Diaper rash is a very common condition amongst the babies. Medically known as diaper dermatitis, is indicative of any kind of skin irritation that occurs due to the friction of moisture and bacteria under the covered area of a diaper.
Most commonly, when a baby experiences diaper rash, the skin of the baby, covered by a diaper becomes red and inflamed, sometimes even give rise to blisters and pustules.
35% of the Babies Suffer from Diaper Rash
This condition affects about 7 to 35% percent of infants every year, ranging from 9 to 12 months of age. However, there is no hard and fast rule for that.
Cornstarch is an excellent cure for diaper rash. It is an effective remedy for diaper rashes. It helps in reducing the friction that can cause diaper rashes by keeping the skin dry.
A study in the journal named Pediatric Dermatology states that cornstarch has been proven to effectively minimize the friction in the covered area, thus protecting the infant against any kind of irritation. Here are some questions that it arises regarding the use of cornstarch for diaper rash.
Diaper rash, or diaper dermatitis, is considered to be one of the most common types of rashes in babies, resulting from the combination of bacteria, moisture, and friction in the area covered by a diaper. In order to avoid this particular condition in babies, baby powder is commonly used.
The application of baby powder on the affected area helps in the reduction of moisture and friction. However, talcum powders often get mixed with the air and can go to the lungs of the baby and cause certain respiratory problems. This is why many doctors nowadays do not recommend baby powders that contain talc.
While looking for a different solution to treat this particular problem, some of the doctors at the University of Rochester Medical Center suggested the use of cornstarch in treating diaper rash(1). Cornstarch is also effective in the treatment of other babies’ rashes found on other parts of the body.
[Also Read: Natural Ways to Treat Diaper Rash]
The application of cornstarch(2) on diaper rashes and/or other babies’ rashes should be done after thoroughly examining the type of rash the infant has. You need to ensure that the diaper rash is not caused by yeast infection.
Ensure that cornstarch is not exposed to air as the baby could inhale it and be prone to certain respiratory problems. Avoid the usage of cornstarch on bleeding, weeping or broken skin.
[Also Read: Home Remedies for Diaper Rash]
In case you are worried about using cornstarch for babies’ rash¸ you can opt for other natural ways to take care of your baby’s diaper rash.
In rare cases, Cornstarch could worsen a diaper rash mostly caused by yeast infection. As such
Diaper rashes are not as frightening as you think. However, if your baby develops a diaper rash before he or she is 6 weeks old, it is better to consult a doctor.
Also, consult your doctor if the rashes do not go away after the usage of cornstarch for diaper rash, as well as for the other natural ways as stated above. In that case, it might be a yeast infection that needs medicated ointments for healing.
[ Read: Baking Soda Bath For Diaper Rash ]
Yes, they are safe to use, however, cornstarch tends to cause a little problem if the baby’s skin is wounded or broken, hence it shouldn’t be applied. Also, make sure that you don’t apply it on the baby’s face.
Diaper Rashes usually go away within 2-3 days of their occurrence, However, sometimes it can last longer than that.