Lubricating a layer of cream every time you change your baby to prevent diaper rash is pointless. What does help: keep your baby's buttocks as dry as possible.
diaper creams
Diaper cream manufacturers like to make you believe that you should rub your baby's buttocks with their product as often as possible. But such an ointment is not necessary every day to prevent diaper rash. For example, a survey in 2016 showed that only 1 in 10 parents always used a cream. And two thirds every now and then.
How does diaper rash develop?
If your baby has red and inflamed buttocks, it is usually due to skin contact with urine and / or feces. Buttocks remain maximally moist when a diaper closes tightly and air cannot reach the skin. Consequence: irritation.
Diaper rash can also be caused by a care product. For example, lotions, biodegradable baby wipes and diapers can contain a perfume or other substance to which your baby's skin reacts badly.
Daily lubrication is not necessary
As long as your baby's buttocks are not red, you do not need to use a cream. It is more effective to keep the buttocks as dry as possible.
Tips for Preventing Diaper Rash
Change the diaper as soon as it feels heavy and immediately after your baby has pooped.
Use as few products as possible when changing. You do not have to clean the buttocks with a damp baby wipe every time, and therefore do not cover it with a layer of diaper cream. Preferably only use lukewarm water when changing. Then gently pat the buttocks dry. Rubbing vigorously with a towel can cause skin irritation. Only use (pH-neutral) soap if you cannot clean the buttocks otherwise. Moist baby wipes are of course useful when you are on the road with your baby and there is no water available.
Do not put the diaper on too tightly so that some air can get to the buttocks. If the skin is moist and warm for a longer period of time, it becomes soft and therefore more susceptible to bacteria. Irritants can then cause problems more easily.
Let your child lie in his bare buttocks every now and then.
Diaper cream helps with a rash
Does your child still suffer from diaper rash? Then smearing a cream makes sense. Irritated skin loses more moisture than normal, and the drier the skin, the more vulnerable it is to harmful environmental influences.
With a diaper cream you apply a protective layer between the skin and the contents of the diaper. In this way you form a buffer that limits the moisture loss from the skin, giving the skin the opportunity to renew itself. Once the skin has recovered, you can stop lubricating again.
Of the parents in our study who use diaper cream, nearly 60% choose Sudocrem. Bepanthen is also popular (37%). Weleda, Zwitsal, zinc ointment and Naif are used much less often.
Cosmetics do not heal
Many diaper creams fall into the category of 'cosmetics': they are intended to clean, protect and / or perfume the skin, but not to heal it. Such a diaper cream therefore has no effect on the irritation and the redness itself, although the packaging and accompanying advertisements usually suggest otherwise. Buy eco friendly nappies australia
Diaper rash usually clears up after a day or 2 when the cause of the rash has gone and the skin has been allowed to recover. Does the redness persist? Then go to the doctor. There may be a fungal infection that requires specific treatment.
Read labels
Research by our Danish colleagues in June 2021 shows that various creams contain known allergens. Usually perfume is a collective name with the ingredients. Not all perfumes are allergens. They can also be preservatives, for example. Nevertheless, it is wise not to use perfume-based care products for babies and small children.
Children can develop contact allergy to perfume. When that happens, they have the perfume allergy for the rest of their lives. The risk of allergy increases if the child is more exposed to perfume.
The use of phenoxyethanol is also under discussion. This preservative should not be used in products intended for the skin around the diaper area, according to the French health authorities. If the skin in the diaper area is irritated, it absorbs the fabric better. According to the European Scientific Committee (SCCS), the substance can be used safely.
Our advice: avoid the substance in baby ointments and wet wipes intended for changing diapers.
Medicines: no panacea
There are also diaper creams for sale that are registered as a medicine. This also includes certain zinc preparations. Some are only available by prescription. These agents contain (combinations of) zinc oxide and miconazole or ichthammol, among others.
Although these remedies have been specially developed to treat irritated skin, the healing effect and the anti-irritation effect have not been proven in all cases. However, an anti-fungal substance such as miconazole can be effective in (suspected) a Candida infection.
A doctor must first determine a fungal infection. In case of severe itching, the doctor can prescribe a topical corticosteroid, such as hydrocortisone.
Kommentare