In the first year of a child's life, parents often face a problem such as dermatitis. Baby's delicate thin skin is susceptible to many external factors. The situation is aggravated by untimely hygienic procedures and can turn into extensive inflammation, the elimination of which is possible only after a medical examination.
What is diaper dermatitis
Diaper dermatitis or diaper dermatitis is a skin disorder associated with the use of diapers. With insufficiently frequent changes, as well as with constant contact with the material of this "underwear", the skin receives little oxygen. Irritation, rash and slight redness appear in the groin area. In advanced stages, pustules, small wet wounds are formed.
Pampers dermatitis affects areas of the body where your baby's skin folds. In most cases, it is observed in the area of the buttocks and groin. In addition, irritation can occur in the armpits, neck, behind the ears, and in the anus.
Symptoms and signs of dermatitis
The symptoms of diaper dermatitis can be divided into 3 degrees, which depend on the area of the skin lesion. The lightest is manifested by slight redness and flaking.
With an average severity of dermatitis, in addition to a rash on the skin, you can notice erosion and papules, an infiltrate forms in the folds. In this case, parents should be vigilant, because without proper treatment, there is a risk of secondary infections binding.
In the case of a severe degree of the disease, you can notice wet wounds, vesicles, deep erosion and suppuration, which occupy large areas of the body. This type of dermatitis is more common in girls (due to anatomical features).
Puffiness and swelling is another sign that a child is developing acute dermatitis. They may be accompanied by a discharge of blood or lymph through the infant's skin. The child cries from uncomfortable sensations - itching, burning, pain in the groin area. The natural reaction of the body is whims, lack of appetite and poor sleep.
The main signs of diaper dermatitis are:
- redness, itching;
- peeling and blistering;
- abscesses;
- swelling;
- anxiety of the baby when changing a diaper or emptying;
- general irritability in the behavior of the child.
Diaper dermatitis is often confused with hemangioma. It is possible to exclude the disease only after passing laboratory tests.
Causes and provoking factors
Frequent inflammation of the baby's skin is associated with many reasons. First of all, this is a rather low moisture content in the epidermis layer, slow thermoregulation and insufficient oxygen supply.
Baby's delicate and thin skin can be affected by dermatitis for the following reasons:
- External factors. These include the temperature of the room in which the baby is. If you stay in a stuffy and hot room for a long time, being in a diaper, your skin starts to sore.
- Mechanical factor. Constant rubbing of the diaper on the skin can provoke redness.
- Chemical factor. Allergies in babies can occur unexpectedly and under any conditions. Baby's skin can react to both hygiene products and its own secretions. Often, after emptying, irritation appears, including it may be associated with the alkaline composition of the baby's stool.
- Microbes. The child's body is not protected from the ingress of all kinds of microbes, which can be provocateurs of irritation of the baby's skin. It can be streptococci, fungi, staphylococci, leading to the development of candidal dermatitis.
Skin pathology may be associated with the individual characteristics of the baby:
- Atopic predisposition.
- An increased amount of ammonia in the urine.
- Weak immune system.
- Aggressive fecal enzymes, diarrhea.
- Too frequent washing of the genital area with thorough wiping.
Damage can be caused by wearing a diaper on damp skin. The role and quality of the diaper itself plays a role. A material that is poorly permeable to air contributes to diaper rash of the skin.
Improper nutrition largely affects the condition of the feces. This also applies to the child's consumption of a large amount of protein components in complementary foods.
Diaper dermatitis treatment
Proper treatment should include the following points:
- Proper skin care for your baby.
- The use of drugs.
- Using folk remedies.
Before starting treatment, it is important to eliminate the irritant factor by limiting prolonged contact of the baby's skin with moisture and the diaper. In this case, it is recommended to wash the baby as often as possible. This also applies to diaper changes. The towel used to dry the baby's skin should be made from natural materials and should not irritate the skin. The products used to wash the baby should also be hypoallergenic. It is advisable that they are intended specifically for young children.
Among the medicines, "Zinc paste" is well known. It is especially effective for mild dermatitis.
Means based on citrimide and benzalkonium are also effective. They are often applied to dry, clean skin, washed off after a day.
"Nystatin ointment" is suitable for all stages of irritation. It is applied 2 times a day in a thin layer.
"Methylene blue" or bluing is applied with a cotton swab to the inflamed and weeping areas.
Bepanten. It is considered a remedy that heals and normalizes the functionality of skin cells. It is applied before changing the diaper.
Sudocrem can be used after each diaper change. Suitable for daily care.
D-Panthenol is available in the form of an ointment and cream. The ointment is used to soften the baby's skin. For the treatment of dermatitis that has passed into the infectious stage, a cream is more suitable. It does not contain a fat base and does not interfere with the air exchange process.
Among folk remedies, decoctions of chamomile and string are popular. For severe flaking, oats are best. The broth is made from 2 tablespoons. ingredient, poured with boiling water, infused for about half an hour and added to the bath for bathing.
Potatoes and celery are another source of ointment. The composition is applied to the skin, lasts about 10 minutes and washed off with a cotton swab. It will not be superfluous to use St. John's wort. Combined with olive oil, it has a calming effect. Such a broth languishes in a water bath for about an hour, then it is applied to a tissue, which is used to wipe the inflamed skin of the baby.
Prevention of skin pathology
Prevention of the appearance of dermatitis consists, first of all, in minimizing skin contact with diapers, especially with low-quality ones. Whenever possible, you should allow your baby to be without a diaper for as long as possible, thereby allowing the skin to "breathe".
It is also important:
- Maintain body temperature.
- Use creams that prevent skin irritation.
- Thoroughly cleanse the skin folds from the remnants of creams.
- Limit the use of cosmetics with strong scent.
Cleanliness and dryness can be considered the main preventive measures against diaper dermatitis. It is important to pay attention to how the diaper is put on (whether the baby is cramped in it, or vice versa - whether free areas are rubbed). It's good if diapers have a special gel layer that absorbs urine and leaves the surface dry.
After bathing, baby's skin should be dried and softened with a protective cream. Baby powder helps to keep it dry.
Despite the fact that diaper dermatitis is not a dangerous disease, effective treatment is impossible without seeking medical attention. At first glance, harmless skin rashes can develop into complicated forms of lesions, which can gradually become chronic.
