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Original poster

Need a miracle cure for nappy rash

40 replies

Hayls · 18/08/2004 19:12

I've had a look at all the previous threads on this but I seem to have tried everything already. Dd has had nappy rash since we went on holiday and had to use disposables instead of cotton nappies over 3 weeks ago and although it doesn't seem to bother her it's just not going away. It did have very sore red bits but they seem to have gone a bit, leaving general redness all over (front and back). I've tried Metanium, Sudocrem, Kamillosan, Vaseline and just about everything else I can think of. We mostly use home made camomile wipes (if not then sensitive Pampers ones)and very rarely use disposables-I'm sure this is what started it off. Although these things have helped it a bit they just aren't doing the job. I showed it to the health visitor who said it looked like exzema and suggested aqueous cream, which I tried along with Oilatum Junior but still no luck!!
I also leave her nappy off as much as possible and don't use any soaps or anything in her bath

It isn't bothering her, her wee doesn't smell any different and she's quite happy-although teething- but I'm desperate to get rid of it.

Any ideas or suggestions would be MUCH appreciated

OP posts:
acnebride · 18/08/2004 19:18

Could it possibly be heat rash? Seems unlikely for such a long time.

Take baby swimming? I reckon a dose of chlorine is good for nappy rash!

I also personally think that very diluted tea tree oil cleared up some of ds's rash, although he seemed quite uncomfortable with it so I've only used it when rash was worst.

Best wishes - such an awful feeling.

Original poster
Hayls · 18/08/2004 19:19

Thanks acnebride, we do go swimming at least once a week. I think its bothering me more than its bothering her but I'd still like to get it sorted.

OP posts:
honeybunny · 18/08/2004 19:31

Presumably if the HV has seen it there's no chance of thrush?
I used to find salt baths good at healing ds2's nappy rash, not that he ever had it particularly badly. But sounds like you're already doing the other things we did otherwise so nothing else to add. Maybe just a bit more time. Perhaps the redness is like the redness of "scarring"- I say that reluctantly as it sounds a bit severe and I dont mean that at all- after any kind of scrape/graze. Its basically healed but the redness takes that bit longer to settle and fade. IYKWIM!!

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gingernut · 18/08/2004 19:31

I too think it might be eczema, which conversely my ds used to get all over his nappy area when I used washables rather than disposables! Anyway, maybe try some different emollients (aveeno is supposed to be very good although I've not tried it myself) and give her as much nappy free time as poss. If still no luck go to doctor.

clairabelle · 18/08/2004 20:56

I'd see the GP, my friends daughter has just had a very stubborn nappy rash and has only responded to an anti fungal cream. May well be thrush it sounds like you've tried everything else. possibly a drop of tea tree in the bath, if it is excezma I can really reccomend the Aveeno.

JJ · 18/08/2004 21:01

I'd get it checked out for thrush, also.

What ended up sorting my son's rash (after treatment for thrush) was a thin layer of Sudocrem then a layer of Metanium. The Metanium keeps the moisture away and the Sudocrem heals it.

I'm sensitive to tea tree oil and probably would test a small area (start with unbroken skin) with vv diluted oil to make sure it was ok.

Jzee · 18/08/2004 21:25

My ds has never had nappy rash, but he does suffer from excema. My GP was useless and just kept telling me to use hydrocortisone cream which I didn't want use long term. Having tried every cream going I was at my wits end and I'm now using a combination of E45 and sweet almond oil which has worked! I also bought SK Cream which also seems to sooth, not sure if this can be used all over the body. BTW I was also prescibed aqueous cream and firmly told to use it every day - eventually I realised this was irritating ds skin even more.

earlygirl · 18/08/2004 21:26

my midwife actually recommended canesten cream which is normally used for thrush) for nappy rash
so if it is thrush as well you are killing two birds with one stone !!

johno · 18/08/2004 21:30

i have just stopped using canesten cream on my ds, it cleared him up in a day, i would really recomend it

karen99 · 19/08/2004 15:26

Haven't had a chance to read the replies so hope I'm not duplicating here.. When my ds had something similar I applied canesten which helped (after all others like you) and also received advice that my cotton nappies might have detergent buildup so ended up doing one nappy wash with no detergent or anything. Moved to soda crystals with half the amount of detergent and haven't seen any nappy rash since HTH

Henrietta · 19/08/2004 16:21

I was getting fed up of a rash that seemed to just go then come back again I tried all sorts plain water in bath different wash recipies etc but finally came to the conc. that it was a sweat rash from sweating in her carseat!! you'd have thought they'd invent one that doesn't make them sweat. As you've got rid of the nasty bits something must be working.
Good luck
nb Dd seems to only sweat in her carseat.

shrub · 19/08/2004 19:26

have you tried 'weleda calendula nappy change cream', all organic ingredients and it really works.health food shops/large sainsburys stock it.

Original poster
Hayls · 19/08/2004 19:29

Thanks for all the advice. I bought some Canesten today so I@ve started using that. I've also made an appt with the gp for next week incase it doesn't improve.
Thanks again, much appreciated

OP posts:
sarahu · 20/08/2004 09:25

Have you tried using cornflour? Yes, the kind that you use for cooking....just rub a little onto the affected areas and it works wonders! When my DD had nappy rash I would apply it at each change - but I was amazed that, after applying it at bedtime, the rash was almost cleared up the next morning.

Sounds weird I know, but try it - it also avoids lots of chemicals!!

let me know if it works!

sarahu · 20/08/2004 09:25

Have you tried using cornflour? Yes, the kind that you use for cooking....just rub a little onto the affected areas and it works wonders! When my DD had nappy rash I would apply it at each change - but I was amazed that, after applying it at bedtime, the rash was almost cleared up the next morning.

Sounds weird I know, but try it - it also avoids lots of chemicals!!

let me know if it works!

Polgara2 · 20/08/2004 09:31

Just to say that for my dd's eczema type rash we were prescribed Diprobase and that worked but do have to put a lot on. As far as nappy rash Sudocrem (again lots of) always worked for us so cant offer anything new sorry.

SenoraPostrophe · 20/08/2004 09:42

Hayls - ds gets a mild red rash (not the weeping sores you get with nasty nappy rash, but a red bum) when he wears disposable nappies - I think he's mildly allergic to whatever they use in the elastic or something. Could it be that she's ready for her terries again?

Other than that, I find fresh air is the best cure (easy for me to say in my marble-floored too-bloody-hot house, I know) and the creams are as good/bad as each other. But if it is eczema, that may not work. I have a friend whose son has it and she says she's just found a new cream which works brilliantly and doesn't contain [unpronouncable word that I can't remember].

meysey · 20/08/2004 09:44

2 things to try

red clover cream - from internet or health shops

or

1 drop tea tree oil
1 drop lavender
10ml sweet almond oil

good for nappy rash, thrush, grazes etc. worked after all ointments and canestan failed on ds1

MancMum · 20/08/2004 12:25

my suggestion is Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream - seriously it worked wonders with my DDs nappy rash - all cleared up in about 5 hours... quite amazing stuff

poppyseed · 20/08/2004 15:19

Good idea to book with GP imo. We were prescribed Canesten HC which cleared up the rash with both of ours in a couple of days. Now with any stubborn nappy rash that doesn't clear with metanium I use a bit and it zaps it. DS is teething at the mo and I find that any pooh left next to his skin for the smallest amount of time will just burn him... It's almost as if it is acid that he's passing...!

strangerthanfiction · 20/08/2004 15:42

I think this may be directly related to her teething to be honest. My dd always gets a red bottom (looks kind of sunburnt) when she's got teeth coming through. Apparently they produce more saliva and that makes the poo more acidic. If it seems itchy or gets worse you could try an anti-fungal cream like others have suggested but it might be worth also getting a swab done by the gp. Dd has just had a horrible nappy rash (NOT the same as the teething sunburn variety) which has led her to scratching her skin to bits and spread up her back and down her inner thighs and it turns out she's got a strep. bacterial infection and needed a hydrocortisone / antibiotic cream.

poppyseed · 20/08/2004 18:32

Hope DD is better STF. I remember from an other thread that she had the rash you describe.

bron42 · 20/08/2004 23:20

Not a great fan of sudocrem, main brands cos of their contents. The best on the market for me has been "organicbabies" BABY SALVE. Think it won best salve through magazine awards, etc and they run out there was such a demand for it. Excellent to use on any dry skin and yet 100% organic. The company is The Green People company. Web site is www.organicbabies.com.100ml costs £8.99 but will last a long time as you don't need much.
Good luck!Found also both my children had sore bums when teething. DS going through it at the moment.

Original poster
Hayls · 22/08/2004 20:51

THanks again for all your advice. Amazingly, it has improved greatly. It's still a bit pinkish but doesn't look sore or red any more. I used Canesten for a while then tried Calendula cream and it got better straight away so I'm not sure which one actually helped!! I suspect tho that it was the Calendula cream as it was the only 'natural'one I'd tried. I'm going to carry on with it for a while then try using Vaseline as a barrier cream.

THanks again - much appreciated by stressed out 1st time mum!

OP posts:
poppyseed · 22/08/2004 21:19

Good news!

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