Duration of diaper dermatitis
Diaper dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin on the baby’s bottom. One speaks of diaper sores when bacteria or fungi settle on the inflamed area. Diaper dermatitis is caused by the moisture and heat on the bottom.
If the diaper is not changed often enough, the skin becomes irritated and the bottom becomes sore. Depending on the initial findings, napkin dermatitis lasts only a few days if treated properly. It is important to change the diaper regularly and to keep the bottom dry.
Zinc-containing creams can be applied to the affected areas to help. In case of severe inflammation or relapses despite correct therapy, a doctor should be consulted. This can prescribe special creams or ointments. Accordingly, healing can be prolonged by a few days. With the right therapy the inflammation should heal quickly.
Is napkin dermatitis also present in adults?
Not only babies and small children can be affected by diaper dermatitis. Also adults who suffer from incontinence, i.e. bladder and rectal weakness and who are dependent on pads, can fall ill with it. Mostly the inflammation occurs after a bacterial diarrhoea.
Causes for the development of diaper dermatitis can be nutrition, hygiene, climate and social factors. However, adults are not affected as frequently as babies, as the skin of an adult is less permeable and the barrier function is more mature. If the skin on the buttocks is reddened and irritated, it does not always have to be diaper dermatitis.
It can also be a fungal infection, psoriasis or bacterial inflammation. Accordingly, it is important to consult a doctor if the course is protracted despite therapy or relapses. The doctor can clarify the cause of the inflammation and initiate a correct therapy.
Therapy
The treatment consists mainly of changing the diapers frequently, i.e. about six times a day, while drying the children. These measures prevent the wet environment in the diaper and reduce friction and heat build-up. The use of air-permeable diapers also helps to prevent diaper dermatitis.
When changing the diaper, it is important not to irritate the area of the diaper dermatitis by rubbing or soaping. Therefore the affected area is best dabbed with clear water. Furthermore, the application of zinc ointments, such as Penaten® cream, and zinc oils leads to a quick healing process due to their drying and skin-protecting properties.
Furthermore, short baths in weakly acidic soap solutions with additives to fight the infection (antiseptic) have proven successful. In any case, no oily ointments should be used! If a pathogen colonization has occurred, there are also local ointments that kill the corresponding fungi (antimycotic) or bacteria (antibacterial).
Only in severe cases the treatment is extended to the whole body. For example, a fungal infection with Candida albicans may require treatment of the gastrointestinal tract in order to eliminate the pathogen directly. Or a severe bacterial infection, for example with Staphylococcus aureus, can result in a therapy with antibiotics, which work systemically as an infusion or tablet in the whole body.
In such pronounced forms, hydrocortisone ointments are sometimes used for a short time to fight the inflammation.Although the skin of adults has a better developed barrier function than that of small children, it is still possible for adults to develop diaper dermatitis if they are dependent on wearing diapers due to urinary and/or fecal incontinence. In adults, however, there are other possible differential diagnoses, and diaper dermatitis is not always suspected. The therapy for adults is similar to that for infants.
Wetness-absorbing substances such as zinc oxide are used. As well as ointments such as Multilind, which have strong fungicidal properties. Hydrocortisone may be used more frequently in adults than in small children, since adults are not as susceptible to side effects as small children due to their increased body weight.
Antimycotic substances or antibacterial drugs such as antibiotics are also used to treat fungal or bacterial infections. Above all, creams and ointments that have a wetness repellent effect are used in diaper dermatitis. These creams and ointments usually consist of zinc oxide, which has wetness-absorbing properties as well as slight disinfecting effects.
Ointments on the basis of zinc oxide are suitable for the therapy of existing diaper dermatitis as well as for its prophylaxis. Pastes with zinc oxide are sometimes additionally produced with cod liver oil or kerosene oil, which makes them easier to apply and more gentle on the child’s irritated skin. Tannolact fat cream can also be used.
Care creams with fragrances and preservatives, as well as cleansing wipes, should again be avoided as they irritate the skin and can lead to intolerances. If an accompanying fungal or bacterial infection occurs, it can be treated with antimycotic (against fungi) and antibacterial agents, in the form of bath additives or ointments. Products with natural remedies are also used for napkin dermatitis.
Especially chamomile is used here. Camomile is used for its disinfecting and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition to chamomile, natural herbs such as club moss, speedwell, thyme, marigold, oak and sage are also used.
They usually support the healing process, have a fungicidal and desiccative effect. Highly greasy ointments should be avoided in case of a fungal infection. The cream Multilind® can be used for severe forms of diaper dermatitis.
It contains the active ingredient Nystatin, an antimycotic which has a fungicidal effect. It acts very quickly and reliably against the mostly causative yeast fungi such as Candida albicans and is also well tolerated. A positive feature of the cream Multilind is that the active ingredient is not absorbed by the body and therefore only works where it is applied.
In addition to Nystatin, Multilind ointment also contains zinc oxide so that the ointment also has an anti-wetting and anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, zinc oxide reduces itching. In napkin dermatitis, the irritation of the skin leads to infections more easily due to the reduced barrier function of the skin.
In this case, treatment should be carried out under medical supervision. If it is a fungal or bacterial infection, all clothing that has come into contact with the infected skin should be changed frequently and washed hot to kill the pathogens. Fungicidal drugs or antibiotics against bacteria are then prescribed for treatment.
Wound protection pastes containing the active ingredients dexpanthenol (has a regenerating and anti-inflammatory effect), zinc or cod liver oil are used against fungal or bacterial infections. Active ingredients such as Nystatin and Clotrimazol are also preferred, as they are also helpful against mild inflammations, fungi and bacteria. As a rule, healing occurs after a few days.
The treatment should be continued for a few days after the healing process, as otherwise napkin dermatitis can quickly reoccur. If it is a very therapy-resistant bacterial infection that does not respond to ointments or the like, treatment should take place via the bloodstream in the form of tablets or infusions. If a fungal infection occurs in the context of diaper dermatitis (usually with Candida albicans = diaper sores), it is advisable to treat the gastrointestinal tract at the same time, as these fungal infections can easily spread and often also affect the oral mucosa.In severe cases an anti-inflammatory weakly effective hydrocortisone is prescribed by the doctor.
However, this should be used very carefully, as it can lead to atrophy of the skin. The skin becomes thinner and more vulnerable. There are various homeopathic remedies for the treatment and prevention of diaper dermatitis.
However, a doctor or midwife should be consulted beforehand to determine whether homeopathic remedies are suitable for treating the skin in order to avoid a serious course of the disease. From a homeopathic point of view, diaper dermatitis is an internal weakness or weakness of the immune system and can occur after treatment with antibiotics. Chamomilla is suitable for the treatment of napkin dermatitis.
This is also used to treat teething problems and diarrhoea, among other things. Borax, Croton tiglium and Silicea are also suitable. The globules can be administered three times a day for about a week.
If the redness does not improve or the rash spreads, a doctor should be consulted. Various home remedies can be used to prevent and treat diaper dermatitis. Olive oil or almond oil are suitable for cleansing irritated skin.
Oil care cloths or oils with additives and fragrances should be avoided, as the baby’s skin can react to them additionally. It can also help to gently dab mother’s milk onto the affected skin areas. After cleaning the skin, occasional chamomile baths can also help to heal.
Care should be taken to ensure the correct water temperature. In general, you should keep your bottom dry and change the diaper regularly. It is recommended to leave the baby without a diaper more often, so that air can get to the skin on the bottom.
A well known home remedy for the treatment of diaper dermatitis is black tea. You should let the tea steep for about half an hour. Then soak some compresses or towels with the tea.
After cleaning the skin, the buttocks are carefully dabbed with the compresses or cloths and left to air dry. This procedure should be repeated regularly after changing the diaper until the skin has healed. Sitting baths can also be used to treat diaper dermatitis.
Camomile is suitable for this. To do this, pour hot water over camomile flowers from the pharmacy and let them draw. Let the water cool down until it is comfortable for the baby and put it in for about 5-10 minutes.
Camomile has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. In general, babies and toddlers should not be bathed more than three times a week to avoid irritating the natural skin barrier. Babies’ acid mantle is not yet fully developed and the skin is therefore more sensitive and more susceptible to external irritations.
