in newborns at the first stage is quite simple, but if you miss the moment, it will be more difficult later.

2nd degree.

At the next stage, the baby develops severe diaper rash - its color becomes more intense, and damage to the surface layer of the skin (erosion) appears. Diaper rash of the second degree causes anxiety in the baby. He may reach out with his hands and react nervously when touching sore areas, for example, when changing a diaper. This stage already requires special means, but before treating diaper rash in infants, parents should definitely consult a doctor.

3rd degree.

Bright redness, intense erosion, wet cracks in the skin, ulcers and small ulcers - this is what diaper rash looks like in a newborn at the most serious stage. The child feels constant itching, and this affects his behavior. The baby's sleep and appetite worsen, he is often capricious and cries. Such severe diaper rash in a newborn requires immediate consultation with a doctor and starting treatment as quickly as possible.

We hope our description helped you understand. But if you wish, you can find diaper rash in girls and boys in photos on the Internet and see what this disease looks like at different stages.

La-Cri products against dermatitis on the buttocks

La-Cri pharmacy cosmetics were developed specifically to combat irritation on delicate children's skin. The action of the hypoallergenic composition is based on the natural strength of natural ingredients: extracts of avocado, walnut, olive, string, violet, licorice, bisabolol and panthenol.

Cleansing gel gently removes impurities, soothing damaged skin.
The cream actively acts on irritation, relieving itching and redness, and also promotes rapid skin restoration.
The light emulsion is ideal for caring for the most delicate skin, even as sensitive as the skin of the armpits, for every day.

Why do diaper rash occur in children?

To understand how to get rid of diaper rash, you first need to understand why it occurs. Indeed, at the first stage, it is often enough to simply remove the irritants so that the baby’s diaper rash disappears.

Moisture

Moisture is the main cause of diaper rash in a newborn. In an effort to protect their baby from colds, parents often overheat the room or wrap the baby too tightly, causing the baby to sweat. Diaper rash from sweat in newborns primarily appears in the armpits, skin folds and other places of increased sweating.

Regular water procedures wash away body secretions and a significant amount of bacteria from the skin. However, what helps with diaper rash in newborns can also cause it. Water remaining on the skin after bathing is another source of excess moisture. To prevent it from getting under clothes, it is recommended to dry the baby thoroughly and let his body breathe for 10–15 minutes before dressing.

And, of course, diaper rash in newborns can appear from moisture from diapers. Pay attention to your baby's signals and carry out hygiene procedures in a timely manner. Remember: diapers can reduce the risk of diaper rash on the bottom of newborns, but only if they are changed regularly.

Friction

Diaper rash can occur due to mechanical stress on the skin. To prevent this from happening, do not swaddle your baby too tightly, do not put tight clothes on him, and avoid synthetic fabrics. Due to friction, diaper rash can also appear under the diaper belt of a newborn. This usually happens if the belt is too tight, or diapers of dubious quality were purchased.

Chemical irritants

Another reason why a newborn baby may develop diaper rash is the baby's sensitivity to certain chemicals. They can get on the skin from clothes, diapers, and cosmetics. What helps against “chemical” diaper rash in newborns? The answer is simple: buy products for your child only from manufacturers in which you are 100% confident.

Other factors

There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of this disease - excess weight, a tendency to allergies, the location of blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. There is also a gender dependence: diaper rash occurs more often in newborn girls than in boys.

Causes of rash on buttocks

Let's take a look at the various causes of a rash on your buttocks. This will help you to know the treatment methods to get rid of the rash.

Eczema

A very itchy red patch of skin can be a symptom of eczema. Eczema is an inflammatory condition caused by various triggers.

Eczema often appears on the buttocks, the insides of the elbows, behind the knees and on your face.

You should not scratch eczema spots on your buttocks as this may lead to a secondary bacterial infection. Most of the home remedies for side rash mentioned at the end of the article are excellent for treatment.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is another form of eczema that can affect the skin on and between the buttocks. Contact dermatitis on this part of the body is usually caused by irritants from clothing or detergents.

Contact dermatitis often affects the buttocks and genital area and can cause itching on the upper thighs. If contact dermatitis causes a rash, your skin will be itchy and painful with rashes.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is another inflammatory condition that can cause patches of itchy, scaly skin on your buttocks and gluteal fissure. Skin affected by psoriasis is usually very itchy and red and may or may not be scaly.

Psoriasis can affect both the anal area and the buttocks. Anal psoriasis causes severe itching around the anus and may also bleed when passing stool. Psoriasis in the gluteal fold appears as patches of itchy red skin.

Some people have found that supplementing their diet with omega-3 supplements or vitamin D supplements has helped reduce symptoms of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin reactions.

Fungal infection

Dark, damp conditions between the buttocks mean that this area is prone to yeast infections. Fungal skin infections are caused by yeasts that live on the top layer of skin and are found in the folds of the skin. Fungal infections can cause the skin to develop red patches and become very itchy and scaly.

The rash usually affects the buttocks and may spread to the groin and thigh areas. To help prevent fungal infections on these parts of the body, it is recommended to keep the area between the buttocks as clean and dry as possible.

Bacterial infection

Another type of infection that can cause the anus to itch with red patches of inflamed skin on your buttocks is a bacterial infection. The skin on the buttocks may become itchy and red if Staphylococci bacteria infect the skin.

Severe scratching can lead to infection, which can damage the skin. The more you scratch, the more itchy it becomes.

Another type of bacterial infection that can cause itchy red bumps on the buttocks is cellulitis. It causes red, painful, swollen patches of skin in the affected areas. Cellulite can affect unusual places, such as the buttocks.

Folliculitis / Acne

Areas with red, inflamed bumps on the buttocks may be caused by inflamed hair follicles. The medical term for inflamed follicles is folliculitis. Infected follicles become swollen, red, and may fill with pus to become a pustule.

Folliculitis can affect any part of the body, including the buttocks, chest, back, arms and legs. Folliculitis affecting the buttocks is quite common and is usually bacterial. Acne and its variants are also types of folliculitis.

Folliculitis of the buttocks can be acute, which results in red, painful papules and pustules, or chronic, which often causes significant symptoms but can be very persistent.

Viral infection

A skin rash on your buttocks that is preceded by a tingling sensation may be a symptom of shingles. Shingles is a viral disease caused by the chickenpox virus that results in patchy red rashes on the affected area. These patches of skin are itchy and then germinate after a few days.

Shingles usually causes a patchy rash on the top of the torso and makes your skin sensitive to the touch. It can also affect the genital area.

Manuka and clover honey are effective in treating shingles, as are these essential oils, which have strong antiviral activity.

Intertrigo

A rash between the halves of the buttocks can be caused by diaper rash. It occurs when your buttocks rub against each other when you walk, run, or exercise. The result can be irritated skin that becomes cracked, red and moist. Further irritation can occur quite easily when underwear or sweat further aggravates the condition.

Heat rash

A cluster of small pimples that form a rash on the buttocks may be heat rash. The irritating rash occurs when tiny sweat ducts become blocked and become itchy bumps.

Heat rashes can be red or pink patches of skin. If the rash becomes severe, the affected skin may become very irritated and develop into large, raised, red bumps. Some people also experience a severe bout of itching with heat rash. Although it can affect any part of the body, common areas affected by heat rashes are the buttocks, groin and elbow creases.

Insect bites

A rash affecting your buttocks that is not caused by illness may be caused by bedbugs. Bed bug bites can leave you with sore, itchy red skin and can occur anywhere on your body.

If you scratch them, you may break the skin and cause a secondary infection around the bite area.

Scabies

Another cause of an intensely itchy rash around your buttocks and anus is scabies. Scabies is an infectious itch caused by small mites that burrow under the skin and can cause an inflammatory response in your skin.

Scabies is often found around the buttocks and genitals, although it can also affect your hands, wrists and abdomen. These mites can cause intense itching, especially at night, and you may notice tiny spots that form an itchy rash.

For more information on how to get rid of these pesky mites, read my article on how to get rid of scabies naturally.

Granuloma annulare

A pinkish, reddish rash on your buttocks may be a disease called granuloma annulare. This is an inflammatory reaction to the skin; doctors don't know why it happens.

These rashes can affect any area of the body, including the groin, armpits, or arms. As a rule, rashes on the buttocks go away on their own without any special treatment.

Hives

Hives are raised patches of itchy skin that can affect the buttocks or any other area of the body. Hives are an allergic reaction to an allergen. But factors such as stress, exercise, sunlight and extreme temperatures can lead to breakouts.

You can try some natural antihistamines or other natural remedies to get rid of hives to help soothe your itchy skin patches on your buttocks.

Where do diaper rashes usually form? Under a diaper?

Problems usually appear in the folds of the skin, i.e. in places where moisture evaporation is difficult. The most comfortable place for diaper rash in a newborn is between the legs - in the groin area and between the buttocks, under the armpits. Also, diaper rash in a baby can form on the neck and between the toes.

As you can see, this disease manifests itself not only on the butt in a diaper. It can pop up unexpectedly anywhere. Diaper rash can even occur behind the ears, especially in newborns whose parents wear hats that are too thick and tight.

Are prickly heat and diaper rash in newborns the same thing?

No, these are different diseases. Diaper rash in newborns occurs due to various reasons, and prickly heat, as the name suggests, is only caused by excessive sweating. At the initial stage, prickly heat manifests itself in a similar way - as slight redness of the skin, but then develops into small blisters with clear or cloudy contents.

For a better understanding, find a photo of prickly heat and, for example, diaper rash on a newborn’s bottom - as you will see, they look completely different.

The good news is that there is no need to treat heat rash, you just need to eliminate its causes - overheating of the baby and clogged pores. Traditional methods of preventing diaper rash in newborns, including maintaining the correct temperature in the room, water and air baths, usually eliminate miliaria.

When to go to the doctor

Most cases of red itchy rash on buttocks in adults can be treated effectively with natural home remedies. However, in some cases you should consult a doctor.

The rash develops suddenly and spreads.
You notice blisters on the affected area on your buttocks.
The rash is accompanied by pain and discomfort.
There are signs of infection, like pus oozing from the rash, warmth around the affected area, or you have a fever.
There is a red streak that comes from the rash, which may be a sign of sepsis.

How to avoid diaper rash?

Many diseases are easier to prevent than to cure, and diaper rash in a newborn is no exception. What to do to protect your baby from this scourge? Nothing complicated!

Avoid situations where your child sweats:
Refuse synthetics in favor of natural fabrics (cotton, linen).
Try not to wrap your baby up.
Minimize the risk of friction:
Avoid rough fabrics.
Follow the rules of hygiene:
Treat skin folds with protective cream or baby oil. Pay special attention to problem areas - under the arms, on the neck, in the groin, between the buttocks.
After bathing, dry your baby's body with a towel, but do not rub him. In addition to regular textile towels, you can also use paper towels.
To avoid diaper rash, use only products from reputable manufacturers.
Change diapers regularly and do not forget about the benefits of air baths lasting about 10-15 minutes.