Tender, lightly vulnerable children's skin is prone to dryness, permeable to all kinds of substances and infections, is prone to micro-trauma. Vessels in it are located close to the surface, the fat layer is small, and overheating contributes to the rapid evaporation of moisture. That is why the skin of the newborn needs special protection, which helps to prevent problems. The most common of these is diaper rash. It is an inflammation of the skin that occurs in places that have experienced prolonged exposure to moisture and increased friction. To a greater extent, the skin folds are affected: inguinal, gluteal, cervical, axillary, folds behind the ears. Let's talk about the reasons ...
What is the reason?
Excessive moisture content
Promotes the removal of natural lubricant, destroying the protective barrier and facilitating the penetration of various microbes into the skin. When does this happen?
With prolonged irritation of the skin with urine and feces.
With increased air temperature and overheating of the body, with excessive wrapping.
When the body of the baby is not sufficiently dried after bathing or washing.
If redness occurs along the line of adherence of a disposable diaper, this may be a reaction of the child's skin to the material or substances that make up such a diaper.
Friction clothes
It becomes strong if the baby's things are sewn from synthetic fabrics. Make their mite diapers and diapers (including disposable ones). The latter can cause a skin reaction to the composition of the material from which they are made.
Risk factors.
1.Allergy in the baby.
2. Excess body weight, caused by violation of metabolic processes.
Allocate 3 degrees of diaper rash.
I degree - on the skin a slight reddening, but its integrity remains intact.
II degree - redness increases, there are microcracks, erosion.
III degree is characterized by pronounced redness, cracks, erosion, up to the formation of ulcers, the skin becomes covered with pustules.
Such a picture on the skin is accompanied by itching, burning, painful sensations, the kid becomes restless, irritable, capricious, often crying, not sleeping well.
How to be, what to do?
Without interruption, hoping that "it will pass by itself," should not be in any case.The lack of treatment will lead to the spread of the lesion to large areas of the skin, complicating the attachment of bacterial and fungal infections.
I degree
Usually you can do without treatment.
It is enough to take care of the baby's skin, regularly changing diapers and diapers (both woven and disposable). The baby should not remain wet, but in one diaper the baby can stay for a maximum of 3 hours (meaning a dry diaper). In addition, you need to thoroughly wash away the crumb after each change of the diaper and feeding, and then gently dry the skin, especially in the folds.
It is useful to leave the skin of the child open, regularly arrange air baths (if environmental conditions allow, then, as often as possible and longer). Try to even leave him to sleep with a bare ass, throwing on top a thin cotton diaper. It is also effective for this purpose to use a dryer to dry the skin, apply it at a distance no closer than 40 cm and with a weak heating mode. Then apply to the skin folds and around the baby cream for a diaper or a special protective cream, let it soak, and afterwards wear crumbs.
Hygienic means for caring for the baby should be qualitative, not causing any allergic reactions. Acquire them better in pharmacies or specialty stores for children.
Also useful are warm sessile baths with the addition of decoction of the bark of oak, chamomile, string, but on condition that the baby is not allergic to them. For their preparation 4 table. Spoons of dry raw materials pour 1 liter of boiling water and insist on a water bath for 30 minutes, then strain and pour into the bath. The water temperature is about 36 ° C.
If during the first day of such care you have not noticed any positive dynamics, try using special therapeutic protective agents in the form of creams or ointments, which are sold exclusively in pharmacies. But in any case, before using them, you need to consult a doctor, because there are certain nuances in their appointment.
Pay special attention to the baby's menu (the introduction of new mixtures, excessive consumption of protein foods, sour juices and any innovations in food) and adjust the diet. When breastfeeding, analyze the mother's menu.
If the baby does not go through diaper rash for a long time, occupy large areas of the skin, and on the skin cracks, erosions, vesicles, pustules - this is an occasion for immediate contact with a doctor.
II degree
In addition to all of the above, the doctor often prescribes ultraviolet irradiation of affected areas of the skin, as well as ointments of the so-called "talkers" type, which are individually formulated by the doctor, which are formulated according to prescription in the pharmacy, they contain drying substances (talc, zinc oxide), glycerin and etc. In the presence of pustules your doctor, most likely, will recommend treating them with aqueous solutions of brilliant green.
To bathe a child is better in a solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), slightly pink. To do this, in a separate dish in a small amount of water, dissolve 5-7 crystals of potassium permanganate, and then strain through several layers of gauze. Now the solution can be added to the bath. Such scrupulousness will help to avoid microburns of children's skin when they come in contact with undissolved crystals. The duration of the bath is 5-10 minutes. If a doctor recommends, you can continue using herbs.
Skin care remains the same thorough, frequent access of air to the affected areas is necessary, this speeds up the healing processes. Clothes, diapers, diapers are carefully rinsed after washing, ironed on both sides with an iron.
In the case of severe itching, allergic diseases (diathesis), the doctor can reasonably prescribe antihistamines.
III degree
Such diaper rash is much more difficult to treat. Therefore, once again I want to draw attention to the timely application for medical assistance. In neglected cases, lotions are prescribed with solutions of silver nitrate, rivanol, tannin. Recipes on them with an indication of the necessary concentration prescribed by the doctor, they are manufactured in a pharmacy.
After it was possible to level the wetting surfaces, various emulsions and pastes with bactericidal properties are used. While moisture has not disappeared, you can not use funds on a fatty basis (ointments, oils) - creating a film on the surface, they interfere with the healing processes.
Especially it would be desirable to warn young mothers from following the advice of "grandmothers-neighbors" to sprinkle baby's skin with starch - it is not sterile, gets into clumps in folds and itself has a damaging effect .And various herbs and infusions can cause unexpected skin reaction, which will only complicate the problem Remember that the funds that helped a neighbor's child, yours may not be at all, or aggravate the situation. It is important only to be attentive to the condition of the baby and any changes in it and call the doctor in time. nny doctor sort out the cause of the diaper rash is your crumbs, prescribe appropriate treatment, will give some tips on care, in compliance with the recommendation of diet, with an additional consultation with other specialists as needed.
Cleansing the skin
Wash crumbs with each change of diaper (about 8 times a day). Use wet napkins for the last resort, when there is no access to running water.
Before dressing, the baby's skin should be dry and treated with a special hygienic.
Take the rule of regularly leaving the child for a while naked (from 2-3 minutes in the first weeks of life to 40-60 minutes a year).
With hygienic procedures, do not overdo it. Soap can irritate the skin due to the content of alkaline components in it. Skin irritation can also be caused by the duration and frequency of bathing, the temperature of the water, the type of sponges used, towels, various additives in bathing water (foam, liquid soap).
A healthy child of the first year of life should be bathed according to the following scheme.
Up to 6 months of life - daily for 5 minutes, water temperature 36.5-37.0 ° C.
After 6 months - every other day up to 10 minutes at a temperature of 36.0 ° C.
In hot season, regardless of age, a child is bathed daily. Use soap is recommended not more often 2-3 times a week.
At the end of bathing, you should pour the baby with water, the temperature of which is 1-2 ° C below the temperature of the water in the bath.
Wash the crumb regularly, after defecation - be sure.
Do not leave the baby in wet or dirty diapers. Regularly change disposable diapers. To protect the bed and the stroller, use oilcloth on a woven basis or disposable diapers.
Skin protection
Use for skin care only special means, it is useful to moderate dusting. Be careful, using disposable wet napkins, the skin of many children is sensitive to them.
clothing
Its task is not only to protect the baby from a large loss of heat, but to be breathable, made of natural materials, while at the same time should not cause overheating or restrain movements. Particularly preferred are hygroscopic, well-washable materials (cotton fabrics, knitwear, wool). Underwear - exclusively from natural fabrics.
When washing, try to use only specially designed for children's things. Whenever you change your child, pay attention to the condition of the skin, wrinkles: whether there are reddening, if the clothing has not rubbed the baby's skin.
The goals of care for baby skin:
prevention of irritation and damage to the epidermis (surface layer of the skin);
maintenance of the necessary microflora on the surface of the skin.
Ways of achieving the goals:
careful selection of skin care products;
exclusion of irritants;
prevention of skin contact with natural secretions of the child (urine, feces);
elimination of mechanical factors (friction);
reducing the impact of moisture on the baby's skin.