Toddler Butt Rashes, what to do?

(March 17, 2010)

According to researches carried out, an average toddler probably spends 25,000 hours in diapers, in their first year alone, with about 6,000 diaper changes taking place. Is it any wonder then that they suffer from butt rashes and diaper rashes?

Toddler Butt Rash Causes

These toddler rashes could be the ‘damp’ type, which means that they are reddish and look like raised, wet blisters. The ‘dry’ rash is also reddish but has a flaky appearance. They occur not only on the buttocks, but may also be seen in around the toddler’s genitals and in the inner portion of the thighs.

Butt rashes usually occur when a toddler wears diapers all the time. The skin is unable to breathe, it remains moist, providing ideal conditions for bacteria or fungus to breed. Sometimes they appear due to yeast infection. If not treated immediately, they could even cause fever, and the skin in that area may form yellow patches. In some cases, a poor diet with zinc deficiency could also be the cause. Seborrheic dermatitis is another cause, but in that case, the butt rashes will be accompanied by yellow scales in other areas such as on the scalp and armpits or behind the ears. Another more serious cause could be eczema. In very rare cases, congenital syphilis could be the culprit. Some parents believe that orange juice or any other citrus juice triggers off an outbreak of butt rashes.

How to treat butt rashes in toddlers

Most babies suffer at least once in their lives from butt rash, but some may get repeated attacks.

If your baby suffers repeatedly from butt rash, try and change the brand of diaper, and see if it makes any difference. You could also try cloth diapers. It would be a good idea to leave baby without diapers for some part of the day. This is especially so when baby is having a particularly bad attack of butt rash. Leaving the area open will help the skin to breathe and dry up the infection. Change diapers frequently, and in between changes, wash with warm water and mild soap. In case you prefer to use wipes, use unscented ones, so that there is no allergic reaction. Let the area dry completely before you put on a fresh diaper.

Ask your doctor to prescribe a soothing ointment or barrier cream which can be applied to the area. Keep a diet chart of your baby to see if any particular food is triggering the outbreak of rashes.

Submitted by N on March 17, 2010 at 05:20