Are you constantly bothered by discomfort and pain while wearing a diaper?
It is most probably due to diaper rashes, which are quite common in adults with incontinence. Diaper rash or diaper dermatitis is most well-known skin issues. It is an irritation that occurs when the skin remains in contact with chemicals found in leakages for long durations.
Among other reasons, this rash is caused due to occasional and infrequent diaper changes. Some other factors that cause diaper rash in adults include fungal or yeast infection, allergic reactions, skin frictions, warm and sensitive skin areas, etc. The infected area may include the private parts, buttocks, thighs or inner skin areas.
Therefore, it is important to be aware of the causes of diaper rash and how to treat it to relieve the irritation and bring healing. In this guide, you will discover practical approaches to manage severe diaper rash and regain your comfort and confidence.
Common Symptoms
- Redness in the Diaper Area: People usually notice redness in the diaper area. This is the first stage of a diaper rash.
- Frequent Diarrhea: Almost half the people who face severe diaper rash do so after constant diarrhea.
- Dry Skin: Rashes make the skin dry.
- Itching: Itching is a natural symptom during diaper rash.
- Urge to Scratch or Rub: In diaper rash, one can't keep their hands to themselves because there is always a strong urge to scratch the affected area. Scratching and rubbing provide comfort for a few seconds but result in severe irritation.
- Swelling: Apart from all these, you may notice some swelling, patches or bumps in the affected area. This is a sign of an extreme case of diaper rash.
If you experience any of these symptoms while wearing a diaper or just after removing a diaper, you are destined to have severe diaper rash.
Degrees Of Diaper Rash
- Slight: This is the first stage of diaper rash. You may notice slight redness in the affected area during slight rashes. By taking proper precuation and care, you can get rid of a slight diaper rash within 24 hours.
- Mild: A mild rash is the next stage. Rashes are more visible at this stage.
- Moderate: Moderate diaper rash is more intense because it causes irritation that can persist for 4-5 days.
- Severe: This kind of diaper rash spreads all over the skin covered by a diaper and may take a whole week to recover.
Once a person gets rashes, it becomes difficult to treat them on time. It is necessary to get rid of the extreme discomfort they feel as quickly as possible.
Here are some notable treatments to avoid and reduce severe diaper rash in adults.
How To Treat Diaper Rash
1. Use Wet Wipes
Diaper rash in infants and adults are more or less the same. However, treatments may differ in the case of an adult because a grown-up person has comparatively less delicate skin.
Using medicated wet wipes helps in reducing diaper rash. It prevents your skin from coming in contact with any kind of bacteria by keeping it clean and dry.
Use wet wipes before and after wearing your diaper to prevent rashes. Do not rub your skin too much because doing this creates friction that can cause skin inflammation.
You should pat your skin gently with wet wipes and then leave the skin exposed to dry naturally, or the diaper rash won't go away.
2. Use Super Absorbent Diapers
'Quality products lead to quality life.' Do not compromise the quality of your diapers.
If your diaper is not absorbing enough moisture and leaves you with a wet feeling all the time, stop using that particular type of diaper and shift to another one that is super absorbent and comfy.
Wetness is the main cause of skin irritation and rashes. Continuity of using the same diapers can make your skin condition worse. The Wellness absorbent underwear (pull-ups) is designed to absorb for up to 8 hours.
They leave you feeling dry since moisture gets absorbed in the underwear, and nothing but the soft fabric comes in contact with the skin. As a result, you will never experience a bad diaper rash.
3. Buy Anti-Rash Cream or Powder
Many doctors recommend using anti-rash creams and talc-free powder to treat severe rashes. There are also specialized diaper rash cream for adults that are the most effective for healing severe skin rashes.
These creams are rich in zinc oxide, which helps in treating diaper rash and cures other types of skin irritation. Apply the cream on the affected area three to four times a day for better results.
After regularly applying this cream, you will feel less discomfort of rash and notice it getting cured gradually. So, there is no doubt that a rash cream is the best thing for diaper rash.
(Caution)
Do not wash yourself with regular soaps or body wash. Doing this increases skin inflammation and causes severe rashes. Use a mild soap or medicated body wash when necessary. Only use prescribed creams and powders to treat rashes at home.
4. Change Diapers Frequently
Cleaning yourself plays a major role in minimizing skin rashes. When one uses diapers to manage incontinence, the chances of their skin being exposed to wetness for prolonged periods increase.
This exposure can harm the skin and cause bacterial infections because of wetness. Changing your diapers frequently prevents the build-up of bacteria and keeps your skin clean.
Hence, people who use diapers during incontinence should change their pads or diapers more frequently. Bathe twice a day with lukewarm or mild water, even if you have a busy schedule.
You could add baking soda to your bath. This will help kill bacteria. Avoid using scented soaps or body washes.
5. Give Your Skin Opportunities to Air Out
When you learn how to treat severe diaper rash, knowing the right approach to use diapers is important. Wearing diapers for more than 15-20 hours will undoubtedly cause skin irritation and rashes.
Take time to air out your skin without covering it with a blanket or other underwear. Air exposure in the diaper area helps your skin breathe for a while and heals rashes quickly.
6. Apply a Moisture Barrier
Another best thing to use for diaper rash is to apply a moisture barrier. It is so that the skin cannot come into contact with leakage or moisture. Otherwise, the constant exposure to moisture leads to skin breakdown and irritation.
You should use a moisture barrier cream comprising zinc oxide or petroleum jelly to help you with this. These rash creams form a protective barrier on the skin to prevent it from coming into contact with leakages while the area is healing.
The cream should be applied each time the diaper changes to achieve the best results, and the skin should dry. It does not only help prevent causing or aggravating skin injuries but also heals irritated skin.
So, even this small action can be a start in helping to continue the healing process and minimize other possible discomforts.
7. Monitor Skin Infections
At times, if one fails to treat the diaper rash as soon as possible or if the moisture has remained on the skin for quite some time, the rash becomes worse. In such cases, what exacerbates the problem is that things are just made worse by the constant exposure to irritants.
That being said, some individuals might also think of how to get rid of pad rash fast, as rashes in one's private areas bring about extreme discomfort. So, if you observe the rash getting redder, swelling, or any pus on it, this would only mean there's an infection developing, and it might be a fungal, yeast, or bacterial infection.
Further, if the infection is recognized early enough, it can be treated, which would help prevent further discomfort and resulting complications. All in all, checking the rash often, particularly in cases occasioned by diarrhea or pad rashes, is important so as to notice severe symptoms, if any, before they aggravate.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Although diaper rashes are quite painful and can cause discomfort, there are many ways to prevent them and ensure normal and healthy skin conditions. When treated properly, the severe diaper rash never remains for more than 1 or 2 weeks.
However, if your rashes are not going away despite the above treatments, it is time to get yourself checked by a specialist. For example, if you have bad skin irritation, such as bleeding from rashes, a specialized dermatologist may suggest a proper procedure for how to treat bleeding diaper rash.
Moreover, to understand the extent of your rash, you can look at your pictures of severe diaper rash to determine if there is a need to seek the services of a medical professional. They might also recommend a rash cream for adults private area and so on.
Dermatologists suggest treatments as per patient's condition. The suggestions they offer differ from one person to another. Rashes can be slight, moderate or severe, but one should get a proper check-up in all such cases.
Ignorance in an ongoing diaper rash can lead to major problems in your skin and body. Hence, make an appointment with your doctor and take the necessary tests and medicines the doctor prescribes or request free adult diaper samples today.
Gain Control Over Diaper Rash with Right Care
It can be embarrassing for an adult to develop severe diaper rash, but there is hope in how the problem can be handled. You should have the proper knowledge of the symptoms and causes of diaper rashes and take the necessary steps to treat them.
The mentioned ways, like using wet wipes, super absorbent diapers, rash creams or powder, changing diapers frequently, and seeking medical assistance if needed, are effective methods to cure any diaper rash.
Therefore, if you or your loved ones ever experience such uncomfortable or painful diaper rashes, follow the tips mentioned above to treat them quickly.
