Remedies to Get Rid of Bad Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is a very common condition that causes the skin on babies' bottoms to become sore and red. Sometimes the infection causes the skin to be fiery red, blister and sometimes bleed. Diaper rash can be very painful and make an infant extremely fussy. Companies have marketed diaper rash creams to help fight and prevent diaper rash, but sometimes they just do not work well enough. There are quite a few home remedies to help rid of the nasty diaper rash safely and effectively.

Baking Soda
Take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and mix it with luke warm water. Bathe your baby in the water with the baking soda for 10 minutes. The baking soda neutralizes the acids that causes diaper rash.

Hair Dryer
Using a hair dryer on COOL will allow your baby's bottom to dry and rid of excessive moisture that may cause diaper rash. Aiming a blow dryer set on cool at your baby's bottom for 5 to 10 minutes after a bath will help tremendously.

Alcohol-Free Wipes
Most store bought baby wipes contain alcohol. This can irritate the skin more and be very painful to use if your baby has open sores. Purchase alcohol-free wipes or use a warm wash cloth to clean baby's bottom.

Rinsing
Sometimes you will have to rinse off urine and poop instead of wiping it away. Even with alcohol-free wipes or wet wash cloths, your baby's diaper rash will continue to worsen. Rinsing off bodily fluids with water is a painless way of cleansing your baby's bottom. You can use a sink hose, bathtub, shower, or even a bulb syringe filled with water.

Cloth Inserts
Parents that use disposable diapers may battle diaper rash for much longer than cloth diapered baby's because of the tightness and moisture exposed to the skin. Buy a pack of cloth diapers or wash cloths to use as inserts into the disposable diaper. Cut the pieces of cloth into squares big enough to fit inside the disposable diaper, and throw them away along with the diaper. This allows the moisture from the diaper to be blocked from touching your baby's bottom.

Brand Change
Trying different brands of diapers may be one of the best ways to rid of a nasty diaper rash. Buy a small pack of "chemical-free" diapers to see if it helps. Sometimes a brand of diapers fits too snuggly and touches a baby's skin too closely or may be too absorbent and hold in more moisture.

Naked
Sometimes just leaving your baby diaper-free for 15 minutes 4 times a day will help clear up diaper rash. Leave them in a towel in case they do use the restroom. Being naked will allow the air to dry up the moisture and heal skin irritation.

Products like Dr. Smith's, Aquaphor, and Desitin may also be used in combination with these treatment methods. If diaper rash continues or worsens for more than 3 days then make sure to contact your baby's doctor. Sometimes the rash may be due to a yeast infection called Candida. Your doctor may prescribe your anti-fungal creams and suggest other treatment methods.

Remember to change your baby's diaper frequently and be patient if your baby is fussy during changing.