Nappy rash, or thrush?

[Bodkin]

My 5 month DD has had what I thought was nappy rash on and off for several weeks now. Mainly on her thighs where the wet edges of the (washable) nappies rub (I'm using fleece liners, but they still bunch up and leave a bit of nappy exposed), but not generally around her fanjo or bottom. However, regular applications of Metanium only seems to be keeping things at bay, but not clearing it. Could it be thrush? It's a like a little raised rash sometimes, but the skin is not broken. Also, I don't want to be using Metanium too regularly, it's pretty strong stuff isn't it.

I've tried her in disposables for the last 2 days, to see if this has helped to shift it, but it doesn't seem to have improved things much.

Help!

Hi Bodkin. It sounds like it could be thrush - if you're not sure ask your hv who will be able to tell you. In the meantime you could try a drop of teatree oil in some vaseline (1 drop to a teaspoon or two of vaseline) and just apply like a barrier cream with each change.

I use washables too and it is really really important to use a barrier (vaseline is fine). I normally use Kamillosan (comes in a tube) which although expensive does seem to work a treat for both treating sore skin (not just in the nappy area), but for protecting the skin too.

Hope your DD's skin is better soon.

Hi Melissa - I do usually use Kamillosan as a barrier cream (I love the stuff - I use it for everything ) but have had to resort to Metanium recently. But will try your suggestion of tea tree oil - that sounds like an excellent idea.

Just wanted to say thanks so much for posting. It's such a mad time of the year with Christmas coming up, that the fact that someone has taken 10 mins of their evening to help me with my nappy rash dilemma is so lovely and kind. I love this site

No problem bodkin. Sorry you haven't had any other suggestions from people. How is dd's nappy rash now?

I agree that Kamillosan is great for all sorts

Bodkin, if it's thrush, Canestan cream should clear it. For any other nappy rash, we tend to use Lanes Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Cream (from chemists or Waitrose etc) because I'm a chicken about putting straight Tea Tree oil on baby skin (don't really know why) whereas that has 'for nappy rash' in big letters on it which I find hugely reassuring (I'm a bit of a paranoid softarse when it comes to babies )

I have tried metanium, drapolene, bepanthen, sudocreme, germoline, organic babies salve, green baby balm, vaseline, zinc and castor oil, bottom butter, calendula cream, kamillosan, almond oil, vagosen, canesten, chamomile tea, rooiboos (redbush) tea.

the only things that have worked are:

emu oil
grapefruit seed extract
egg white
morhulin
conotrane
orabase
manuka honey
green baby powder
little green earthlets balm

i know this might sound a bit mad but my ds had very sensitive skin and i found the only thing that cleared him up was at least two hours nappy free a day,i know this mean heating full wack and mop and bucket and washing machine on all day but it really really helped his skin and after a week he was back to normal

is it possibly an allergy to the elastic in the nappy or wrap?
i bet your hv could tell if it was thrush or not but wouldn't rely on your gp unless they are pretty good at kids stuff generally. but i seem to remember thrush being more 'bottom' than 'thigh' when mine had it?
i hardly ever use any barrier cream at all, only when she's got a bit of redness from unchanged nappy or teething. dd's skin seems fine without it (just to balance melissa's experience)