Patient's question:
Please ask the expert, my baby is now over twenty days old. Recently, I noticed many small red bumps on his inner thighs, and his anal area is quite red. What could be the reason? Looking forward to your answer.Doctor's answer:
"Diaper rash" is a common skin condition in infants and young children, also known as "diaper dermatitis" or "diaper eczema," often causing headaches and difficulties for young mothers. How can a baby's little bottom become red? Newborns or infants may develop poor digestion and absorption, or suffer from prolonged diarrhea or intestinal inflammation, leading to excrement polluting the diaper. On hot days, sweat and unwashed soap residue can accumulate, and sometimes even a single oversight—when a mother fails to change the baby's diaper or pull-up promptly—can cause friction and irritation to the baby's delicate skin, leading to infection and a red bottom. If an infant develops red spots, small papules, or blisters in the diaper area or around the anus, spreading across the skin, it can be diagnosed as diaper dermatitis. Infants with diaper dermatitis may cry, sleep restlessly, and have poor appetite and digestion due to pain.How can it be treated? First, change the diaper frequently. Mothers should carefully observe whether the diaper is wet and replace it immediately with a clean, soft, and dry one—even with disposable diapers, no exceptions. Don’t hesitate to make the effort, as disposable diapers, despite their ability to absorb urine, cannot evaporate moisture. Over time, the ammonia bacteria produced in feces can still irritate the skin, causing "diaper rash." Additionally, when infants have poor digestion, their feces contain more fatty acids, which can also irritate the skin. Therefore, mothers need to be even more attentive when caring for children with diarrhea or intestinal inflammation.
Second, keep the diaper area's skin dry. When changing the diaper, first rinse the skin with warm water, then apply a specialized soft cream or use Chinese herbal talcum powder (e.g., fennel powder). It’s best not to use talcum powder or loose powder, as powders absorb moisture strongly and can be counterproductive to the skin. If diaper rash has already developed, clean and dry the skin after each bowel or bladder movement, then apply a non-irritating 4% boric acid ointment or zinc oxide ointment. If the condition is severe (e.g., abrasion or leakage), expose the baby’s buttocks to dry, warm air. For very severe inflammation, infrared heat therapy or light exposure can be used to dry the affected skin. However, these methods require specialized care to avoid burning the baby’s buttocks.
How can it be prevented? When putting on a clean diaper, avoid covering the affected area and let it breathe fully. During cleaning, avoid rubbing back and forth. For reusable diapers, rinse them with clean water first, then scald them with hot water, and finally rinse again with clean water. Another key to prevention is improving the infant’s overall health, strengthening their disease resistance and immunity.
Finally, a reminder: for breastfed babies, mothers should be extra cautious to avoid leaving the infant’s buttocks in urine or feces for extended periods, as breast milk is slightly acidic.