Is your baby's diaper area sore, and the skin around their bottom irritated and red? It's not uncommon for this to be a diaper rash (dermatitis ammoniacalis), primarily caused by daily diaper wearing and the resulting warm, moist environment.
In our blog post, Dr. med. Michaela Hagemann, a physician and founder of boep, provides helpful tips on how to quickly alleviate a sore baby bottom and prevent uncomfortable diaper rash in the future.
What is Diaper Dermatitis?
Diaper rash, also known as diaper dermatitis, is a common skin inflammation in babies, particularly occurring between 9 and 12 months of age. The sore, reddish rash is usually caused by prolonged contact of the skin with wet diapers. The warm, moist environment inside the diaper creates optimal conditions for the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast, which can lead to irritation and inflammation throughout the diaper area.
How to recognize diaper dermatitis?
The most common symptoms of diaper dermatitis are widespread reddened, irritated skin areas in the diaper region, which can sometimes develop into small red spots, blisters, pustules, or open, weeping sores. The affected areas can be itchy and very painful for the baby. Therefore, the earlier diaper dermatitis is recognized and addressed, the faster the sore baby bottom can heal.
You are welcome to browse our skin care guide for babies – you might find helpful answers there!
Possible causes of diaper rash
There are countless possibilities for a sore baby bottom. In addition to a rash caused by too much moisture and too little air in the diaper area, teething, food intolerances, and contact reactions to certain ingredients in diapers or care products are among the most common causes.
How to prevent a sore baby bottom and diaper dermatitis?
Fortunately, diaper rash usually clears up within a few days with regular diaper changes, thorough cleaning of the diaper area, and consistent skin care. Our tips:
- Regular diaper changes: To prevent diaper rash, you should change your baby's diaper every three to four hours, or even every two hours for newborns, or as soon as it's full. Also, make sure that no damp areas remain after changing.
- The right diapers: While cloth diapers absorb less liquid, they have the big advantage that the skin can breathe much more. Conventional plastic diapers, on the other hand, can absorb more liquid but seal much more tightly, allowing very little air to reach the skin. Changing diaper brands or diaper systems could be your solution in this case.
- Gentle cleaning of the diaper area: The best way to clean the diaper area is with lukewarm water and a cloth or soft washcloth. Alternatively, you can add 1-2 drops of natural almond oil. If your baby has a sore bottom, you should definitely avoid excessive rubbing when changing and only gently pat the bottom dry.
- Lukewarm sitz bath: A lukewarm sitz bath in thin chamomile tea or calendula oil can also help. Both ingredients have particularly pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe the skin and support wound healing.
- Fresh air: As mentioned earlier, diaper rash is primarily caused by the warm, moist climate in the diaper. Therefore, you should let your baby kick without a diaper as often as possible – and when the weather permits – so that air and light can reach their bottom.
- Soothing care: If the skin is acutely irritated, you should apply a mild diaper rash cream after changing. Our diaper rash cream with zinc oxide and calendula gently protects, cools, and soothes the skin.
Sore bottom in baby – when should you see a doctor?
With some tips and regular care, a sore baby bottom can usually be treated well. However, if the symptoms persist for several days or even worsen, we strongly recommend consulting a pediatrician. This can help rule out possible causes such as fungal infections or other underlying conditions early on.
O U R E X P E R T
Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep founder, physician & mother of three
