The Alternative Medicine Chest: Doing Away With Diaper Rash

filed in Elise Rodriguez on Feb.22, 2010

a blogumn by Elise Rodriguez

Photo Credit: ThomasLife

Diaper rash is a pain in your and your little one’s butt that can seem unrelenting in its attack. It can be difficult to watch your baby go through this persistent discomfort and mom’s can feel helpless against this stubborn invader. But with some understanding of what diaper rash is and knowledge of some simple herbal solutions, help is on it’s way.

Diaper rash is caused primarily by wetness. Our outermost layer of skin is designed to be a waterproof barrier. In babies this layer of skin is much thinner so it’s more susceptible to damage. When moisture gets trapped on the skin under the diaper the skin macerates and along with friction becomes broken. Urine and feces also contribute to diaper rash because as urine breaks down it lowers the pH of the skin which then activates fecal enzymes that further irritate the skin. Infants who have had a change in their diet (such as breast milk to formula or from milk to solids), have had diarrhea or undergone antibiotic treatment are more susceptible to diaper rash due to the change in fecal composition. Whenever skin integrity is compromised there is an invitation for bacteria or fungus and sometimes these are wicked into the broken skin wreaking even further havoc.

The Simpliest of Solutions

The first and foremost solution to diaper rash is dryness. Keep the area dry, dry, dry. Along with that all you really need are these three inexpensive items: witch hazel, tea tree oil and calendula gel. Witch hazel is an astringent. Astringents shrink tissue and externally applied cause mild coagulation of skin proteins which dry, harden and protect the skin. Tea tree oil is antiseptic and fungicidal. It’s strong so never apply directly to baby’s skin. Saturate a cotton pad with witch hazel and add one drop of tea tree oil. Wipe the diaper area lightly, avoiding genitals. Let the area dry then apply calendula gel. Calendula is a premier skin remedy for cuts, burns, sunburns and inflamed conditions. It’s known as the flower of the sun and a remedy for, as herbalist Matthew Wood says, “places where the sun doesn’t shine”, perfect for the diaper area. I prefer the gel for this use not the ointment. The ointment is petroleum based which can trap moisture inside the skin if applied when the skin is not thoroughly dry. A light dusting of powder could also be applied to keep the area dry, preferably one made from hypo-allergenic cornstarch or tapioca starch rather than talc.

Natural Commercial Products

There are a few natural commercial products on the market worth mentioning. California Baby makes a diaper area wash that contains witch hazel, calendula, aloe, tea tree oil, lavender and clary sage. This product might be all you need as it contains the ingredients I’ve already mentioned, although I would still add a layer of calendula gel.

California Baby’s Calming Non Talc Powder for Body and Diaper Area would be an excellent powder to use on the diaper area. It uses corn and tapioca starches and contains calendula, arnica, rose buds, tea tree, lavender and clary sage.

Another excellent powder is Nature’s Baby Silky Dusting Powder. It uses only tapioca starch and contains chamomile, echinacea and goldenseal. Chamomile is calming to the skin, echinacea is antibacterial and goldenseal is both antibacterial and antifungal.

Hopefully, if you and your baby are experiencing the woes of diaper rash, with these simple remedies soon you will both be cooing with contentment.