The drug representative from Desitin was visiting the office this week and I learned some "fun" facts. The company Johnson and Johnson has noticed that since the recession sales of diapers have decreased but the sales of diaper cream have increased. Also on the parent discussion board parents report that they sometimes will wait to change a diaper to see if their spouse will do it!
So, what does decreased diaper changing mean? Diaper rash!! Most diaper rashes are caused by urine and stool being held against the child's skin. When the diaper isn't changed right away the child is more likely to develop a diaper rash. Unfortunately diaper rash can happen even with the most diligent parents because it doesn't take long to develop.
So, what is a parent to do? I would recommend putting large amounts of a thick diaper ointment on your child's bottom. Creams that have a high concentration of zinc oxide or petroleum jelly are the best. You want to put enough of it on so that it is still there the next time you change their diaper. The diaper cream helps protect the skin from the next time you child stools or voids.
Sometimes a diaper rash is caused by yeast. The diaper area is a nice warm wet place that yeast likes to grow in. It can happen in either boys or girls. It looks like red patches or bumps that are not painful. Often times they are in the fold of skin where the leg meets the body. If you suspect yeast you can use over the counter clotrimazole on the rash three times a day. (you find it in the store with the athlete's foot medicines)
As always if these things aren't helping then it is time to make an appointment for us to look at the rash.
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