Nappy rash can interrupt the peaceful routine of an otherwise carefree baby, and it won’t do much for your quality of life, either. Babies have this knack for making their problems your problems, and if your baby has nappy rash, you have it too.

During the first two to three years of life, just about every parent on the planet gets a share of the nappy-rash experience, thankfully nearly 50% of all nappy rashes go away by themselves but what about the other 50% ? These can last longer or even become more chronic. This rash starts in the groin area but can also spread all over the body. It may occur anywhere, where the skin comes in contact with bacteria.

DO INFANTS HAVE SKIN BACTERIA LIKE US ADULTS?

The skin of babies delivered by caesarian section is sterile at birth, but it begins to pick up micro-organisms immediately. The skin of babies born in the usual way acquires skin bacteria even earlier, during the very process of birth. Bacteria are always present in the mother’s birth canal, and some of them inevitably rub off on the infant.

Some micro-organisms, are transferred to an infant’s skin by the simple act of touching or holding with dirty hands. Infected or dirty bed linen or unhygienic conditions in hospital and home; like using used towels, hair brush, comb, clothes not washed properly all contribute to the rash. An infants skin is very fine and delicate and it tends to catch infection very fast.

SIGNS, SYMPTOMS & TREATMENT

Initially a tiny acne rash appears on the part which is primarily infected. They look like small prickly heat type of rash which may disappear by cleaning the infant regularly. At times this rash refuses to disappear on its own and since the parents are very anxious about it they immediately start applying local chemical skin medicines. Certain infants respond to this treatment and the rash might disappear or might get temporarily suppressed, to come back again as soon as local applications are stopped.

VARIOUS REACTIONS OF THE SKIN:

Now plenty of things can happen when nappy rash is treated by local chemical medicines or strong internal medicines.

The rash may disappear for good.

The rash may be temporarily suppressed to come back again with the same intensity or more.

Rash may not disappear but the infant as a whole will react badly to this therapy and develop more rash.

The rash will disappear, but some other ailments like cough, cold, diarrhoea and vomiting might develop. This in homoeopathic language is called suppression.

Experience has shown us that time and again nappy rash if suppressed turns into a chronic rash creating a lot of problems for the child.

ALTERNATE TREATMENT:

As we all know an infant’s skin as well as his body is so delicate that strong medicines like antibiotics should be avoided for the first few months of the infant’s life. Homoeopathic medicines have worked very well in skin conditions and children react to them most favourably.

SOME TIPS:

Give it some air –

The oldest advice is sometimes still the best. Give your baby’s bottom some air", says Ann Price, educational co-ordinator for the National Academy of Nannies, Inc., in Denver, Colorado. Simply take the baby’s diaper off and lay him on his chest, with the face turned to one side and on towels underlaid with a waterproof sheet. Leave your baby that way for as long as you’re there to keep an eye on him. Air helps in the natural breathing and healing of the skin.

Blow-dry your baby –

Keeping the diaper area clean and dry promotes healing but drying with a towel can irritate sensitive skin. Try a blow dryer. Dry the area with a hair dryer set on ‘low’ which avoids abrasion to wet skin.

Give the cloth nappy a vinegar rinse –

Adding vinegar to the final rinse when washing a nappy will bring the pH of the cloth nappy into line with that of the baby’s skin. It has been noticed that nappy rash enzymes are most active in a high pH environment, which often exist in a cloth nappy after washing. Add 1 ounce of vinegar to about 3 ½ liters of water during the final rinse.

PRICKLY HEAT TYPE RASH:

Initially the rash appears like one or two small red pimples. They are spread all over the body or in the groins. If the pimples are due to local infection give a few doses of "BELLADONNA 30" 5 pills four times a day. Within a few days the pimples will disappear.

If the pimples came in clusters then give "ARNICA 30", 5 pills four times a day.

Some infants have a dry rough looking skin with rash on any part of the body and the child feels very uncomfortable and keeps on crying, specially so when bathed. He feels comfortable in a cool room. His palms, feet and head are very warm to touch. "SULPHUR IODIDE 6", 5 pills four times a day will help this condition.

CHICKEN-POX TYPE RASH:

When the eruptions are like water blisters which looks like chicken-pox, the treatment is as follows: -

"KALI SULPH 6X" – when thick yellowish discharge comes out – 5 pills four times a day

"RHUS TOX 30" - When there are multiple water blisters in the groins, in between the toes, fingers, elbow and behind the knees. The child is extremely restless because of severe itching. The child keeps quiet only when gentle rubbing is done with a thin cloth on the affected area. This remedy is very helpful if the eruptions are due to letting the child remain in wet nappies for a long period of time. Rhus Tox 30, 5 pills four times a day till the rash disappears

WHEN ASSOCIATED WITH RASH ON SCALP:

Initially a few scaly eruptions appear, surrounded by small vesicles which cause a lot of burning and itching making the child very uncomfortable and cranky. If not treated correctly they multiply very fast. The hair gets entangled due to thick discharge from the eruptions. After a week or so a crust is formed on the scalp beneath which there is pus. Due to pus there might be fever. "MEZEREUM 30", 5 pills four times a day will help. If the condition s not treated soon then child might develop a few glands in the back of his neck and hair loss also take place.

CASE OF A ONE YEAR OLD CHILD:

Pale anaemic looking thin child with pus boils all over the body. There was not a millimeter of skin free from these boils. His body was warm but his palms and feet were absolutely cold and wet due to perspiration. Though the body was hot yet the moment his clothes were removed for us to see, he started crying loudly. He only stopped crying when he was wrapped up in cloth. Now the history –

When the child was a 7 days old infant he was given an Injection of B.C.G. which after 3-4 days became septic so a local antibiotic ointment was applied; but this did not help. A few more pus boils developed surrounding the old lesion. The rash also appeared in the groin area with pus oozing out. Now the child was taken on a ‘merry-go-round’ trip with plenty of antibiotics with all various types of available creams. Each time after a temporary respite, a few more crops would come up. That is why when the child was brought to us there was not a place where the pus boils were absent. Now we have a drug called "THUJA" which has proved its efficacy as a "body cleanser" it removes the various toxic agents from the body. Thuja was given initially followed by "SILICEA 30" 5 pills every two hourly, Silicea was given because child’s symptoms were matching with it.

The child was treated and checked regularly because such a lot of pus could cause a lot of complications. To our satisfaction the child responded very fast. Thuja and Silicea brought about a fantastic recovery. The parents were worried that there would be multiple marks on the child’s body but not a single mark is there except the B.C.G. mark.

This is not one case, there are a number of children who suffer from the careless mistake of anxious parents to get rid of the nappy rash. In their anxiety they torture the child by going in for strong medicines but at times, these short cuts cost very dearly.

Readers are advised that the medical advice offered in this column pertains to the generalized treatment of condition. Kindly consult your doctor before self-medication.