Diaper rash: why it appears and how to prevent it

What paediatricians advise, and how to organise diaper changes properly.

Diaper rash is skin irritation caused by a combination of moisture, friction and contact with urine and stool. More often than not it comes not from the diaper itself, but from skin staying damp for too long.

The basics are simple: change every 3–4 hours during the day and right after a bowel movement, clean the skin with something free of alcohol and fragrance, and then let the skin dry completely before the next diaper goes on — damp skin under a film is what irritates fastest.

Air time helps: 10–15 minutes without a diaper after every second change. At the first sign of redness, use a barrier cream with zinc oxide or dexpanthenol — it puts a layer between skin and moisture.

See a paediatrician if the redness doesn't clear in 3–4 days, or if blisters, pustules or bright red patches with a sharp border appear — that can be a fungal or bacterial infection, which needs different treatment.