It is the most common skin problem in infants and toddlers. 7%-35% of all babies have experienced red bottom. 1 year old babies are of course the most likely to develop it, and older toddlers may also develop diaper rash as long as they are still wearing diapers. Why do babies have red bottoms? Diaper rash is a dermatitis that occurs in the diaper wrapped area and has a variety of causes, some of which are directly related to the diaper wrap, for example: 1. Irritant diaper dermatitis It is the most common type of diaper rash and friction between skin and diaper, ammonia and digestive enzymes in urine and feces are the main causes of skin irritation in the diaper area. Often skin erythema appears throughout the diaper wrapped area such as the buttocks, lower abdomen, upper thighs and genital area, the skin folds are usually unaffected. 2, Candida diaper dermatitis If irritant diaper dermatitis is not properly treated, a Candida infection may develop secondary to it after a few days. In Candida infections, satellite-like red papules or pustules can be seen around large erythematous patches, and skin folds can be affected. 3. Allergic diaper dermatitis This is an allergic contact dermatitis to the diaper itself, which is uncommon and usually consists of erythema at the site of close contact between the diaper and the skin and a pronounced itching sensation. If contact diaper allergy is suspected, the dermatitis will soon improve and heal after a diaper change. The fragrances and preservatives in some baby wipes may also cause allergies. Babies are also more likely to develop diaper rash in some cases, such as when they have diarrhea or have abnormal stools for a long time, dietary factors (breastfed babies are less likely to develop diaper rash than formula-fed babies), and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for other illnesses. There are other skin conditions that can occur in the diaper area that have no direct cause with diaper wraps, such as seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, bacterial skin infections (impetigo), scabies, and zinc deficiency, to name a few. These skin conditions can have a similar rash on other areas of the skin in addition to the rash in the diaper area. If you suspect any of these problems, you need to see a doctor in the hospital. How do I deal with it at home? Although most babies experience diaper rash, fortunately, most diaper rashes can be treated at home to get better. 1. The first step is to keep the diaper area clean and dry. Change diapers promptly, at least every 2-3 hours, and if you find a wet or soiled diaper you should always change it. Of course this also means getting up at night to change diapers. If there is hard caked stool on the skin of the buttocks, it can be softened and removed with a cotton ball soaked in mineral oil. After cleaning and drying the skin of the buttocks, apply a protective cream or ointment topically. Zinc oxide ointment and petroleum jelly ointment work well to protect the skin from moisture and irritation. Do not try to wipe off this protective layer completely at the next diaper change, as this may damage the skin even more. If you must remove it, try a cotton ball dipped in mineral oil. 2. Increase air circulation. To help diaper rash heal, increase the amount of time the skin on the buttocks is exposed as much as possible, avoid using airtight plastic pants or non-breathable diapers, don’t wrap the diaper too tightly and use a larger than usual diaper until the rash disappears. 3.Apply protective ointment. Various buttock creams or ointments are conveniently available from pharmacies, the main active ingredient of which is zinc oxide. They can be used on the diaper rash area several times a day and only a thin layer is needed. After using the buttock cream, you can also apply a thick layer of Vaseline ointment, which will increase the lubrication of the skin and reduce skin friction. Carefully check the ingredient label of the buttock cream or ointment for diaper rash and avoid products containing baking soda, boric acid, camphor, phenol, benzocaine, benadryl or salicylates. 4. You can bathe daily. Wash with warm water and use a mild, soap-free and unscented soap bar. After the above initial treatment, most babies will get better. If the rash does not improve after 2-3 consecutive days, the rash becomes more serious and blisters or pustules appear, and the baby shows symptoms of fever, it is necessary to visit the hospital in time. Diaper rash, prevention first The best way to prevent diaper rash is to keep the diaper area clean and dry. Here are some simple ways to help reduce the occurrence of diaper rash in babies 1. Change the diaper when you find it wet or dirty, and if your baby is being watched by someone else, ask them to do the same. 2. Wash your baby’s bottom with warm water at each diaper change. You can wash it in the bath tub or rinse it with a water bottle or water bottle. If the skin is crusty and broken, you can rinse it with a plastic squeeze bottle. Wet washcloths, wet cotton balls and baby wipes can also help clean the skin, but wipe gently and do not use wipes that contain alcohol or are scented. If you want to use soap, choose a mild, unscented, soap-free soap bar or soap substitute. 3. Gently pat the skin dry with a clean towel or expose it to the air to dry naturally. Do not dry your baby’s buttocks with force, hard friction will further stimulate your baby’s thin and tender skin. 4.Do not wrap the diaper too tightly. Wrapping too tight will prevent air from entering the diaper area, which will cause the skin on the buttocks to be too moist and more likely to grow diaper rash. Also too tight diapers can lead to bruises on the waist or thighs. 5. Reduce the amount of time your baby’s bottom is wrapped in diapers. Exposing the buttocks to air is the most natural and gentle way to keep the skin dry. To avoid sudden “accidents”, you can put your baby on a large enough towel and leave your little bottom bare during playtime. 6.Use buttock ointment regularly. Vaseline jelly and zinc oxide are classic ingredients in many buttocks ointments, which have a good isolation and protection effect. 7. Wash your hands after changing diapers. Washing your hands can prevent bacteria or candida from spreading to other parts of your baby’s body, or spreading to other children in your home. 8.About puffing powder: In the past, people often used powder such as corn starch or talcum powder to protect baby’s skin and absorb moisture from the skin surface, but nowadays the view no longer recommends the use of powder because the fine particles of powder can easily be inhaled with breathing and irritate baby’s lungs. Diapers and diapers, how to choose? Many parents struggle with the choice of diapers after their baby develops red bottom. From the perspective of preventing diaper rash, there is no evidence that cloth diapers are necessarily better than disposable diapers, and certainly disposable diapers are not necessarily better than cloth diapers. When a particular brand of diapers is used and it is found to irritate your baby’s skin, you should of course change the brand. If you use cloth diapers, the soap used to clean the diapers will remain on the diapers and may also irritate your baby’s skin, so of course you need to change the soap as well. In short, whether you are using cloth diapers, disposable diapers or both, the most important thing is to change the diapers in time and make sure your baby’s bottom is clean and dry. If you are using cloth diapers, it is especially important to wash them carefully. Each family has its own method and process for washing diapers, but the key is to wash them well, disinfect them and remove any soap residue. The following methods and processes can be used for your reference: 1. Soak heavily contaminated diapers in cold water first. 2.Wash the diapers in hot water with a mild detergent and bleach, the bleaching process can sterilize. Vinegar can also be added during the washing process to eliminate odors and reduce soap residue. 3, then rinse the diapers in cold water to remove as little residual soap and chemical detergent as possible. 4, can not use fabric softeners and dryer sheets (dryer sheets), because they contain fragrances that may irritate the baby’s skin.