Do's and Don'ts of Dealing with Diaper Rash

(ARA) - More than one new mom has felt frustrated or helpless over diaper rash. One of the most common ailments of infancy is also among the least understood; 64 percent of moms said that diaper rash was only a minor problem, and the majority are unaware that a yeast infection can cause a more serious diaper rash, according to a recent nationwide survey of new and expectant moms.

"It can be easy to chuckle over diaper talk, but if you're a parent faced with fighting your baby's relentless diaper rash, you know it's not a laughing matter," says Dr. Jennifer Shu, a pediatrician from Atlanta, Ga., and co-author of "Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality.""Many mothers struggle heroically to keep their babies rash-free, but misconceptions about the causes and treatments of diaper rash may hinder their efforts."

And even in our health-aware society, misconceptions about diaper rash persist. The "Baby Bottom Line Report," conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates on behalf of Barrier Therapeutics, Inc., makers of dermatology products, found that fewer than one in five respondents could identify any of the defined differences between a normal diaper rash and a more serious or severe diaper rash such as one with yeast infection.

Dr. Shu offers new and expectant mothers a few tips on dealing with diaper rash:

DO realize that it's not your fault.

Many causes lead to diaper rash, both mild and severe, from simple chafing, to prolonged exposure of the skin to urine or stool, to infection by a common type of yeast called Candida. Rare indeed is the baby who will make it out of diapers without ever experiencing some diaper rash, no matter how vigilant the parents are.

DON'T wait to deal with a bad diaper rash - it may be more.

Typically, diaper rash will clear up in three days or less with simple, over-the-counter treatments. But if the rash lasts more than 72 hours, you should take your baby to your health care provider because it's possible the rash is accompanied by a yeast infection.

"Many of the cases of persistent diaper rash that I treat involve a yeast infection," Dr. Shu says. "However, parents don't always know that yeast is a common cause of these rashes, which can get worse without proper treatment."

DO learn the difference.

Typical diaper rash develops as mild redness with well-defined edges between affected and healthy skin. A diaper rash complicated by Candida will usually have a "beefy" red appearance, smaller rashes outside the edges of the affected area, bumps with or without pus, and will last longer than three days.

DO consult your health care provider at the first sign of a bad diaper rash.

Standard over-the-counter diaper rash treatments may not cure a rash with a yeast infection; an antifungal treatment may be necessary. Your health care provider is best qualified to diagnose your baby's severe diaper rash and tell you whether a yeast infection is present.

Until recently, parents had to use a combination of creams and ointments to treat a diaper rash with yeast infection, including antifungal products, steroids to relieve symptoms, and a barrier ointment. However, the Federal Food and Drug Administration has approved Vusion Ointment (0.25 percent miconazole nitrate, 15 percent zinc oxide, 81.35 percent white petrolatum) for the treatment of diaper rash with yeast infections. Specifically formulated for the treatment of diaper rash with Candida, Vusion is the only treatment FDA-approved for this purpose.

In addition to the proper treatment, it's important to keep the baby's diaper area as clean and dry as possible, Dr. Shu says. Change diapers frequently, clean the baby's diaper area with warm water and mild soap or a gentle baby wipe when needed, and keep the diaper area open to the air whenever possible. "Medication can't cure diaper rash if the baby's diaper area is not kept clean and dry," she says.

To learn more about diaper rash with Candida and how to treat it, visit www.vusionointment.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent