Diaper rash is a common occurrence in young children. They cause restless behavior of the child, crying, and if left untreated, they can have consequences in the form of infections. But why does diaper rash occur?
Diaper rash in a child is called inflammatory processes on the skin, which can occur due to increased friction and prolonged exposure to moisture. Doctors distinguish three degrees of diaper rash: on the first, the skin simply turns slightly red, on the second, its integrity is violated - erosion, microcracks occur, and in the third degree, with pronounced redness, weeping cracks, pustules, ulcers appear. All this hurts the child, he often cries and becomes restless.
Medicine knows many reasons for the development of diaper rash, but the most common are:
- the effect of feces on the skin;
- friction;
- improper use of a disposable diaper;
- allergy;
- overheat;
- improper care during a diaper change;
- the influence of nutrition;
- the onset of infection;
- food intolerance.
Typically, diaper rash appears in the skin folds - inguinal, axillary, cervical, intergluteal and lower abdomen. At the same time, the child feels not only pain, his skin burns and itches. And it is necessary to treat diaper rash, because if this is not done, the areas of the affected skin will increase and an infection will occur.
Effects of bowel movements on the skin
Frequent urination and bowel movements are common in young children, but this does not affect the skin in the best way. The fact is that moisture, when too much of it, destroys the skin's protective barrier, removing its natural lubricant. And when it comes to urine, which contains uric acid and salts, which, when destroyed, form ammonia, the situation worsens even more.
Ammonia and uric acid are highly irritating to the dermis, leading to inflammation. And if urine is mixed with feces, diaper rash will develop even faster.
Stool contains enzymes such as lipase and protease, which are known to be damaging. Those. when mixed with urine, it further destroys the baby's skin.
And if diarrhea begins, diaper rash for the child is almost guaranteed, since liquid feces have an acidic reaction, which, even with a short contact with the skin, destroys it.
Friction
Babies' skin is sensitive, it is easy to break its integrity, and damaged areas become much more susceptible to the harmful effects of urine and feces. Therefore, it is so undesirable for a diaper or clothing to rub the skin.
Most often, friction is caused by synthetics and clothing with seams inside. For a small child, clothes made of natural soft fabrics are better suited, the seams on which are made on the outside.
Improper use of disposable diapers
Quality diapers, by themselves, are a fairly effective measure to combat diaper rash. They quickly absorb urine, preventing it from contacting the skin, and hence the development of irritation.
But a disposable diaper, according to the rules of use, is supposed to be changed every 3 hours and after a bowel movement. This is necessary because, overflowing, the diaper loses its absorbent properties: urine is not absorbed and comes into contact with the baby's skin, which leads to irritation and diaper rash.
Allergy
Diaper rash can also appear as a result of an allergic reaction. Most often, it occurs on chemical compounds that are used in fragrances for disposable diapers or washing powders.
Often, an allergy also develops to cosmetics (powders, lotions, creams, wipes, etc.), especially if they contain the following harmful substances:
- synthetic oils;
- dyes;
- parabens;
- refined products.
These substances are dangerous for an adult, and even more so for an infant. And in order to eliminate the risk of allergies and diaper rash, it is better to use cosmetics only natural on a plant basis.
Overheat
If the child is often in a room that is too hot, or is dressed too warmly, he will sweat more. The amount of moisture on the skin becomes too much, leading to irritation and diaper rash.
Therefore, it is so important to dress the baby for the weather and not to allow him to be often in stuffy rooms.
Improper care when changing diapers
Lack of hygiene when changing a diaper can also cause diaper rash. The fact is that you need to wash your child even if the skin looks dry and clean. And it is better to use a special baby soap for this, which contains:
- herbal ingredients;
- substances with an antibacterial effect;
- anti-inflammatory and healing components;
- moisturizing and nourishing substances for the skin.
If the diaper has to be changed where it is impossible to wash the baby, it is imperative to use wet wipes.
Influence of nutrition
With new food, the chemical composition of the child's feces also changes, which is why diaper rash occurs so often during the feeding period. Feces that have changed under the influence of a particular product are more irritating to baby's skin.
During lactation, this is also possible, but in this case, the child will react to the product eaten by the mother.
Onset of infection
They are not the primary cause of the appearance of diaper rash, but they can be their direct consequence. But the danger here is that a bacterial or fungal infection is very easy to confuse outwardly with diaper rash: the same redness of the skin, itching, burning and other similar symptoms.
The infection can be passed on to the baby if the mother is diagnosed with candidiasis or takes antibiotics during lactation. In such a situation, it is important to remember that the treatment of diaper rash and infection is different, so you must go to the doctor without fail.
Food intolerances
The appearance of diaper rash is also affected by lactase deficiency, in which the child cannot digest breast milk. In this case, the baby does not have enough lactase, his body cannot cope with the carbon of milk, and as a result, the feces become liquid, frequent and acquire an acidic reaction.
All this causes the rapid development of irritation on the skin, and as a result - diaper rash.
As for the treatment of diaper rash, it is carried out both with drugs and changing the approach to feeding the child, his hygiene, if necessary, changing diapers to better ones. But we must remember that medications are permissible only after a doctor's prescription. And only a doctor can establish the exact cause of the appearance of diaper rash.
