Diaper rash

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition
Symptoms
Causes
When to seek medical advice

Treatments and drugs
Prevention
Lifestyle and home remedies

Definition

You start to change your baby's diaper, and there it is — a patchwork of bright red skin on your baby's bottom. Don't panic. You're likely seeing diaper rash, a common form of inflamed skin (dermatitis).

Most infants develop a diaper rash at some time. Diaper rash may be more common after solid foods are added to your baby's diet, when breast-feeding mothers eat certain foods or when your baby is taking antibiotics. Other factors that can lead to diaper rash include continuously wet or infrequently changed diapers, diarrhea, and using plastic pants to cover diapers.

Diaper rash can alarm parents and annoy babies, but most cases disappear after a few days with simple home treatments.

Symptoms