Change nappies promptly and often, clean with water and cotton wool or fragrance-free wipes, pat dry, allow daily nappy-free time, and apply a thin layer of barrier cream (zinc oxide or petroleum) at every change.
Skip talcum powder, perfumed products, and tight nappies; most rashes improve within days. When it is more than irritation: bright red with spots spreading beyond the main patch (thrush - needs antifungal cream), blistering or broken skin, fever, spread beyond the nappy area, or no improvement after about a week of good care. A clearly distressed or unwell baby with a rash is a separate signal from the rash itself. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you judge the pattern.
What to do
Common questions
How do you treat diaper rash?
Nappy rash - red, sore-looking skin in the nappy area - is almost always irritation from wetness and friction, and it responds to a simple routine: change nappies promptly and often, clean the area with water and cotton wool or fragrance-free wipes, pat dry rather than rub, give your baby as much nappy-free kicking time on a towel as you can, and smooth on a thin layer of barrier cream - zinc oxide or plain petroleum - at every change to keep wetness off the skin. Skip talcum powder, perfumed products, and tight nappies. Most rashes improve within a few days of this routine. When it is more than irritation: a rash that is bright red with spots spreading beyond the main patch (that suggests thrush, which needs an antifungal cream), blistering, broken skin, a fever, a rash spreading beyond the nappy area, or one not improving after about a week of good barrier care - all worth a pharmacist or doctor visit. Babies do not usually seem bothered by simple nappy rash, so a clearly distressed, unwell baby with a rash is a separate signal. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you judge the pattern from a description.