Home Remedies To Treat Diaper Rash Effectively
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It is very common for a baby to suffer from diaper rashes. A baby’s skin is 10 times softer than an adult’s, and when this is subjected to rough diapers, rashes are no surprise. It is characterized by inflammation and redness in the diaper areas that include buttocks, upper thighs and the genital areas. Although it is common, if it isn’t treated properly, there may be high risks of bacterial infection which can further worsen the situation. There are a number of ways, both direct from the kitchen and organic creams which can cure these rashes and give your baby a peaceful time.
Causes of diaper rashes
Before knowing the remedies, it is necessary to know for both the parents, the causes that lead to rashes. This will help them to best prevent it further.
The causes are as follows:
- Closed environment:
Diapers are usually fitting which allows very little air to pass through that area. Because of this, the baby’s skin in the diaper area starts becoming warmer and moisture starts accumulating. This accumulation makes it an easy target for irritants and it becomes one of the most vulnerable areas.
- Friction:
Moist skin is more vulnerable to friction than dry skin. Friction can loosen the protective layer of the skin. Therefore, the diaper area is prone to this problem. The movement caused between the creases and folds of the skin and the diaper gives motion to irritating particles to penetrate inside. Moreover, regular cleaning can also be a cause of irritation.
- Long contact of the skin with baby discharges:
If you forgot changing your baby’s diaper, then you should be extra cautious regarding it. The feces contain organisms that can cause skin infection. The urine further irritates the area. Urine releases substances as it breaks down, that causes the organisms in the feces to become more active. This may result in the destruction of the protective skin layer and lead to rash.
Home remedies to treat diaper rash:
If your baby is suffering from rashes, give your baby relief from diapers as long as possible so that the bottoms can breathe and help the skin eliminate its moisture.
There are a few home remedies and organic creams that can help your baby get peace from any irritation.
- Petroleum jelly:
A thin layer of petroleum jelly, every time while changing diapers, can work wonders. Child specialists also recommend the same sometimes. You can follow these steps:
- After removing the used diaper, wash your baby’s bottoms with warm water and a clean cloth.
- After making sure it has dried up, apply a layer of petroleum jelly.
- If you repeat this every time while changing diapers, you will see results in no time.
- Coconut oil:
Coconut oil can be used to treat rashes as it contains anti-fungal properties. It can be applied several times a day. It adds a soothing effect to the skin and also acts as a moisturizer for the soft skin of the baby. Adding several spoons of oil to the bathing water can prevent the entry of the rash causing bacteria in the skin.
- Breast Milk:
Breast milk is known for its properties that helps babies fight infection and helps sooth them. This property is essential when we talk about treating rashes.
Few drops of breast milk can be rubbed on the rashes gently, as and when required and allowed to dry in the open air. The most important reason why this can be used as an effective method is because there is no risk of allergic reactions that could probably worsen the situation.
- Vinegar:
To balance out the salinity of the rashes, vinegar is a very useful and effective remedy.
- While using reusable diapers, it can be washed in a mixture of vinegar and water to prevent any fungus from remaining in the diaper.
- Even while changing the diapers, be it reusable or not, a mild vinegar solution can be used to wipe the bottoms of the baby.
Apart from these, there are herbal creams that can be used for treating rashes.
These creams are laboratory tested. It has been proved that since they are organic in nature, they do not cause any harm to the soft skin of the baby. Moreover, there are no side effects that can possibly concern the parent. If used in the right quantity, they can prove to be the easiest solution to your baby’s problem.
These little things can help you prevent as well as treat the nightmare that babies go through by simple methods. It makes the life of both the parent as well as that of the baby peaceful and easy.