DIAPER RASH

The scourge of new babies until recent years has been diaper rash, medically referred to as “Dermatitis.” It is a rash that ranges from mild to very painful for babies and toddlers. Although the outside layer of a baby’s skin normally forms a protective barrier that prevents infection, one of the primary causes of dermatitis in the diaper area is prolonged skin contact with wetness. (Hello-o-o-o) When baby’s bottom is allowed to stay in wet diapers too long, the oils are stripped away and the outer layer of delicate skin is damaged, and obviously there is increased susceptibility to infection by bacteria or yeast.

A good treatment from the past was just plain old zinc oxide liberally applied to baby’s bottom which worked fairly well if baby was kept immaculately clean, and the diapers changed immediately when dampness appeared (or other inconveniences such as poopy drawers). In those good-old-days, if mommie rinsed the cloth diapers thoroughly, then boiled them, then she washed them in the washing machine, (if she was fortunate enough to have an electric washing machine — and if she wasn’t then she scrubbed them in a metal tub on a washboard). She then rinsed the diapers time and time again with fresh water in each rinse, and then hung them out to dry in the sunshine. By this method she could be assured that baby might be continually comfortable. What mother’s did before those luxuries appeared I have no idea. I don’t even want to think about it.

A little research revealed that zinc oxide itself is non-toxic (except under certain industrial heavy use when melting zinc and zinc alloys and oxidizing them at high temperature as in melting brass). Note: the melting point of brass is close to the boiling point of zinc. Zinc oxide is also used as a pigment in paints; and zinc oxide is one of the ingredients in the commercial manufacture of rubber goods. Zinc oxide is also used in semiconducting which we noted when we learned that Zinc oxide (ZnO) has received considerable attention because of its unique optical, semiconducting, piezoelectric, and magnetic properties.

Zinc oxide is added to many breakfast cereals as a source of zinc; a necessary nutrient. (Other cereals may contain zinc sulfate for the same purpose.) Some prepackaged foods also include trace amounts; and, as a food additive, Zinc oxide is on the FDA’s list for generally recognized as safe or GRAS, substances.

Now back to diaper rash. Parents often wonder if switching from disposable to cloth diapers will lessen the likelihood of contact type diaper rash. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. The absorbent gel material found in most of today’s disposable diapers draws moisture away from the skin area, thus helping to promote a healthy diaper area. For this reason some physicians today are actually prescribing the use of disposable diapers to prevent diaper rash. If you are an environmentalist mommie, and you prefer to use the cloth diapers to keep from filling up the landfills, just remember, don’t let baby stay in wet or poopy diapers no matter what material is used for diapers. Get baby out of any kind of diapers as fast as you are able, and this will save much grief for you both. Oh, and one more hint: never, never use disposable wipes to clean baby’s bottom. Use a soft cloth and plain warm water.

Well, anyway, whether you are using disposable diapers or you are using the new cloth diapers, (because you want to help save the environment) and even if you take every conceivable precaution and baby still gets a little diaper rash, there are some wonderful aids on the market today.

Type “Diaper Rash Cream” into Google and see all the wonderful cures that appear. There’s Pinxav (don’t you love it? Pronounced Pink Salve) with lots and lots of mother’s testimonials. And there’s Aveeno with its “unique zinc oxide formula” with soothing oat essence and natural willowherb which starts to work on contact to soothe red skin and effectively treat diaper rash, while the effective barrier helps prevent it from getting worse. The ad states: “When applied at the first signs of redness, moms saw visible improvement from the first application.” Ad further states: Additional Product Benefits Include skin protectant, fragrance free, hypoallergenic.

Another of the top sellers in this category is DRC Diaper Rash Crème. Their ad states as follows:

“Babies and their parents are feeling a lot more comfortable now that DRC (Diaper Rash Creme) is gaining national distribution. Once only available for use in Chicago area hospitals, Xttrium laboratories’ DRC is now available in drug stores across the U.S.
“Over the past 40 years, DRC has developed an excellent diaper rash treatment reputation in Chicago and its suburbs as a result of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and parents word-of-mouth recommendations. Today, grandparents are recommending DRC to their children for their grandchildren. Baby shower gifts often include DRC.”

So, there you have it. Tell us what you use. We would love to know.
I look forward to your thoughts or questions.
Love to all from  Gramma BugPuddles.