How to Spot and Prevent Nappy Rash

Nappy rash is a common skin condition that many little ones suffer from throughout their lives. It’s very uncomfortable and can be characterised by a red/orange rash around the upper parts of the thighs.  

If you’ve spotted nappy rash and are stuck on ways to prevent it, this article is for you. Throughout, we’ll explain how you can correctly diagnose nappy rash, how to cure it and prevent it from coming back. 

What is Nappy Rash?

Nappy rash is a skin condition caused by excess irritation around the upper thighs. Mostly found on babies still wearing nappies, nappy rash can cause a multitude of complications if left untreated. Blistering skin, pimples and high fever are all long-term side effects of the condition.

What Causes Nappy Rash?

There are a variety of causes for nappy rash, including: 

Prolonged Contact with Urine and Faecal Matter 

Baby’s toilet regimes change throughout their lifetimes. Sometimes they’re more frequent, which can lead to accidents during the night. If left for long enough, these accidents can start chemical reactions with your baby’s skin, causing nappy rash. 

Nappies Rubbing Against Skin

Finding a nappy that fits just right is a bit of a challenge. There are loads of brands and sizes to choose from, resulting in a bit of a trial-and-error process. Nappies that fit badly can cause chafing, later resulting in nappy rash.

Improper Cleaning Schedules 

It’s important to maintain a frequent cleaning regime with your baby, as this ensures they are protected against bacteria and infection. A schedule that is too frequent, or not frequent enough, can lead to excessive skin irritation and nappy rash. 

Irritation From Soap, Detergent, Baby Wipes, etc. 

Much like finding the right pair of nappies, it’s important to spend time testing a mixture of hygiene products before settling on a few. This process can, unfortunately, mean some close encounters with nappy rash or at least some unpleasantness, but it’s important to be agile with your hygiene products, especially for your newborn. 

How to Treat Nappy Rash

 

Thankfully, the causes for nappy rash are pretty straightforward. This means that there are loads of cures for the condition. Here’re a few ways to treat and prevent nappy rash:

Allow Skin to Breathe

Without adequate exposure to fresh air, nappy rash will only get worse. Allowing air to circulate around the affected area gives the skin a good opportunity to dry out, preventing it from spreading.

Check and Change Nappies Regularly

Sitting in dirty nappies is not only uncomfortable, but it’s one of the main contributing factors towards nappy rash. As such, you should look to check in on and then change your baby’s nappies when needed. A good place to start would be around the one-two hour mark. So, set some reminders and be ready with nappies on standby. 

Clean With Care

If you’ve spotted nappy rash, the very last thing you’d want to do would be to scrub and attack it. Instead, use a gentle touch to the skin with products that are equally as soothing. At Tropic, we stock numerous items of skincare for babies that fulfil this exact purpose, from nappy creams to baby oil.

 Apply Nappy Cream

 

 

One of the best preventative measures you can put in place for nappy rash is the use of a good quality nappy cream. You’ll want to avoid products that rely too heavily on synthetic chemicals, especially fragrances.

For this, we can’t recommend our Little Emy Nappy Cream enough. It is composed of entirely natural ingredients, tested by both paediatricians and dermatologists, and is suitable for sensitive skin.

Protect Your Baby’s Skin 

To keep your little one’s skin as supple as possible, it helps to use skincare products that are up for the task. 

For excellently soothing skincare for your baby, head to our Mama and Little Tropic collection. There, you’ll find all of our organic, natural baby skincare products that’ll help you keep nappy rash at bay.