Diaper Dermatitis In Children And Newborns, How To Treat Diaper Dermatitis?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Diaper dermatitis in children and newborns

Many mothers face a certain standard set of problems associated with their newborn babies. One of them is diaper dermatitis. It is very important to notice the beginning of its development in time, which will help to effectively eliminate the process, preventing the spread and aggravation of the condition of the child's inflamed skin.

Diaper dermatitis is an inflammatory reaction of the infant's skin as a result of mechanical, physical, chemical and microbial influences. Moreover, they all join each other in a clear sequence. More often occurs in girls and children who are bottle-fed. Although, in total, about 60-62% of newborns carry it. It can last from birth throughout the entire breastfeeding period (up to 3 years of age), while the child does not have the ability to control his discharge. Typically, the peak incidence occurs at 6-12 months. The nature of the child's nutrition and the predisposing properties of the skin are very important. In most cases, this is associated with a persistent course and frequent relapses. A direct connection with the presence of dermatitis of other localization and manifestations of diathesis (seborrhea, gneiss, eczema,atopic dermatitis).

Diaper dermatitis occurs due to increased moisture in the area where diapers or diapers are adjacent to the skin, especially if air access to them is limited. Against this background, sensitive baby skin is even more at risk. Any irritating agent, such as stool or urine, is sufficient for an inflammatory response of the skin to occur. If minimal friction of tissues is added to everything, then the disease acquires a detailed clinical picture with vivid manifestations. As the skin grows older and acquires protective mechanisms, the problem goes away by itself.

Content:

• What does diaper dermatitis look like?
• Diaper Dermatitis Causes
• How to treat diaper dermatitis?

What does diaper dermatitis look like?

Typically, diaper dermatitis begins to develop as abrasions and redness of the skin in the groin folds, genitals, buttocks and thighs. Most often, this is called diaper rash. But it is the first stage in the development of the disease, and if appropriate measures are not taken, then the process will begin its further progression with the phased addition of other mechanisms for the development of inflammation, in a vicious circle. All of these components support each other, resulting in dermatitis spreading to healthy areas of the skin. In this case, it appears:

• Red spots of different sizes and shapes, which merge with each other, occupy large areas;
• Small papules (intradermal vesicles) against the background of reddened skin;
• Peeling and crusting;
• Small wounds and erosion;
• Vesicles filled with cloudy contents. It is characteristic of advanced diaper dermatitis due to its infection with staphylococcus or a fungal infection.

Among the varieties of the process, individual subspecies are distinguished when it is local in nature, limited only to certain small zones.

• In the area of the folds of the neck with constant regurgitation, when the stomach contents enter them, causing inflammation under diapers or clothes;
• Perianal dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin around the anus. This is more often associated with the nutritional characteristics of the child and the enzymatic activity of feces;
• Limited lesion of the inguinal folds;
• Isolated genital dermatitis. Associated with the characteristics of the child's urine.

A routine examination is sufficient to make a correct diagnosis. Additional diagnostic procedures are not required. They may be needed only if the process is persistent. In such cases, a smear is made from the affected skin for the composition of the microflora.

Diaper Dermatitis Causes

In fact, diaper dermatitis is the result of defects in care. But he may not always depend only on the correctness of the actions of the mother. Naturally, today there is no longer any need to look at the baby's ass after each urination. The diaper will do it for mom. But some components of this "miracle of technology" can cause irritation in a particular baby, due to the individual skin reaction. In addition, if the care items are rigid, they can cause mechanical damage to the skin or abrasions. If you do not pay attention to this in time, then the infection living on the surface of the skin will do it much faster. Its accession will further aggravate the situation.

Diaper dermatitis, therefore, should be considered a separate heading among the causes of this disease. On the one hand, some children without these drugs show signs of dermatitis. On the other hand, in some babies, even a single use of a diaper significantly reduces its manifestations. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly approach the choice of this tool not according to advertising or the advice of friends, but according to the individual reaction of a particular baby to all innovations.

As for the action of chemical factors, they include the feces and urine of the baby. They are very aggressive towards delicate skin, which is not yet capable of autoregulating the processes of cleansing and protection. If their action continues systematically, this will inevitably lead to the development of diaper dermatitis. At the same time, physical factors are included in the form of steaming and hypothermia of the skin.

All of the above, regardless of the root cause, will lead to the addition of absolutely all components of the development mechanism of diaper dermatitis, which must be taken into account for a really quick and effective elimination of the disease.

How to treat diaper dermatitis?

For the correct and competent elimination of a painful problem, both for the baby and for the mother, it is worth following the following recommendations.

1. Keeping the areas of the skin exposed to this inflammatory process dry and clean. This can be achieved by using diapers with a gel impregnation of the inner moisture-permeable layer. It is necessary to monitor the correspondence of the size of the diaper and the child, the correctness of his dressing. Nothing should interfere with the child's movement, there should be no folds and accumulations of tissue in one place.
2. Timely diaper change. It is equally important, especially if the process has already begun. During this, it is necessary to wipe the skin with a regular gauze napkin moistened with a warm solution of chamomile, string or oak bark. After that, have the child lie nude. Access to fresh air will saturate the skin with oxygen.
3. Skin processing before putting on a diaper. For these purposes, you can use complex powders containing zinc oxide, talc, minerals and trace elements, ordinary zinc ointment, desitin creams, drapolen, bepanten, D-panthenol, sudokrem.
4. If there are signs of a fungal infection, appropriate ointments are prescribed - clotrimazole, miconazole.
5. Bacterial suppuration is an indication for the use of antibacterial ointments. It is best to apply tetracycline ophthalmic ointment, as it does not cause a burning sensation in the child.
6. Dressing your baby correctly. Clothing should be loose enough, but not too large. Do not wrap the baby too much, as this can lead to overheating and increased moisture in the areas of the skin that are subject to constant friction.

The best way to prevent diaper dermatitis, like other diseases, is love and attentiveness to your baby.

The author of the article: Sokolova Praskovya Fedorovna | Pediatrician

Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Volgograd State Medical University. A specialist certificate was immediately received in 2014.