Need advice about nappy rash and cream prescibed by GP

[unaccomplishedfattylegalmummy]

DD2 (23m) has had a really bad nappy rash for the past 5 days or so, really red and starting to bleed. Poor thing keeps saying "bum sore, bum sore," and pulling at her nappy. Sudocreme, vaseline etc haven't worked so I took her the docs today. He was new and I haven't seen him before. She'd also fallen asleep on me so he didn't examine her.

He said he'd prescribe a steroid cream. When I got the chemist I realised it was hydrocortisone cream which she has had in the past for excema, it's really strong but I thought hey he's the doctor.

I've put on her twice today, (says to use 3 times a day). Before the instructions were lying on the bed where I'd changed her for bed and I happened to notice it says, "DO NOT USE UNDER NAPPIES, this will cause the skin to absorb to much and effect the adrenal glands." I'm a bit shocked (understatement), I don't think I'm going to continue using it, or should I? I was going to take her back the docs on Monday. Poor thing will be agony over the weekend now. Is there anything I could get from the chemist maybe?

[AnotherFineMess]

Sorry don't know enough to advise about the cream you've been prescribed, but in the meantime, Metanium cream is brilliant. It's about £3-ish from Boots etc, in a yellow tube. The cream is bright yellow & chalky & seems to work really well & quickly. Cleared DSs nappy rash up in 2 days, after 4 weeks of trying other stuff to no avail.

HTH.

[Washersaurus]

I have used HC creams on DS1's nappy area (now in pants thankfully) which has been prescribed by several doctors. I have never read anything that says not to use under nappies

[Washersaurus]

If desperate, painted on egg white is supposed to be magic on red raw bums

[AnnasBananas]

I was also given HC cream when my dd1 was only 8 weeks, so I know it is safe to use under nappies. I was so shocked (at the time 3 years ago) that I was supposed to use this STEROID cream I threw it in the bin and did the natural approach - no nappies for three days straight except for sleep time. This worked!!! I now know that steroid creams are safe to use as directed but MUST be applied thinly and only for a short burst up to two weeks at a time so would use them if I was advised to by a doctor.

But try the fresh air approach, use only water and cotton wool to wash, no wipes at all. In the old days mums didn't have steroid creams so had to just be natural. If there are red dots in the rash it will most likely be thrush with it so an anti-fungal cream will help that. DD2 had a very bad thrush rash at 19 months HV suggested Canesten cream you can buy it straight over the counter and is safe to use on toddlers. Metanium cream is very good too, it dries the rash up quickly. But by far and fastest to heal is fresh air...if you can manage cleaning up the wees and poos that will inevitably hit the floor!! Good luck.

[MintChocAddict]

Bepanthen works well for my DS.

[AvenaLife]

Zinc and caster oil cream from boots is also very good for nappy rash.

You need to keep her bum dry as much as you can. Poor little one.

There's alot of good advice on here by the way. I hope it clears up soon.

[MatNanPlus]

Which cream is it UFLM?

[Washersaurus]

We were prescribed Daktacort today for DS1's bum rash, is that the one you are on about?

[DontNeedAnything]

IME nappy rash that persists for more than a couple of days (especially in a toddler as opposed to a baby) has always been thrush. If it was me I would probably stop the steroid as this will only treat the inflammation - not teh cause of the inflammation.

I recommend buying Clotrimazole (aka canestan, but as for the cheap non brnaded stuff). It is over the counter at the pharmacist. You use it 3 times a day and carry on for a week or 2 after her bum looks better. You should start to see some inprovement in 2-3 days.

At teh nappy changes in between use metanium. That is the best i have found. Be careful though as it stains fabrics.

[DontNeedAnything]

The other thing to watch out for is infection that needs ABs. I have had this once in the past too.

I have just googled steroid nappy rash and the top 2 links contradict each other. A pharmacist can give you further information if you want though...they know as much about medicines as the Drs.

Drs are specialists in disease. Pharmacists are specialists in drugs (esp. interactions) - although there is obviously significant overlap between the 2.

[Concepta]

I used to use Antipeol for nappy rash. I am sure you can still get it - my youngest is 4. It was excellent and the nappy rash cleared up really quickly. You could buy it any chemist,

[Washersaurus]

DNA - the steroid creams prescribed by the doctor also contain an antifungal ingredient too. We have previously used Canestan HC (the steroid one) and are now using Daktacort which is also a steroid/anti fungal cream