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Are there any prescription treatments for diaper rash?

Diaper rash occurs when skin covered by the diaper becomes red and inflamed. The main causes are moisture, chafing, harsh soaps, irritating chemicals from urine or bowel movements, and bacterial or yeast infections.

The main way to treat diaper rash is to reduce moisture and irritation. A mild case will often go away with more frequent diaper changes and letting the baby go diaperless for a few minutes between changes. Gently washing the affected area with plain water and patting it dry with each change can also help. Avoid diapers with plastic covers until the rash disappears. This allows more air to get to the area and reduces moisture buildup. Over-the-counter products by Desitin or A&D can help protect the baby's skin from moisture and irritation.

The skin normally has yeast on it. But in the moist diaper area, yeast can multiply and produce a yeast infection. Diaper rashes caused by yeast appear bright red. Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter anti-yeast cream such as clotrimazole (brand name Lotrimin AF) or may write a prescription for nystatin ointment (>Mycostatin). Both medicines are very effective for treating yeast infections. If the area has a bacterial infection, mupirocin (>Bactroban) antibiotic cream may be sometimes prescribed. In some cases, doctors recommend a corticosteroid cream such as >hydrocortisone along with anti-yeast creams, to reduce inflammation. Only use a corticosteroid cream when a doctor recommends it, because corticosteroids can sometimes worsen diaper rash. Many prescription creams, such as Mycolog II, contain both a corticosteroid and an anti-yeast medicine.

Diaper rashes caused by bacteria appear as blister-like sores or sores with crusting. Prescription antibiotics are the primary treatment for this type of rash.

Contact your doctor if your child has a fever, a rash that extends beyond the diaper area, blisters, or a rash that lasts longer than three days.

Sources:
Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs. Applied Therapeutics, 1995.
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.
Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. William Morrow & Co., 1996.
Swartzberg, J.E., S. Margen. The UC Berkeley Wellness Self-Care Handbook. Rebus, Inc. 1998.
Habif, Thomas. Clinical Dermatology. Mosby-Year Book Inc., 1996.
de Wet PM. ‘Perianal candidosis--a comparative study with mupirocin and nystatin,” International Journal of Dermatology 38 (1999).
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.

This answer prepared 10/27/2000.
This information updated 1/2/2007.