why does diaper rash cream sting so bad? is there a diffrent cream i can use for my sons sensitive skin?

Question

my 1 year old son has a rash from diarrhea and i cant seem to make it go away. i let him air out, i change him often, i put rash cream on and its just not working! its seems to actually make it worse because it stings him so bad. i asked my doctor and he said that diarrhea is common with soy milk, (my son is lactose intolerant) it is called "toddlers diarrhea."
uugh....please help...tired of seeing my sons red tushy! ~~~mommy b

Answer 1

Make sure any cream you use is thin, not thicker than hand lotion. Thick cream like penetan can cause pain from just the friction of putting it on.

You can apply a liquid antacid (preferably one that doesn't contain salicylates) to the bum and let it dry before putting the diaper on.

Vaseline is another good idea.

Some people swear by egg whites -you beat until frothy and then apply and let dry before putting the diaper on.

However toddlers diarrhea is almost always caused by excess sugar in the diet -particularly that found in juice. If you aren't giving juice I would strongly suggest you speak to an allergist. For one thing your son's lactose intolerance is probably a misdiagnosed milk protein allergy, and 30-50% of children with a milk allergy are also allergic to soy. Also the French and Israeli governments among others have come out with very strong warnings against the use of soy for children.

Lactose intolerance vs Milk protein allergy:
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/lactose.html
http://users.bigpond.net.au/allergydietitian/fa/inflact.html
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/lactose-intolerance.html
http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/Food/LactoseIntolerancevsMilkProteinAllergy.htm

Toddlers Diarrhea:
http://www-fhs.mcmaster.ca/idrp/issenman/bob4.htm
http://www.drhull.com/EncyMaster/D/toddler_diarrhea.html
http://www.babycenter.com/400_can-too-much-fruit-juice-give-my-toddler-diarrhea_506691_1000.bc

Answer 2

Lactose intolerance is actually quite rare in very young children and usually develops do to leaky gut syndrome, where damage in the intestines causes food particles to enter the blood stream causing sensitivities. Lactose intolerance is also often over-diagnosed. Many babies are however allergic to soy milk. It is not healthy to keep him on something that prolongs diahrrea; I would get a second opinion about the lactose intolerance as it really is not likely. A temporary milk sensitivity is common in babies until their digestive system develops but true lactose intolerance is rare. In the case of a milk sensitivity, your baby may be able to adjust now and it may be worth trying to introduce it again. Anyway most diaper ointments contain zinc oxide. If this is the culprit to his sensitive skin, try Aquafor ointment. It may also be other chemical additives, in this case try Burt's Bees diaper ointment. Because diahrrea does often cause a rash, it is not likely that an allergy to the diaper brand exists, but it is possible. You can also try Alimentum formula by Similac. It is an allergenic formula for very sensitive babies and is pre-digested to be easier on their system.
The best way to deal with the rash after treating it is to cure the cause otherwise it will keep recurring.

Answer 3

try some vasaline instead of the creams. when my daugher (2 years old) gets a bad rash, vasaline helps the best. When she gets a bad rash, i tend to put her in underwear instead of a diaper, because the underwear lets the skin breathe more, and does not wipe off most of the vasaline like the diaper does. so, cake on the vasaline, put him in some underwear, and wait a few hours (change his underwear if he pee's or poops) and re-apply the vasaline untill the redness starts to go away. once the redness starts to go away, it should be ok to use the cream again, as long as the skin is not cracked, blistered, or bleeding. i do this every time my daughter gets a bad rash, and it helps alot. if she still has the rash before bedtime, i'll sit her in the tub with warm water for about 10 minutes, gently pat the area dry, let her air out for a few minutes, then re-apply the vasaline before putting her to bed. the rash is almost always gone by morning.

Answer 4

I use Desitin original. It normally clears even the worst rashes up in a day or two. I don't think that the cream actually stings, it just hurts your child when you rub it on. Maybe your son has a fungal rash, ask your doctor if it is alright to try antifungal cream (like for athletes foot). Good luck.

Answer 5

There are several old time methods of treating diaper rash that my mother passed down to me my youngest is now 30. Use Argo corn starch in place of power.
Zinc is what heals the diaper rash so the best product for that Desitin.
I feel that you might try and take your baby off of fruit juice for a week and see if that will help to reduce the rash I have found that even baby fruit juices are just to acid for some babies and contribute to the rash. Then if you want to give the baby fruit juice cut it with equal amounts of water.

Answer 6

Bag Balm!!! It works so well and it does not sting at all. Plus it doesn't cost much more than diaper rash cream like Desitin but lasts much longer.

Answer 7

I can't believe I only saw one other person saying Budreaux's Butt Paste! It is awesome!!! It seriously clears up diaper rash within a day or two, I swear by it! It's not like the other diaper oinments or creams, its not as thick, very silky like, it seems to bring relief to my son... Hope you try it!

Answer 8

I sometimes add neosporin to the area. I will also add the other creams. My favorite is desitin. I also would put a bit of powder on the area to keep it drier.

The neasporin helped to heal the area up faster. I try to make sure I put it on at night when my daughter is less likely to need a diaper change for a while.

In the morning she usually looks much better.

Answer 9

Try bathing him in a tepid bath to which you can add about two cups of steeped chamomile tea. If the tea makes the water too warm, let it rest for a bit until comfy for your son. Not only will the natural factors in the tea help to sooth his bottom, bathing him in this will also help to calm his nervous system and aid him to sleep soundly. Your distress is evident and I'm sure your son is feeling 'bummed out' too! (okay, sorry that may have been in poor taste but I typed it before I realized the pun. maybe it made you smile?) Okay, so after bath time, when you dry him off try to just dab his irritated region with a very soft cotton towel, actually if he will let you, a blow dryer on low setting is one of the best ways to dry off for adults and kids. The air dries the skin without abrasive rubbing and allows you to dry sensitive areas without exacerbating the inflammation. For a topical ointment after everything else, I keep a bottle of aloe vera gel in my refrig at all times. The cool silky gel is great for all sorts of skin conditions from sunburns, chemical burns, eczema, rashes, the list goes on. A little know factoid: aloe vera can also be taken internally (one tablespoon for adults, trial and error for kids) to ease discomfort from gastric reflux, heartburn and sore throats/upper respiratory issues. The therapeutic properties in the aloe have been under study for their effectiveness in healing damaged esophageal linings in persons with gastric reflux. I swear by it. The gel can be purchased at nutrition centers, natural health stores and online if you look for it. Lastly, make sure your baby is getting plenty of water every day...not juice, not koolaid not soda etc. just pure plain drinking water that is at room temperature. Ice water is just not good for the digestive system, at any age. But thats another question. Take care and good luck. Peace

Answer 10

Is your son allergic to pampers by any chance. I could only use cloth on my son. Also, my nephew had allergies really bad and could not even drink soy milk. Check with your doctor and see if there is another kind he could try. Mine drank some kind of "oil". It actually stunk but there was so little he could have that he drank it. Thank God he is a healthy 37 year old now.