Most diaper rashes take place due to the prolonged contact with urine and stool and humidity which leads to dermatitis. They occur due to the impairment in the skin itself rather than a bacterial or fungal infection. However, skin infections can cause diaper rashes.

What is a Yeast Infection Diaper Rash

The most common type of yeast that causes the diaper area is Candida Albicans. Diaper rash caused by yeast is characteristic. It can be distinguished from other rashes due to its distribution and appearance.

This type of rash tends to persist longer despite the attempts to treat it using creams and letting the skin dry.

Causes and Risk Factors

It goes without saying that wearing a diaper most of the time is a huge risk factor of infection. Humidity and warm areas tend to encourage the growth of yeast. Letting the skin breath after each diaper change can help treat or prevent the infection.

Another factor is having oral thrush due to yeast. Many specialists believe that if this happens the kid is more likely to get a yeast infection in the diaper area.

Lastly, the administration of antibiotics. As there are useful bacterial that fight yeast and fungi, the administration of antibiotics can encourage the growth of intestinal yeast.

Signs and Symptoms

You might find it difficult to differentiate between yeast infection and normal diaper rash, however, there are some characteristics that help you tell the difference:

• It lasts longer than the normal rash despite the creams you apply.
• Appears intensively in the groin area
• It’s beefy red and has slightly raised borders.
• It’s scaly

Treatment

The main treatment will be antifungal topical treatments like clotrimazole and miconazole, in addition to decreasing the moisture in the diaper area.

Some dermatologists and pediatric may prescribe an oral medication like fluconazole to be taken once daily if the topical treatment is not effective.

Management and Prevention of Yeast Infection at Home

There are many approaches that you can do to improve the infection, try the following:

• Letting the kid play around with no diapers in order to make the skin dry.
• If the kid is physically ready, you can start potty training.
• Keeping the diaper area clean by washing it right away after peeing or pooping.
• Applying a barrier cream after each change.

Resources:

Emedicinehealth. 2018. Yeast Infection Diaper Rash

Babycenter. 2017. Yeast diaper rash