Modern parents often prefer disposable diapers, which greatly simplify life for them and their child. Some of them are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as an allergy to diapers. Pampers in this case becomes not an element of comfort, but the culprit in the deterioration of the baby's well-being. However, it is still not worth abandoning this product completely, it is enough just to follow some rules for its use and be aware of the causes of the development of allergies.
Benefits of disposable diapers
The benefits of using diapers are undeniable: they simplify baby care, save mom's time and keep delicate baby skin from moisture. If the product is really of high quality and is changed in a timely manner, then it does not cause redness and irritation. In disposable diapers, the baby sleeps longer than in diapers, because the discomfort of bowel movements does not disturb him.
Allergy to diapers most often occurs when using products of dubious quality. WhatWhat traits should a good diaper have? Firstly, it must remain dry even after significant swelling in volume. Secondly, it is better if the product has a minimal fragrance (or aromatization is completely absent). Thirdly, all the materials from which the diaper is made must be certified and safe for the child. All these points ensure the quality of products and reduce the likelihood of increased sensitivity of the baby's skin.
What increases the risk of allergies
Good quality diapers rarely cause unwanted skin reactions. Their untimely replacement can lead to diaper dermatitis, but this is not at all an allergy to diapers, as many people think. Inflammation of the skin in this case occurs due to prolonged contact with stool and overheating, which lead to redness and the appearance of weeping painful elements.
So could there be an allergy to diapers, or are any redness and rash just symptoms of dermatitis? In most cases, the discomfort is caused precisely by the long stay of the child in the diaper and its untimely replacement. However, there is still an allergy to diapers, and it manifests itself almost immediately after the product comes into contact with the baby's skin.
How to change a diaper correctly
Baby's skin, especially in the first three months of life, is very delicate and prone to irritation when the slightest provoking factor appears. During this period, a child needs to change diapers every 2-3 hours, regardless of the degree of fullness. At an older age thiscan be done a little less often, making sure that the surface of the product is not wet. After the act of defecation at any age, the diaper is changed immediately.
In order to avoid the development of redness and allergies for a hygienic toilet of intimate organs, it is better to use clean running water without soap and cosmetics (even for children). It is undesirable to use wet wipes, since their impregnation can react with the diaper filler and cause an allergic reaction. The skin should not be rubbed with a washcloth or towel, it only needs to be gently blotted so that it dries. It is ideal to have a 10-minute air bath during a diaper change so that the genital area is free and "breathes".
Diaper Allergy: Symptoms and Signs
The first sign of any discomfort in a newborn is irritable behavior and crying. This is a protective reaction of the body, which allows the child to "inform" the parents that something is bothering him. When examining the skin under the diaper, you can see the following symptoms:
- redness and slight swelling of the skin at the points of contact with the diaper;
- small red rash;
- flaky spots that can be replaced by weeping inflammatory elements.
Knowing how an allergy to diapers manifests itself, you can quickly navigate in such a situation and seek help from a pediatrician.
First Aid
If parents notice warning signs of allergies, especially the skinthe baby must be freed from the diaper. After that, the affected area should be carefully examined to understand the nature of the rash and assess the overall severity of the condition. It is advisable to immediately wash the child with running water to wash away the remnants of allergens. After that, it is important to leave the skin open for a while in the fresh air.
In no case should you use the same type of diapers, as repeated contact with the allergen can cause a more serious reaction. Before consulting a doctor, you can treat the skin with universal means that will not harm in any situation (for example, Sudocrem, Desitin). On this day, herbs and cosmetics should not be used when bathing the baby, as they can cause a cross-response of the body.
Action plan
When any rash, swelling and redness of the baby appears, you need to show the pediatrician. He will examine the child and confirm (or refute) the diagnosis of “diaper allergy”. Timely prescribed treatment avoids serious complications and a protracted course of the pathological process.
For drying inflammatory elements, a child can be prescribed external zinc-based products. They must be applied after each diaper change during an air bath. Before putting on a new diaper, you need to wait for the complete absorption of these drugs. To restore overdried skin, a pediatrician may recommend Bepanthen or an ointment with similar properties.
In some cases, severe symptoms require topical treatmenthormonal ointments (they should be selected only by a doctor). In order not to harm the baby, self-medication with such drugs is unacceptable.
Allergies in children: are diapers to blame?
Manifestations of allergies due to various factors are very similar to each other. But if on the day of the symptoms that arose, the child did not try a new food and his skin was not smeared with unusual cosmetics, then most likely the problem is in the diaper. An allergy to diapers can even occur to the type of product that parents have been using for a baby for a long time. This may be due to 2 reasons:
- buying counterfeit or defective products;
- changing the manufacturing technology of old original diapers.
The commonplace moisturizing lotion that a manufacturer may add as an innovation to the regular version of diapers often causes allergies or skin irritation in children.
What not to do
Allergy to diapers with proper treatment and further preventive care is not something terrible. But there are things that can aggravate its course and seriously worsen the he alth of the baby. Therefore, with allergies, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations:
- you can not squeeze pimples and comb inflammatory elements on the skin;
- no need to treat the affected areas with iodine, potassium permanganate and brilliant green (this will not speed up the treatment in any way, but will only bring pain to the child);
- important not to self-medicate (especially antibacterialand hormonal preparations for external use).
It makes no sense to refuse disposable diapers from other companies to which the child is not allergic. They are much more hygienic than similar products made from gauze and cotton, and keep your little one dry longer.
Difference between allergies and diaper rash
Noticing redness on the baby's bottom, probably, any mother at least once wondered what an allergy to diapers looks like and isn't it? This condition is often confused with diaper rash by young parents, although there are clear differences between them:
- allergy is most often a small pitted rash, and with diaper rash, the skin is moist, red and hot to the touch;
- appearance of weeping cracking of the skin with small ulcerations is rarely a symptom of an individual reaction to a diaper (most often this condition is the result of overheating of the child and skin irritation from contact with urine and feces);
- if redness is localized only in the folds of the skin, then most likely we are talking about diaper rash.
Prevention
It is difficult to predict everything and protect a child from various dangerous situations. But in the case of diapers, you can minimize the risk of allergies. To do this, it is desirable to change the brand of the product infrequently. If the child is comfortable in diapers, and they suit parents for the price, then you should not experiment. It is advisable to purchase them in trusted places (or even better - in stores of the same chain). This will protect against buying counterfeit goods. Lowbrow and suspiciouscheap diapers cause allergies and irritation much more often than high-quality counterparts.
In any, even the most comfortable diapers, the child should not be around the clock. It is advisable to carry out air baths at least 2 times a day, which, in addition to the prevention of diaper rash and allergies, contribute to the hardening of the body. Do not neglect water procedures and overheat the child. These actions increase the risk of developing allergic reactions to various factors, including diapers.
