Health & Parenting

Understanding Diaper Rash -- Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Diaper Rash?

 The symptoms of diaper rash include:

• Redness over the diaper area -- around the genitals, buttocks, and thighs
• Increased discomfort, especially at diaper-changing time
• Tight, papery skin or skin that is shiny and bright red
• A strong smell of ammonia
• In boys, an inflamed penis

Call Your Doctor About Diaper Rash if:

• You see no improvement after four days of home treatment or anytime it seems to be getting worse rather than better. It's possible your child may have developed a strep or staph infection or a local reaction to a particular lotion, soap, or laundry detergent.
• You see white patches inside the mouth that appear red after being wiped with a clean cloth. Your child may have a yeast infection called thrush, or candidiasis.
• The rash is scaly and has a yellowish hue and appears not only in the diaper area but elsewhere on the body, such as behind the ears or under the arms. Your child may have seborrheic dermatitis.
• The diaper area is covered with blisters that leave shallow red sores. Your child may have impetigo, which requires treatment with antibiotics.
• Your son's penis is swollen and red and you can't retract the foreskin, or you notice a greenish discharge from the penis. Your child may have a painful condition called balanitis, which requires antibiotics.