Many new moms say that their babies suddenly get red bottoms, and start crying when they urinate. What should we do to take care of the baby? If we ignore the baby's red bottom, will it heal itself? Will there be any serious consequences? Let me explain in detail below!
The main feature of a red bottom is a clearly defined bright red rash in the area of skin that comes into contact with diapers, distributed in patches. Given that newborns have delicate skin, it is easy for them to develop diaper rash. Local skin can develop red papules, and in severe cases, the skin can erode, break, peel, and ooze. Bacterial infections may cause pustules, which could spread to the perineum and inner thighs.
In fact, red bottom is a common skin condition among newborns, also known as diaper rash or diaper dermatitis. In medical terms, it is called "red buttocks," which is a common skin disease in infants, mostly caused by improper care. The common cause is due to untimely changing of diapers after bowel movements and urination, using unwashed diapers, being allergic to disposable diapers, or prolonged use of plastic sheets leading to urine not being able to evaporate. The baby's buttocks are kept in a warm and moist state, and ammonia produced from the decomposition of urea nitrogen in urine by bacteria in feces irritates the skin.
An important way to prevent red buttocks is to frequently change diapers. Infants urinate and defecate many times, and only timely diaper changes can keep the buttock skin clean and dry. After each bowel movement, wash the baby's bottom with warm water, and after washing, make sure to dry it with a towel; don't apply powder while it’s still wet. Secondly, correctly use talcum powder and ointments. Generally, before diaper rash occurs, you can appropriately use them to smooth and protect the skin. After diaper rash occurs, different methods must be used according to different wounds, and it is strictly forbidden to randomly apply powder or ointments.
In the daily care of the baby, the following points should be noted:
1. Choose diapers carefully, using soft, highly absorbent pure cotton fabrics. It's best to use white or light-colored old sheets, cotton shirts, or pants to make diapers. If you find that your child is allergic to disposable diapers, stop using them immediately.
2. Do not use dark-colored fabrics, especially new coarse black or blue cloth, as they do not absorb water easily and can easily rub the baby's skin.
3. Diapers should be changed and washed frequently, and should be replaced immediately after each wetting.
4. After each bowel movement, rinse the baby's buttocks and external genitalia with warm water, gently dry them, and apply some talcum powder and disinfected vegetable oil. Extra attention should be given to babies with diarrhea.
How to deal with diaper rash?
When diaper rash has already occurred, do not wash it with hot water or soap. After changing the diaper, apply tannic acid ointment or sterilized vegetable oil on the red area. If there is erosion, the baby can lie face down, and a regular 40-watt bulb can be used to shine on the area at a distance of 30-50 centimeters, for 30 to 60 minutes, to dry out the area. During irradiation, there must be a dedicated person to guard against burns. As long as the skin of the buttocks is well cared for during treatment, the diaper rash will improve quickly.
In fact, as long as parents take good care, diaper rash is completely preventable, so all parents must do a good job of prevention.
Some suggestions for choosing and using diaper creams:
1. Must use pH neutral baby-specific products, cannot substitute adult products. When selecting wet wipes, make sure they do not contain alcohol to avoid irritating the baby's skin; selected ointments must be oily, without fragrance, without steroids, and have anti-inflammatory effects on dermatitis and skin erosion.
2. Conduct an allergy test before using new products. Babies' skin barrier function is not yet fully developed, making them prone to allergies. Therefore, if the baby hasn't used certain care products before, the mother should first test them on a small area of the baby's skin for a few days to observe if the baby has any allergic reactions.
3. Do not use several products simultaneously. If various diaper creams are applied indiscriminately on the baby's skin, it will not only increase the burden on the baby's skin but also make it difficult to determine which care product is causing an allergic reaction when one appears.
4. Ensure the baby's skin can breathe. Some parents think that applying more moisturizers will provide better protection for the baby's skin. In fact, excessive moisturizers can unknowingly harm the baby's skin. Therefore, even with effective products, they should be applied moderately.