The key to nappy dermatitis care is prevention and, if symptoms of dermatitis do occur, minimising the inflammatory response, repairing the damaged skin and reducing recurrence. Care strategies include the following, referred to as the ABCDE strategy:
A (Air): Expose the skin to as much air as possible to reduce frictional irritation from faeces, emollients and nappies.
B (Barrier): You can choose buttock creams containing zinc oxide and petroleum jelly to form a lipid film on the skin surface to reduce friction, prevent excessive hydration, isolate urine, faeces and other irritants and microorganisms, prevent the occurrence of nappy dermatitis or reduce the symptoms of dermatitis and repair the skin barrier function.
C (Cleansing): Topical cleansing is very important, especially after a bowel movement. After washing, the skin should be dried before wearing a new nappy. If washing is not possible, wet wipes can also be used to wipe away any faecal residue. Wipes should preferably not contain alcohol, fragrances or other irritants to avoid local irritation.
D (Diapering): Change the nappy promptly, either every 1 to 3 hours or at any time after a bowel movement, and at least once at night, to minimise the chance of skin irritation.
E (Education): Parents or caregivers of newborns should have a thorough understanding of the causes, pathogenesis and key points of care for nappy dermatitis so that they can provide good care and reduce the incidence of nappy dermatitis.