Condition

Diaper Dermatitis (Diaper Rash) in Children

What You Need to Know About Diaper Dermatitis (Diaper Rash)

Diaper dermatitis (diaper rash) is inflammation of the skin under a diaper. It's most often because of irritation from urine and feces. It's important to keep the diaper area clean and dry, change diapers often and avoid irritants such as soap or scented wipes.

Symptoms

Symptoms of diaper dermatitis vary depending on the cause, and may include:

Skin that looks red and shiny, irritated by urine and feces (contact diaper dermatitis)
Skin with a deep red color with patches outside of the diaper area (candida diaper dermatitis)
Skin that is red with yellow, oily patches (seborrheic diaper dermatitis)

Diagnosis

Your child’s healthcare provider will ask about symptoms and take a health history.
They will also give your child a physical exam.
Laboratory tests are usually not needed.

Treatment

Periods of time without wearing diapers
Frequent diaper changes
Ointment or creams specific to their diagnosis to put on the diaper area to protect the skin
Antibiotic medicine for a bacterial infection

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Frequently Asked Questions

What causes diaper dermatitis?

In most cases, diaper dermatitis is a type of contact dermatitis. That means the skin is inflamed from contact with certain substances. In diaper dermatitis, urine and feces irritate the skin.

Other common causes of diaper rash include:

Candida. This is a yeast infection in the diaper area. Candida infection may occur if contact dermatitis is not treated within a few days.
Seborrhea. This is a common, long-term skin condition. The cause of seborrhea is not known. It usually affects the diaper area and other parts of the body.

Other less common causes of dermatitis in the diaper area include:

Bacteria. Staph or strep bacteria can cause it.
Allergies. It can be caused by an allergic reaction to dye in disposable diapers, or detergent used to wash cloth diapers.

What are the symptoms of diaper dermatitis?

The symptoms of diaper dermatitis vary depending on the cause. And symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They can include:

Contact diaper dermatitis. Skin that is irritated from urine and feces will look red and shiny. The skin on the buttocks, thighs, belly (abdomen) and waist may be affected. The skin creases or folds are usually not affected.
Candida diaper dermatitis. The skin is a deep red color with patches outside of the diaper area. A baby may also have a yeast infection in the mouth (thrush). The creases or folds of the thighs and in the diaper area are usually affected.
Seborrheic diaper dermatitis. The skin is red with yellow, oily patches. It also affects the skin folds. It also usually affects the face, scalp or neck at the same time.

The symptoms of diaper rash can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is diaper dermatitis diagnosed?

How is diaper rash treated?

Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age and general health. It will also depend on the cause, and how severe the condition is. Treatment may include:

Periods of time without wearing diapers
Frequent diaper changes
Ointment put on the diaper area to protect the skin
Antifungal cream or ointment for a Candida infection
Corticosteroid cream for more severe dermatitis
Antibiotic medicine for a bacterial infection

Key Points About Diaper Rash

Children At Risk

Any baby or toddler can develop diaper dermatitis. Things that increase the risk include:

You don't change your child's diapers often enough
Your child has diarrhea or frequent bowel movements
Your child is taking antibiotics. Or you are taking antibiotics and you are breastfeeding.

Prevention Strategies

Proper skin care is very important to prevent diaper rash. This includes:

Keeping the skin under a diaper clean and dry
Changing diapers often
Letting the skin under a diaper to air dry at times
Letting your child to go without a diaper when possible
Gently cleaning the diaper area with a soft cloth and warm water
Limiting the use of soap or other strong products on the skin
Not using scented wipes or wipes with alcohol

When to Call

Call the healthcare provider if your child has:

Symptoms that don’t get better in 2 to 3 days
Symptoms that get worse
Blisters or pus-filled sores

Meet the Providers Who Treat Diaper Dermatitis

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Departments that Treat Diaper Dermatitis (Diaper Rash)

Dermatology

The Division of Dermatology at Children's National Hospital continues to expand services as more families seek our expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the skin, hair and nails. Learn more about our division.

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