Baby dermatitis, popularly known as diaper rash, happens when the baby’s skin is in contact with irritating substances for a long time, such as urine, saliva or even some types of creams, resulting in inflammation that makes the skin red, scaling, itchy and sore.
Although dermatitis is not a serious condition and can be cured when properly treated, it should be avoided, as skin irritation can cause the appearance of sores that can become infected, especially in places such as the buttocks, for example.
Thus, it is important to keep the baby’s skin always clean and dry, following some simple guidelines such as changing diapers when they are dirty, wiping excess drool from the face or avoiding the use of creams that are not suitable for the baby’s skin, for example. See other important precautions to avoid the emergence of diaper dermatitis.
Main symptoms
The characteristic signs and symptoms of dermatitis are:
- Red patches on the skin that flake off;
- Small red bumps or blisters on the itchy skin;
- More frequent crying and irritation.
Usually, skin changes appear in areas with skin folds or areas that are in frequent contact with clothing, such as the neck, intimate area or wrists.
When dermatitis is suspected, it is important to consult a pediatrician, especially when the cause is not known, as it may be necessary to take an allergy test to see if the dermatitis is being caused by a specific substance that needs to be avoided.
How is the treatment done
In most cases, contact dermatitis goes away naturally after about 2 to 4 weeks. However, to speed recovery, alleviate the baby’s discomfort, and prevent the development of sores, it is important to keep the area clean and dry at all times, as moisture can make the irritation worse. In addition, applying a moisturizing cream suitable for babies or applying a zinc ointment to the affected area after bathing helps protect the skin, facilitating healing.
Medicines and ointments
Pediatricians may also prescribe the use of an ointment for dermatitis, such as Hydrocortisone 1% or Dexamethasone, which should be applied in a thin layer to the affected skin for about 7 days.
When the dermatitis is getting worse or very intense, the pediatrician may need to recommend the use of corticosteroid syrups, such as Prednisone, which help to quickly eliminate dermatitis, but which have a higher risk of side effects such as agitation or difficulty in taking the sleep, and should only be used in cases of more intense dermatitis.
What to do to prevent dermatitis
The best way to ensure that contact dermatitis does not develop is to keep your baby’s skin very clean and dry, and to avoid possible sources of skin irritation. Some precautions are:
- Wipe off excess drool and change wet clothes;
- Change diapers soiled with urine or feces;
- Cut out clothing labels;
- Give preference to cotton clothes and avoid synthetic materials;
- Exchange metal or plastic accessories for rubber;
- Apply creams with zinc in the intimate region, to avoid dampness;
- Avoid using creams and other products that are not suitable for your baby’s skin.
If it is already known that the baby is allergic to some type of substance, it is important to keep him away from this substance and, therefore, it may be important to read the clothing and toy label to ensure that this type of material is not in its composition. .
These cares can also be performed even if the baby has dermatitis, as they facilitate the healing of the skin, speeding up recovery.
