Nursery World - A Unique Child: Health - A doctor's diary ... Nappy rash

'Doctor, my son has awful nappy rash! It is red raw and he screams every time I clean him. I just can't get rid of it, I feel like a terrible mother!'

Nappy rash, despite it sounding so trivial, can be painful and unsightly and cause parents untold feelings of anxiety and guilt. By and large, it settles through simple measures without intervention from a health visitor or doctor. It may affect up to one in three children who wear nappies, particularly between nine months and one year of age, whereas nappy rash in young babies is rather unusual and other causes of skin disease should be considered.

So what is it? In simple terms, nappy rash is inflammation of the skin in the area covered by the nappy. Essentially, the skin reacts to prolonged exposure to irritant chemicals within urine and faeces. Nappy rash is more likely, but not exclusively, to occur where nappies are changed infrequently, if non-disposable or poorly absorbent nappies are used, or when the child is exposed to particular soaps or overzealous rubbing and wiping.

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