Host: Dr. Preis a very common concern of parents is kids who wear diapers get these rashes; is there anything we can do to minimize the problem?
Dr. Oded Preis: Well, diaper rashes are a very common problem for children, obviously babies and young infants are in diapers that's why we call it a diaper rash. If you come to think about it, actually these babies are living all their time inside their portable potty, exposing their skin to constant irritation either by heat, moisture, excreta because of break down of bacteria, enzyme and so on, acid pH, ammonia gas release from break down or food residue and urine, so their skin gets pretty irritated and inflamed and causes rashes.
The rashes can very easily be treated by gentle cleansing, exposing the skin to fresh air, sunlight and so on. If rashes persist for a longer period of time then obviously it may indicate that the skin integrity has been broken down by the chronic irritation and there maybe an infection by bacteria, fungi and so on and may require medical attention.
But in general by just gentle cleaning, exposing the skin area to fresh air and sunlight, most of the rashes should disappear.
Host: If you change diapers, you should actually wait; let the area dry out before a little bit for a period of time. Is that correct?
Dr. Oded Preis: Absolutely, you are changing the diapers frequently, you want to make sure that the skin is as dry as possible and minimize the exposure to the wetness and the moisture from urine and feces and expose the skin as much as possible to fresh air. Also use of a protective barrier cream cannot harm the baby and if anything it will cause expulsion of the moisture from direct contact with the baby's skin.
Host: But it's wise let it dry, aerate diapers to protect this area.
Dr. Oded Preis: Absolutely, absolutely true.
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