Sore botty - could it be the metanium cream?

[Happyyellowcar]

DD (7months) has had nappy rash for a couple of weeks - it almost cleared up a couple of days ago but has now come back with a vengeance. She is eating well - all sorts of stuff - but is having lots of dirty nappies during the day, sometimes one after the other. I am smearing on lots of metanium cream as it seemed effective for DS1&2 but am now wondering if that could actually be making it worse? Does anyone have any experience of a problem with metanium cream? Any other tips on getting rid of nappy rash please? X

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

No problems with metanium - always found it excellent.

However, it needs to be used on a totally dry bum and only a very very thin layer.

DS had bad nappy rash whilst teething for a week or so. I used to wash his bottom every time he poo-end as the teething poos were so acidic. Then dry his bottom assiduously and let it air for at least 5 mins. Then apply the thinnest layer of metanium possible.

[EvilSidekick]

I used it on both my kids and thought it was excellent, however I recommended it to a friend whose daughter had terrible reaction to it and her midwife told her some children react to iodine in it. She used sudocream mostly after that and on a couple of occasions had to have a prescription from GP.

[TakesTwoToTango]

Just wanted to say, if it's really bad and persistent then a gp trip may be worthwhile as once the skin breaks down you can get a bit of infection and then a short course of antibiotic or anti fungal cream can be needed to sort it out.

[eurochick]

I agree about the skin needing to be completely dry.

[Happyyellowcar]

Thanks so much - I have been smearing loads on as soon as I have cleaned her bum so maybe I am using too much. It is starting to blister today and I'm really upset about it as I know it will be bleeding soon

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Hmm I found metanium brilliant but as pp's said you only need the thinnest layer of it. But sometimes an anti-fungal cream might be needed? I'd ask your HV on Monday I think.

[sleeponeday]

DS can't cope with paraffin or petrochemicals on skin. We use Neal's Yard baby barrier cream as the carrier is beeswax. All fine and worked well.

Metanium and Sudacrem made his skin flare badly. Baby wipes were also a problem - the cheap cotton flannels IKEA sell in the kids' section are what we use. Disposable nappies, but a bucket for the cotton wipes! We just use warm water to clean up, and then dry carefully, then cream.

Having said that, are you sure it's not impetigo or a thrush infection? A moist fatty environment helps those flourish.

[YokoUhOh]

Agree with PP: get DD checked at GP for thrush. DS' went on for weeks at that age and cleared up immediately with Canesten.

[CiderRules]

DS2 seems to have a reaction to All The Wipes at the moment so we've resorted to just water. Savlon really helped when it blistered too.

[Shnook]

Agree with those who say use a very, very thin layer. The idea is that you put it on thinly so the cream can do its job but the skin can still breathe. If it's too thick and no air gets to the skin that'll exacerbate any rash/fungal problem. Hope it gets better soon. X

[Happyyellowcar]

Thanks that makes sense - thought more would be better so silly me! She had a dirty nappy in the night and another big one when she got up this morning. I used salon in the night and think there has been a slight improvement. She didn't get upset when I changed her this morning and I let her go nappy free for a while. Usually I use cheeky wipes with plain water but am staying at my parents and using normal wipes for the weekend. I have never known a baby to poo so much except when its diarrhoea (which it isn't) - wish her little tooth would break through soon!

[Happyyellowcar]

*savlon

[Emmie412]

I would also second washing her bum in the sink with water every time she has a poo. Dry properly, air and then thinnest layer of barrier cream.

Even the nicest of wipes can actually feel quite horrible - I realised this when I used a baby wipe to clean myself down there and it definitely didn't feel pleasant.

[MrsLeoTolstoy]

Zinc and castor oil cream is your friend. A fabulous barrier and cheap in Boots.

[Roseotto]

Thin sudocrem and lots of time on the mat with no nappy. You can get those Pampers disposable mats which are quite good.

[Happyyellowcar]

roseotto I'd love to do more no nappy time but she has just started crawling so I can't keep her in one place unfortunately alternating between metanium, egg white and sudocreme but it's not getting any better - arg have a 5 hr journey on trains to look forward to tomorrow.

[SweetAndFullOfGrace]

Try chamomile tea with cotton pads or a flannel (not wipes) - it's very soothing on nappy rash.

[sleeponeday]

This may sound stupid, but you haven't got the microfibre cheeky wipes, have you? A friend had those and couldn't understand why her baby always had a sore bum and a rash, and would scream and scream and fight at every change. They are... less than ideal on bare skin, if used with any sort of pressure. It's recommended people use a microfibre wash cloth to exfoliate with, and you're warned it can cause a burn if you rub at all. You're meant to pat only. And that's on adult facial skin - not an area bathed in urine and poo fairly regularly.

Sorry if you knew all that and the idea seems silly. It's just that, as I say, I know someone else who did that. Skin cleared up as soon as they switched to cotton.

[Happyyellowcar]

Thanks for the comments - had to go to gp today as it is so bad and has turned out to be thrush after all! Got the good old canestan cream so hopefully it will get sorted soon x

[poocatcherchampion]

My dds had lots of problems with thrush and in my research I read that if it lasts three days without being nearly better it is almost always thrush.

Sounds like you got there eventually op, hope it clears up quickly.

[Happyyellowcar]

Apparently it's more common in girls - I have 2 older boys and they have both had nap rash so I kept expecting it to just clear up! You live and learn I guess.

[lolalotta]

Is it yellow? My daughter reacted to it badly, it made her bottom very sore.

[Happyyellowcar]

No it's a white cream - canestan plus hydrocortisone. I'm praying it helps - she is so sore..

[sleeponeday]

Oh good, OP! Sorry for your dd that it's thrush, but at least you have an answer.