DIAPER RASH

If your baby gets a diaper rash, the most effective treatment is to keep the diaper area clean and dry, so try to leave her bottom exposed to air as much as possible. Clean the diaper area with warm water and use a mild soap after a bowel movement if necessary, and always rinse well as any residual soap will further irritate the skin. Diaper wipes usually don't cause a rash, but they can irritate broken skin. Apply a soothing diaper cream to your baby's bottom to create a barrier between the skin and future stools.

If your baby's diaper rash persists and develops into a yeast infection, no amount of diaper rash ointment will make it go away. A yeast infection usually looks like a large reddened patch with several small red areas around it. Use an antifungal medication (the same medication used to treat athlete's foot) to kill the yeast. Your baby's pediatrician may also prescribe a steroid cream in certain cases. A yeast diaper rash will usually heal in about seven days with an antifungal medication.