Symptoms
As a rule, the diaper rash is more or less sharply limited to the diaper area, with the bottom and genital area of the child most affected. In more pronounced cases, the rash may also spread to adjacent areas of the body (lower back/belly, groin, thighs). Symptoms accompanying the rash may include itching, weeping and painful skin areas.
If the affected skin becomes infected with fungi or bacteria in the course of the rash, it can also lead to a stronger inflammatory reaction with fever. In particularly severe cases, larger blisters can also form, which can burst open and leave open, painful skin areas or even lead to deeper tissue damage (erosions, ulcerations, bleeding areas). The development of bark lichen (Impetigo contagiosa) is feared, which occurs when a certain bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) settles in open skin areas.
This skin disease is highly contagious and should be treated with antibiotic ointments or an antibiotic. A simple diaper rash, which is caused by a permanent irritation of the skin in the diaper area, usually does not cause a fever. Fever usually only occurs when the rash has become “superinfected”, i.e. when bacteria or fungi settle on the skin damaged by the irritation and cause an infection.
At this point, the fever is an expression of the body’s own immune system fighting against the pathogens that cause the illness. Depending on the extent of the infection, the rise in temperature and the increase in the infection parameters in the blood can also vary. The formation of blisters is nothing unusual in a diaper rash, as these are caused by the irritation.
However, the color of the blisters is important. If they are red, they probably belong to the already existing inflammation. However, if they are small and white, this may indicate the existence of a fungal infection, which is treated with antimycotic ointments.
Is a diaper rash contagious?
In principle, simple diaper dermatitis is not contagious, as it is only an inflammation of the skin that does not directly correlate with a pathogen. However, if a secondary infection by fungi (Candida albicans) or, more rarely, bacteria (staphylococci) occurs, it is possible that other children may be infected. However, this is only the case if the clothes or towels of both children are shared and the skin of the second child is already irritated.
A transmission to the parents is not possible with normal skin flora. What can play a role is the new infection of the same child. If the towels and pads used are not adequately cleaned, the child may be reinfected after a successful therapy of the last infection.
However, this new infection can easily be prevented by washing the towels and underlays at an appropriately hot temperature. In the case of a diaper rash, both non-drug and drug therapy can help. In the case of a simple non-infectious diaper rash, non-drug therapy should be attempted first.
This includes changing the diapers frequently (approx. every 2 hours), gentle intimate hygiene (without soaps and creams) and kicking without a diaper in the air from time to time (making sure that the children do not cool down). Medicinal therapies are usually only used if the rash is very severe or infected with fungi or bacteria.
Various ointments are then used, which contain agents against the respective fungi (antimycotics) or bacteria (antibiotics) as well as anti-inflammatory, cortisone containing ointments or antiseptics (e.g. chlorhexidine). In the case of more severe infections, it may sometimes be necessary to use antibiotics or antifungals in tablet form. In addition to these conventional medical therapies, various home remedies or homeopathic agents or applications can also be included in the therapy.
One possibility for the therapy of diaper rash is the application of an ointment containing zinc (ingredient: zinc oxide). The zinc ointment is applied directly to the affected areas once or twice a day and supports the healing of the itching, painful and possibly weeping skin in the diaper area.Multilind® Healing Ointment is a zinc ointment which is particularly suitable for treatment due to its composition. The applied zinc ointment forms a kind of protective film on the skin, which protects the skin under the diaper from the accumulation of heat.
At the same time, however, it also relieves itching, has an anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect, and removes moisture from areas of skin that are already weeping so that they can heal more easily. It should be ensured that the (zinc) ointments used do not contain any preservatives or fragrances, as these may in turn cause skin irritation. Strongly sealing, greasy ointments should be avoided – as well as powders – as they may even aggravate the diaper rash.
In addition to ointments containing zinc to support the skin barrier, cortisone ointments and ointments with antibiotic or antifungal additives can also be used, depending on the extent of the skin inflammation or if the skin areas are infected with fungi or bacteria (these are usually prescribed by the treating physician). The easiest way to treat mild diaper dermatitis is to thoroughly clean the skin in the appropriate area and to dry it carefully. The use of soaps should be avoided here, as they can be painful for the child.
It is also important to avoid rubbing the skin with a towel and to dab, as rubbing the skin can be painful for the child. If the dabbing is also painful, you can also blow-dry the area. In addition, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory agents, which have a calming effect on the skin and sometimes even have antibacterial effects, are among the most common household remedies for diaper rashes.
Natural products such as chamomile, oak bark, vinegar water, rose water, healing earth, natural yoghurt, black tea, propolis tincture or marigold can be applied to the skin rash in the diaper area in the form of creams, baths or envelopes/diaper wraps. It is also important to change diapers frequently, not only after each bowel movement, but approximately every 2 hours. When cleaning the diaper area, care should be taken not to use perfumed creams, oils or wet wipes.
However, the well-tried powdering of the diaper area should be avoided (possible respiratory problems of the child may be associated with this). In addition, powders often clump together and irritate the skin again. Much better is the application of zinc-containing ointments or creams made from natural products, which put a kind of protective film over the stressed skin.
However, the most effective remedy is fresh air. So let your child kick or run around the house without a diaper as often as possible so that no moisture can accumulate in the genital area. The (accompanying) homeopathic therapy options include oak bark baths, baths with additives of chamomile, yarrow or wheat bran.
The effect is based on the reduction of pain and inflammatory reactions. The administration of fennel or nettle tea, washing with vinegar water and application of healing earth or natural yoghurt to the affected areas can also be tried. Calendula ointment or propolis tincture, when applied to skin affected by diaper rash, has a disinfecting and healing effect.
