Quick Ways to get rid of Diaper Rash (for Children and Adults)
Diaper rash is very common in children ages 5-14 months and is typically caused by excessive moisture against the skin in the diaper area.
Even though diaper rash is considered a normal condition that affects babies, it can also affect toddlers all the way up to senior citizens. There are tons of products to help ease diaper rash, but those treatments can sometimes make it worse. The easiest and quickest solution is already available in most homes and is very cheap!
Diaper rash and Gtube or GJ Tube
Having a feeding tube like a G Tube or GJ tube won’t cause diaper rash, but in some cases, they can cause diarrhea. If you have constant diarrhea or acidic stool, this can lead to irritations in the diaper area which can develop into diaper rash.
In someone that eats by mouth, it is fairly easy to eliminate foods that can cause bowel movement issues, but that isn’t always so easy with a feeding tube. Changing out formulas to fix one issue can cause another issue and so on.
Foods that cause diaper rash
Common foods that can cause diaper rash are usually very acidic. This would include things like pineapple, tomato, mango, and any foods that can aggravate acid reflux (dairy, citrus, chocolate, etc.).
While diaper rash is present you would want to avoid acidic foods. You may also want to look into possible food allergies. Some food intolerances and allergies can cause rashes that mimic diaper rash.
Do cloth diapers prevent diaper rash?
There is some antidotal evidence that cloth diapers may help with diaper rash. Cloth diapers tend to not be as absorbent so parents may be changing them quicker than disposable diapers. Unfortunately, there is no scientific test to back this up.
Depending on how often and how well cloth diapers are laundered can also affect diaper rash. The detergent used for laundering can also make diaper rash worse or even cause the irritation to begin with.
Diaper Rash from Teething
Once again teething is to blame for another symptom. Some parents believe that teething can lead to diaper rash. In most instances teething will not result in diaper rash.
It is possible that while teething a child could develop more saliva and if they also have acid reflux this could irritate existing diaper rash. This extra saliva being swallowed can also cause diarrhea, which could lead to diaper rash. In general, there is no evidence that teething will result in diaper rash.
Acidic Poop diaper rash
One of the many causes of chronic diaper rash is due to high acidity in stool. High acidity in stool is common with acid reflux in children. Unfortunately, until acid reflux is under control it is very difficult to make poop less acidic.
When acidity is placed next to the skin for a short period of time it can cause irritation. The irritation will start as diaper rash and then get much worse. A small irritation of diaper rash can lead to bigger problems. Severe diaper rash can have blisters, boils, red bumps, broken skin, and bleeding. This is very uncomfortable for both children and adults alike.
Diaper Rash in Elderly
Diaper rash in the elderly is fairly common and results from urinary incontinence, use of adult diapers, and lack of daily cleansing. The friction and rubbing of adult diapers are known to cause diaper rash frequently. Also not changing adult diapers very often can also cause urine and stool to sit against skin for long period of time.
Home healthcare may be needed to assist in daily cleaning and good hygiene practices. If a senior is unable to change their soiled underwear frequently by themselves, this will also make the issue worse.
How to get rid of diaper rash fast
There are many different kinds of creams and ointments that are available over the counter and by prescription. These creams and ointments mostly work by creating a barrier between the skin and bodily waste. Some creams offer moisturizers and zinc oxide to help promote healing.
Typically, most creams and ointments will take about 3 days to see improvement and will most likely need to be continually used for long term success.
The #1 way to get rid of diaper rash is to bath the skin area daily with mild soap. This helps to remove excessive bacteria and fungus from growing on the skin.
Does diaper rash cream expire?
In most cases, diaper rash cream will last on an average of 3 years if unopened. If the tube is opened it can last for 1 year if stored correctly with the lid on tight.
In order to store diaper rash cream for best results, keep out of direct sunlight like windows and store in a drawer or closed container. Direct sunlight can cause ingredients to lose their effectiveness.
It is also a good idea to not store diaper rash cream in a place that can get really hot like in a car. This can make some creams and ointments melt as well.
Other Diaper Rash cream uses
Some people use diaper rash creams in other ways besides diaper rash. Some common uses are on irritated skin due to sweat rashes or on dry and scaly skin especially on hands.
You can even use diaper rash cream on elbows and feet to soften the skin! Just like on baby skin, diaper rash cream can be used on inner thighs to prevent chafing in adults. Other uses include treating pimples, stop eczema from itching, ease razor burn, and as a deodorant substitute if you don’t have any.
Severe diaper rash treatments
You will know if you have severe diaper rash symptoms if you notice the skin breaking, blisters or red bumps forming, and bleeding. This is highly painful for the patient, and honestly as a parent it is very difficult to see.
My daughter is allergic to any lotion that is white so this means most diaper rash creams will make her rash worse. For over a year we used a combination of Aquaphor clear ointment and Nystatin powder. For the most part these two items used together was very helpful in keeping diaper rash at bay.
Unfortunately, this did not cure the diaper rash, it just kept it at a manageable level. After lots of trial and error we finally found a cheap easy solution that cleared up diaper rash quick. After trying many home remedies, medicines, and advice from wound care nurses, our best solution to diaper rash is baking soda baths.
Baking Soda for Diaper Rash
We know that daily bathing the area is the quickest and most effective treatment for diaper rash, but did you know that adding baking soda to the bath water will make it even better? Not only does baking soda take the sting out of the skin, it also may help with fungal infections!
Using baking soda in a bath for diaper rash is very simple, easy, and cheap. Simply put 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda at the bottom of the tub as you fill it with water and swirl it around with your hands to dissolve it. We like to give soaks in about 3 to 4 inches of water. The ideal bath would involve soaking for 5 to 10 minutes.
My daughter loves to play with toys in the tub. So, we break out the soap paint, toys, and cups. We let her play and have sensory development for 5 to 10 minutes while also treating her diaper rash.
When her diaper rash was really bad, we did one to two baths per day. After about a week we were able to go to baths every other day. By week 3 we only needed a soak in baking soda about every 2 to 3 days.
Baking soda in a tub helps lower the acidity on the skin by doing this it actually gets rid of the diaper rash. We were never really able to determine if her diaper rash was fungal or bacterial but by doing baking soda soak in the bathtub we were able to clear her diaper rash completely within 3 weeks. Since that time we have not seen any diaper rash creep back up.
We have seen a few instance of redness or irritation in the diaper area but by using a small layer of aquifer that cleared it up overnight. We have not seen any red bumps, blisters, or bleeding since we started doing the baking soda baths.
A single box of no-name baking soda can be purchased for $1.00 or less. This makes baking soda baths so much cheaper than creams or other medications that we had to pay out of pocket for. Some of these creams and treatments can be very expensive.
How to get rid of Diaper Rash in Children and Adults
People that have sensitive skin are more likely to have diaper rash and the treatments that are used can actually make it worse. By not using enough cream or ointment, using ones with fragrances or oils, and if you have an allergy to inactive ingredients in the treatments can all cause diaper rash to get much worse.
Fungal infections and bacterial infections can also develop and spread if diaper rash is not taken care of as soon as possible.
In general, a mild redness in the diaper area may be uncomfortable, but once it develops into a severe diaper rash it will be very painful and especially to the touch.
Since we have been using the baking soda baths, the diaper rash has cleared up and stayed clear. I am shocked that this household item that is so cheap and readily available treated the diaper rash so quickly and effectively!
