ASK THE DOCTOR: with Dr. Gloria Ndagire

Dear Doctor,
I am a first-time mother and my two-month-old baby developed a rash and my friends say it is a diaper rash. What causes it and how can I prevent it?
Dora

Dear Dora,
Diaper rash is commonly caused by irritation of the skin. It causes mild redness and scaling at the points where the diaper touches the baby’s skin.

Sometimes the rash causes blisters and sores. If there is secondary infection, the skin may appear red and swollen.

The irritation usually occurs due to wearing tight diapers or those that are so close to the skin. Irritation can also occur if a baby is left in a wet or dirty diaper for long.

A baby’s skin can also be irritated by soaps used to wash cloth diapers, or by some brands of disposable diapers and wipes.

Plastic pants usually worn over the diapers can cause accumulation of moisture inside the diapers, making it easy for the rash to develop and infection to start.

To prevent the rash, keep your baby’s diaper area clean, cool and dry. Check your baby’s diaper often and change when it is wet. Allow the diaper area to dry properly before putting on another diaper.

Avoid scented baby wipes or those which contain alcohol. Use products that contain zinc oxide or petroleum to keep your baby’s skin dry. Pat your baby’s skin dry using a dry towel after a bath instead of rubbing it. Rubbing may cause or worsen the irritation.

If the rash persists, change the brand of the diapers, soap or wipes you are using.