Contact dermatitis, also known as diaper rash, occurs when the baby's skin is in contact for a long time with irritating substances, such as urine, saliva or even some types of creams, resulting in an inflammation that leaves the skin red, flaking, itching and sore, for example.
Although contact dermatitis is not serious and can be cured, when treated properly, it must be avoided, as skin irritation can cause the appearance of wounds that can infect, especially in places such as the butt, for example.
Thus, it is important to keep the baby's skin always dry and clean, changing diapers whenever they get dirty, wiping excess drool from the face and neck and not using creams suitable for the baby's skin, for example. See other important precautions to prevent the appearance of diaper dermatitis.
How to identify dermatitis
The characteristic signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis in the baby include:
- Red spots on the skin that peel off; Small red bubbles on the skin that itch; More frequent crying and irritation.
Normally, changes in the skin appear in regions with skin folds or that are in frequent contact with clothing, such as the neck, the intimate area or the wrists, for example.
In these cases, it is always important to consult the pediatrician as it may be necessary to do an allergy test to see if the dermatitis is being caused by a specific substance, which needs to be eliminated.
How the treatment is done
In most cases, contact dermatitis disappears after about 2 to 4 weeks, however, to speed up recovery, relieve the baby's discomfort and prevent the appearance of wounds, it is important to keep the region always clean and dry, a moisture can make irritation worse. Another option is to put a moisturizer or zinc cream after bathing, but it is important to wait for the skin to dry before covering it.
In addition, the pediatrician may also prescribe the use of an ointment for dermatitis, such as Hydrocortisone 1% or Dexamethasone, which should be applied in a thin layer on the affected skin for about 7 days.
When the dermatitis is getting worse or is very intense, the pediatrician may need to indicate the use of corticosteroid syrups, such as Prednisone, which help to quickly eliminate the dermatitis, but which have a higher risk of side effects such as agitation or difficulty to catch the sleep, and should only be used in the most severe cases.
What to do to prevent dermatitis
The best way to ensure that contact dermatitis does not arise is to keep your baby's skin very clean and dry, and to avoid possible sources of skin irritation. So some precautions are:
- Clean excess drool and change wet clothes; Change dirty diapers with urine or feces; Cut clothing labels; Give preference to cotton clothes and avoid synthetic materials; Exchange metal or plastic accessories for rubber; Iron creams with zinc in the region intimate, to avoid moisture; avoid using creams and other products that are not suitable for the baby's skin.
If it is already known that the baby is allergic to some type of substance, it is important to keep him away from that substance and, therefore, it may be important to read the clothing and toys label to ensure that it is not in its composition.
