Patient's question:
My child was just born for 1 month (he is a boy), his buttocks are always red, what should I do?Doctor's answer:
Baby red buttocks are also known as diaper rash in medical terms. The occurrence of diaper rash is associated with premature infants and low birth weight. There are many factors that can lead to diaper rash, with the main one being prolonged moisture and heat on the buttock skin, which can worsen the severity of diaper rash. The irritating substances in feces and urine can cause the baby's buttocks to become red. Frequent contact of the buttock skin with cleaning solutions is also a contributing factor.The main symptoms of diaper rash are redness in the diaper-covered area, sometimes with scaling or small blisters. In more severe cases, there may be pustules, broken skin, and ulcers. Fungi and bacteria can complicate diaper rash or make it worse. Diaper rash is not a serious skin condition because newborns' skin grows rapidly. With proper care, it usually improves within 2-3 days. Otherwise, it can affect the baby's quality of life.
Here are some tips for caring for diaper rash:
1. Avoid wrapping the baby in a diaper as much as possible. This is the best way to prevent diaper rash. It's best to let the baby's bottom air out for several hours each day to prevent the skin from coming into contact with urine.
2. Change the diaper frequently. This is also a preventive measure for diaper rash. Newborns urinate about every 15 to 20 minutes, though their urine output is only a tablespoon. Still, we recommend changing a clean diaper every 2 to 3 hours, especially after the baby has a bowel movement.
3. For severe skin breakdown, you can use a household desk lamp with infrared functionality to gently warm the baby's buttocks. Be sure to maintain a safe distance and keep the temperature moderate. Do this 1 to 2 times a day for 15 minutes each time.
4. For non-infected diaper dermatitis, you can apply diaper rash cream, ointment, or other baby skincare products. If there is an infection, use antifungal creams like Daktarin or clotrimazole.
5. When washing diapers, avoid using strong irritants like soap or laundry detergent. For urine-soaked diapers, boil them and then rinse with clean water. For feces-soaked diapers, use mild, non-alkaline items like mild soap, then expose them to sunlight to dry.