Diaper Rash

Self-Care

Home treatment is generally all that's needed for most cases of diaper rash. At the first sign of a diaper rash, try the following steps:

• Keep the skin dry. Make sure that the skin isn't in contact with urine and stool.
  • Change the diaper or incontinence brief every time it's wet or soiled. During the daytime, check the diaper or brief every 3 hours. You may need to change the diaper or brief during the night to prevent or clear up a rash. It's not unusual to change a diaper or brief 8 times in a 24-hour period.
  • Use a superabsorbent disposable diaper.
• Gently wash the diaper area with warm water and a soft cloth. Rinse well, and dry completely.
  • Don't use any soap unless the area is very soiled. Use only a mild soap if soap is needed.
  • Don't use "baby wipes" that have alcohol or propylene glycol to clean the skin if the person has a diaper rash. These wipes may burn the skin and spread bacteria on the skin.
  • On adults, you may use a blow-dryer set on the warm setting to get the diaper area fully dry. But don't use a blow-dryer on babies or small children.
• Leave diapers and incontinence briefs off as much as you can.
• Protect the healthy skin near the rash with a cream such as A+D Ointment, Desitin, Diaparene, or zinc oxide. Don't put the cream on broken skin. It can slow the healing process.
• If you use a disposable product, fold the plastic area away from the body. Don't put the diaper on too tightly. Don't use bulky or many-layered diapers or incontinence briefs.
• Don't use plastic pants until the rash is gone.
• Give more fluids to make the urine less concentrated.

If the diaper rash doesn't get better after several diaper changes, try the following steps.

• Soak in a warm bath for 10 minutes, 3 times a day, if the skin is very raw.
  • For babies and young children, add 2 Tbsp (30 mL) of baking soda to a baby tub, a basin of warm water, or a bathtub. Remember, don't bathe a baby until the umbilical cord has fallen off. And never leave a child alone while the child is in the bath.
  • Have older children and adults sit in a bathtub with a few inches of warm water, or use a sitz bath.
• If you use a disposable product, change brands or switch to a cloth product. Try a superabsorbent disposable diaper or brief with absorbent gelling material (AGM), which pulls moisture away from the skin. Some people are less likely to get a rash with one diaper product than another.
• If you use a cloth product, switch to a disposable product. The cloth or the products used to clean the cloth diaper may be causing the rash.
• If you use cloth and don't want to switch to a disposable product, change detergents.
  • Rinse diapers or briefs twice when you wash them.
  • Use vinegar in the final rinse at a strength of 1 fl oz (30 mL) vinegar to 1 gal (4 L) of water.

When treating a diaper rash:

• Don't use a nonprescription adult vaginal yeast medicine on a baby or child. Check with your doctor before you use any product made for an adult on a baby or child.
• Adults can use a nonprescription adult yeast medicine to treat diaper rash. Follow the instructions on the package.
• Don't use baby powder while a person has a rash. The powder can build up in the skin creases and hold moisture. This may help bacteria grow and cause an infection.
• Don't use cornstarch on a rash in the diaper area. Cornstarch also allows bacteria to grow.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

• New or worse signs of infection, such as warmth, redness, swelling, pus, or a fever.
• Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

Learn more

Preparing For Your Appointment