My Son Has Diaper Rash

Updated on March 12, 2008
L.J. asks from O Neals, CA
45 answers

My son gets diaper rash quite often and i have tried everything out there, from creams to powders and he still gets them bad. Is there anything else that will help???

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So What Happened?

i have tried alot of your opinons allready, and i have found that the fresh air is the best things ever. And that Huggies Supremes seem to work quite nice.....Thanks for everything everyone

Sincerly L. J.

Featured Answers

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V.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

L.,

Have you tried changing brand of the diapers, because he might be allergic to a certain diapers. Try it and see if it works. The reason why I say that is because my cousins daughter could only wear certain diapers cause she would break out in a rash. Good luck.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

calmoseptine ointment works so well! My daughter was in the hospital with a rash so bad from all the medecine she was on. They gave me the ointment it was seriouslly gone by the next morning. On normal baby rashes that my son has had, its been clear by the next changing. It works so great. Hard to find, but worth it.

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L.C.

answers from San Diego on

My pediatrition recommended using Lotrimin AF... It's an antifungal. You only need a little bit, but it's worked miracles!

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T.J.

answers from Spokane on

I used corstarch on my daughter. I found when I used desitin it made her raw and she hurt. I would let her take a warm bath and put cornstarch on her bum.

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S.Y.

answers from Bakersfield on

Go to Walgreens and get a powder called "Caldesine"...not sure if the spelling is right but it comes in a pink bottle and as far as I know Walgreens is the only place that carries it. I used it on my 2 youngest when they would get their rashes and it was amazing.

I hope it works for yours. We even had a friend a friend...a grown man who had issues with rashes and he used it. It worked for him too.

Good Luck & I would love to know if it works for you too!

~ S.

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K.B.

answers from Las Vegas on

corn starch in the diaper works wonders. I used it for a whole year on my daughters. just make sure that when you bath them you get the old stuff off! are you giving him juice? Orange juice,or any juice with high citrus content will burn them! I even put corn starch in my 10 year olds panties after she has diahrea, when her crack hurts and is burned from poopn so much!
try it. but write a diary of what he eats and drinks, sometimes an alergic reaction to certain syrups results in burns/ diaper rashes! good luck!

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K.P.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi -

I went through the same thing with my daughter. Went to 3 different doctors, tried every powder and cream available. Then one day, a new doctor suggested I use bigger diapers. Immeadately, the rash was gone and never came back. Try it!!

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S.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

hi lacyey, have you tried corne starch. it woks GREAT.also try triple past. it works GREAT. S.

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A.K.

answers from Eugene on

If you can get ahold of sweet cheeks baby balm. That stuff will knock it right out. The ladies that make it do it at home and in small quantities. Let me know if you can't find it. I can get a card for you.
A.

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C.C.

answers from Eugene on

Have you tried just taking the diapers off and letting him air out? It may get messy but it's better then him being in pain. It may be the type of diaper too, I know my son would get rashes easier with the natural diapers....I used to use Burts Bees Diaper Cream, I swear by that stuff. Good luck to you, rashes are never fun.

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K.M.

answers from Seattle on

Have you taken him to the Dr.? My friend has 2 boys, they were in Australia this Summer and she thought that they had diaper/heat rash. It turned out that it was a yeast infection.(yes, boys can get it also) Good luck. Not sure what else it can be. I don't remember my girls ever having rashes.
Hope all goes wee,
K.

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S.V.

answers from Medford on

I went through the same thing. My son's bottom was literally raw with constant rashes. I too tried every otc and rx creams and nothing worked. I finally determined that he was allergic to the diapers. Each brand of diapers contains different ingredients. I tried EVERY brand and found that pampers swaddlers and cruisers (but not the regular pampers) were the only ones that did not affect him.

However to clear up the rash you need to give him a break. So in between trying each brand of diaper this is what I found to be the only cure...

I didn't want to deal with the mess of cloth diapers so I bought a bunch of the baby washclothes and cut them in half so they were a long rectangle. Then I would line his diapers with the cloth and still put tons of buttpaste on him. Then I would change his diaper very frequently and just throw away the washcloth with the dirty diaper. Yes it is a waste of the washclothes but they are cheap and a lot easier than cloth diapers.

Good luck!!

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C.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi my name is C. and I have a great way for you to clear up your sons diaper rash. Get the vitaime E capsules, pierce the capsule with a pin, take the oil and rub it on his rash. I did this for my daughter kitty when she was a baby and it worked better and faster then any cream I could have spent money on. My mother-in-law told me about it and I have used it for rashes, burns, you name it.

You can get it at most stores, I found it at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Longs Drugs, Target and thats just a few.

I hope it works for you.

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T.M.

answers from Louisville on

One way to tell if it's a yeast infection (which can be treated with topical Monistat or other topical yeast ointment) is to see if it's in the creases, as opposed to the part of the skin that would be exposed to the wet diaper.

If it's in the creases, it's yeast and no amount of desitin, burts bees diaper ointment or butt paste is going to do the trick.

When in doubt, check with your pediatrician. Also, if it is diaper rash and not yeast, get some towels out and put them on the floor, or better yet go outside and let him crawl around without a diaper for 20 minutes a couple of times a day. Then use whatever cream you choose (or corn starch) when you put the diaper back on. The fresh air does wonders to heal existing rash and prevent it from worsening.

Good luck!

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C.Z.

answers from Seattle on

When my kids were in diapers every now and then they would get terrible diaper rashes. The rash can get infected and turn into some sort of fungal bacteria, which is why it keeps reoccuring. Acidophilis works well for this and there is a high content of it in yogurt. So when my kids rashes got really bad I would just spread plain yogurt on their bottoms and it would do the trick. I know it sounds silly but it really did work. Good luck!

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R.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

check with the dr ....i was a pediatric nurse for some time and its posible it could be yeast and thats why its not clearing completely you may need a specific crean for fungal rashes

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M.T.

answers from Seattle on

My daughter was like this and ended up being allergic to eggs. If it's not a allergy have you tried the butt paste diaper rash cream? It really helped my daughter. Also keep your son out of water so quick baths and lots of diaper changes should help. I would keep a diary of what he eats (is this your 5 or 18 mo old?) or a diary of what your eating if breastfeeding and take it to your doctor. A simple blood test will give you answers for the allergy testing. I hope this helps. Good luck

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C.N.

answers from Bakersfield on

I'm new to this site so I don't know what has been suggested. I raised three sons and have seen my share of diaper rashes. One of my sons had a really, really bad rash. Our pediatrician, suggested using egg whites to coat his bottom. I did this for about a week and the rash disappeared! When the egg white dries, it creates a shield against the moisture.

also, have you checked your child's diet to see if he/she is getting too much acid (juice, etc.)?

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S.W.

answers from Sacramento on

Yeast? Not sure if anyone mentioned it--have baby checked by doctor for yeast infection...yes baby boys get them too--requires an Rx to remedy.

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M.C.

answers from San Diego on

Try Budreau's butt paste, at Target or drug stores....it's the BOMB!

M.

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K.M.

answers from Portland on

Hi L.!

I know you've already received a wealth of feedback, but here's some more! I used to alternate between cloth and disposables, trying to figure out how to get rid of my son's persistent and clearly painful diaper rash. I then bought a gDiapers starter kit from New Seasons (confession, I bought em cause they were cute!) and within 2 days the rash was GONE! I completely converted. Common diaper rash is caused by 2 things, moisture and heat. With cloth the moisture sits directly against their skin, leading to rash and not giving it opportunity to heal. Disposables are even worse. They have a plastic layer (yup, even the brown "eco" disposables have plastic) and the plastic traps heat, creating a virtual sauna against their bottoms. It's a breeding ground for bacteria and an environment that rash thrives in. The only time my kiddo's rash has come back is during particularly bad bouts of teething, and even then it's minor and goes away with one application of diaper cream. And to be completely honest, I was so sold on the gDiapers cure that I sought out the company and begged for a job, and believe it or not, got one! I'm not touting the product here (there's nothing in it for me) I just thought I'd share my experience since it helped my son and other babies across the country :0)

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H.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

http://wisemommy.fourpointwellness.com

I have never had a diaper rash last longer then 12 hours!!!!!

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A.V.

answers from Spokane on

my daughter also had this and it turned out she was alergic to the diapers I was using. The doctor had me line her diapers with a peice of polar fleece until the rash was gone completly and then I had to try new brands, for me the Target and Costco brands are the only ones she can wear... I havnt had any problems since I switched but I keep the fleece around just in case =)

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E.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Your son may have an excess of yeast. You can tell if when you put on the zinc diaper rash cream it really doesn't get any better and sometimes gets worse! You may want to ask your pediatrician about it. There is medicine to reduce the production of the yeast. It is very common by the way so you don't have to worry. Also, fresh air and loose diapers help in reducing it. I hope this helps.

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A.K.

answers from Las Vegas on

I know I'm a little late on this response, but the best thing is vasoline!! Works better than anything. Put it on with every change, and you won't have rashes anymore!!

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J.D.

answers from Spokane on

Some rashes are a sign of an allergic reaction, so I would suggest you speak to your doctor. Then I would refrain from using creams and powders as they can induce the reaction. Pretroleum Jelly is the best thingto try, it keeps the moisture off of the body at the same time it heals....

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A.G.

answers from Honolulu on

Hi there Lacy,

I'm a military wife here in Hawaii and I'm also an Independent Consultant with a 26 year old Swiss company called Arbonne International. Arbonne is a product-driven company in the growing industries of health, personal care and weight management and all their products are herbal and botanically-based. They also perform extensive testing on all their formulas which assures the products are pure, safe and beneficial. I highly recommend our wonderful baby Diaper Rash Cream!

Our Diaper Rash Cream is a light, water-repelling cream that gently relieves baby of sore, dry, chapped skin that can occur with frequent diaper use. It can also help prevent this condition before it occurs.

The Diaper Rash Cream is also great for all kinds of challenges – from insect bites to small rashes – this product will help relieve the uncomfortable feeling associated with irritated skin. People of all ages will benefit from its properties.

The cost for this cream is: $12.50
Less Consultant Discount -$4.38 (you can get a 35% discount)
Subtotal $8.12

The Arbonne Baby Care line is tested and signed off by a pediatrician and a dermatologist. It is also pH-balanced and the Hair & Body Wash is tear-free. It is designed for babies, children, and adults with very sensitive skin.

Our Arbonne Baby Care products do not contain any synthetic fragrances. Natural oils made of orange, lemon, and cedarwood make up this non-irritating unique scent. These wonderful ingredients will leave your baby’s skin feeling soft while the aroma will help to calm and relax.

Arbonne Baby Care Set includes:
Arbonne Baby Care Sunscreen SPF 30+
Arbonne Baby Hair and Body Wash
Arbonne Baby Care Body Lotion
Arbonne Baby Care Body Oil
Arbonne Baby Care Herbal Diaper Rash Cream

plus a FREE Rejuvenating Cream for Mom … a $35 (Canada $41.50) value. (The rejuvenating cream helps lighten stretch marks and visibly firm the skin around the stomach area after having a baby!)

Price: $73.50
Less Consultant Discount -$25.73 (you can get a 35% discount)
Subtotal $47.77

I hope this helps and let me know if there's anything else I can do for you. Have a great day!

A.

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P.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hy L.,

I am new to Mamasource. My name is P. Breakstone from Valley Village, CA and I would like to send you a free sample of a baby line that really works and is gentle and healthy. I have a seven year old boy, he is still using the body wash, lotion and sunscreen of this line today.
Without it he gets excema.
If you like you can email me at ____@____.com with your address and I'll send it to you right away.

I promise I won't be a bother, just want to help!
P.

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T.L.

answers from Fresno on

My daughter doesnt get diaper rashes often, the few times she has however were terrible. It turned out that she was allergic to pears and thats the only reaction she showed. I let her soak in her tub, as well as air out, but since she was mobile it was harder then just laying her on a blanket, lol. What did seem to help however was i would put on a thick layer of vaseline and then some powder. It seemed to seal the diaper rash so that when she would go to the bathroom it wouldnt burn. It also helped it heal faster, I think.

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R.L.

answers from Eugene on

Our 3 1/2 month old was really sensitive to pampers and we'd planned to use cloth, but he was smaller than we'd expected when he was born, so we had to find disposibles to use for a while and even now when we're out. So we found Seventh Generation diapers at Fred Meyer (Kroeger) in the Nutrition section - they're unbleached and don't have loads of chemicals and perfume like others. They are also available by the case at Amazon.com for a pretty decent price. We also use California Baby diaper area wash and cream (if he starts to get a little reddness) and those have worked great for us. We do use hemp cloth diapers 80% of the time with fleece liners and that is really our favorite, even my Hubby, who is a stay at home dad, prefers them to the disposables. Oh, California Baby stuff is available at Babycenter.com or Californiababy.com. Hope this helps, the other responses about teething or yeast are also possible contributers. Good luck! :)

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N.S.

answers from Eugene on

If you haven't checked with your ped yet you might want to. Could be a yeast infection. If it is yeast infection get whatever your ped suggests to clear it up and also ask for a prescription for Aquaphor in Colestipol. It is a topical medication they mix up at the apothecary. It's spendy but worth every penny. Once you get it cleared up pick up some Eucerin Aquaphor in the baby needs section of any local drug store. Apply it at every diaper change. It will protect your sons skin from future rash. We've had this very same issue with our ten month old son and this is how we've handled it. He hasn't had diaper rash since we started applying the Aquaphor at every diaper change :-) Goodluck!

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S.S.

answers from Portland on

Have you checked for yeast with his pediatrician?

Here is a link to some natural products if it's allergy related
http://hyenacart.com/indigomoon/

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K.

answers from Portland on

Hi L.
I too had the same problem with my 3 month old son's senstive skin. I do notice some diapers are better then others but our magic cure all was bag balm. We had to ask the pharmasist for it at Target, they keep it behind the counter.
I hope this helps.

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J.E.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi L. J.
My son gets rashes whenever he has to take antibiotics. I have found that the only thing that works for him is EMU oil. If you dont know what that is, it us a bird that looks like an ostrich, but you can go online and look for it. It also works wonders on cuts and burns too!

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C.K.

answers from Stockton on

Maybe it's the diaper. My son never got diaper rash until i changed brands then he got it all over. As soon as i figured it out and swiched back, it went away and never showed up again. :) It's worth a try.

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C.G.

answers from Seattle on

Hi L....I came across this problem with my 4 month old about 1 month ago...and I didn't know what to do. I searched and searched on the internet for some help and tips. Many people told me that when I change her diaper to air it out with a blow dryer (I know...sounds kinda funny), far enough away from her skin so it didn't burn of course, and turns out within 2 days it was TOTALLY gone, and she hasn't had it since! Plus, she REALLY loved the warm air on her skin! Hope this helps!

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N.F.

answers from Eugene on

My son used to get them so bad that his doctor would perscribe me yeast infection cream for them. I thought he was getting way to much medicine that way, so I bought BAG BALM! Works wonderful. Since I have used it he don't get rash as much and if it appears I use it every diaper change through the day & it is gone at night. Try it...
~N.

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K.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

My daughter only ever gets diaper rash when she's in disposables. We use cloth diapers most of the rest of the time (which are so much cheaper over time anyway), and her skin can breathe so she's clear and free.

We also wash all of her stuff in environmentally-friendly soap...be wary of laundry detergents that claim to be "baby safe" because many of them are normal detergents with different scent, all of which is h*** o* baby skin. Go for eco-friendly, non-toxic, citrus-based stuff and your baby's skin will thank you.

Finally, in the rare instance when we did use a disposable and she got a bit of rash, we'd follow it up with some nekkidbum time. We'd put towels down on the floor and let her walk around naked. The air on her skin did more than any cream ever did.

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E.T.

answers from Redding on

My daughter has very sensitive skin and when she would get diapar rash it was horrible, she was misserable and so was I and I felt like there was nothing I could do until my daughters dad's boss told me to use cornstarch (just like you would use baby powder) and it cleared up by the next day. I also found if you fry up a little flour and then let it cool off and put that on the same way it has the same effect as the cornstarch!

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S.J.

answers from Spokane on

i know that you said that you have tried every cream and powder but baby powder works best for me also the doctor has given my son niacin cream that has to be percribed but it works wonders hope this helps

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A.T.

answers from Sacramento on

I agree with the changing diaper brand. My daughter has VERY sensitive skin, and her dad had tried I think it was luvs and she broke out in a front to back diaper rash in 1 hour!!!!! So I agree with maybe switching brand. Also DO NOT USE BABY POWDER!!!!! A big no no!! That can cause a UTI! Sorry someone else mentioned using it. I use desitin with my daughter and sometimes it doesn't work. But shes a girl so if her rash is near her girl parts I use Monistat and sometimes it helps. Sometimes if you can too, maybe not give him anything to drink for a while then take his diaper off and let him run naked for a little bit I know thats kinda risky don't want him pee peeing on anything but I was told by my pediatrician "A little airing out is good too". One other thing to try also is baking soda baths. Fill the bathtub up as full as you usually do and add about 1 teaspoon of baking soda and let him soak, it helps get rid of some of the irritation. Oh also.... one thing I think we're all forgetting... TEETHING!!!! Teething will always cause a diaper rash. Poor little guys. Teething is a pain in the rear literally. It can cause so many things from diaper rash to diarrhea.

As you can see I've heard a lot of different things to try. My daughter has had a lot of rashes. She has whats called Keritosis on her arms, legs, & face. But for the longest time we didn't know what it was. And she had diaper rashes as well. So we tried different remedies for rashes!

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S.V.

answers from Stockton on

My daughter was constantly getting diaper rash and even after she was potty trained she was still getting it. I took her to the dr and he said it was excema. told me to get jergens, aveno or the new olay lotion in the purple bottle (sensitive skin) lotions and apply three times a day and especially after bathing. He also said to use aveno or oatmeal soap as well. this is working out great, give it a try. It doesnt hurt to at least try.

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L.B.

answers from Anchorage on

Hi L., you did not mention if it was your 18m or 5m old regardless. i have came across the same thing with our oldest. it turned out when we changed her diaper brand it quit completly. we were using pampers and we switched to huggies. so i could not figure out why there was a difference.so we checked them out and on the pampers boy you can smell the perfume smell. but with huggies there was nothing it seems like it is the products they use. so try a diaper change.another thing i did was i would lay my daughter on a folded towel or blanket and take her diaper off and just let her air out. so hope some of this helps. good luck

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S.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Seventh Generation's diapers and much more breathable and that really helps my boy. You can get them cheapest at diapers.com. Also, when they start to show redness or have a diaper rash, Earth's Best by Jason Diaper Relief Ointment is amazing! It made my son's severe rash 50% better in just a few hours. You can get that cheapest at luckyvitamin.com.

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T.H.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I have 3 kids and another on the way. The only way that I've gotten rid of diaper rash and kept it away was Bag Balm. They sell it at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, and well everywhere! Wal-mart it's found in the pet department. I know, when I first heard to use Bag Balm from my mom I was like this is for farm animals not my baby!!!! Well 3 kids later, they've never had a diaper rash problem and it's not white and sticky like the other ointments. I LOVE IT!!!!!!

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