Yeast Infection in Babies: Symptoms & Treatment

Sometimes even mild rashes for a baby who cannot do anything about them can be irritating and painful. And pain is the last thing any parent would want their delicate little child to experience. Especially if you are living in a humid state in India or a foreign country that’s hot and humid, the chances of fungal infections, yeast infections and heat rashes to your baby on the skin and in the diaper, area are more common. So, for parents living in down south states in India or Gulf and middle eastern countries in Asia such as Dubai, Qatar, Doha, UAE, Kuwait etc, this article will be a helpful resource to understand yeast infections in babies and how to avoid and treat them.  

The most common kind of rash babies experience is diaper rashes. Read this article about the Causes For Diaper Rashes In Babies to understand the reasons behind rashes. The main reason for a diaper rash can be chafing and friction. But yeast diaper rashes can be caused if your baby's diaper area is not cleaned correctly or is moist for a long duration leading to an infection. This article will discuss how a yeast diaper rash can be avoided. The following simple point that you would need to keep in mind would help you nip the baby yeast infection situation in the bud itself.

AVOID USING DISPOSABLE BABY WIPES

As mentioned above, the main reason for baby yeast infection is a lack of hygiene or moisture build-up in the diaper area. Many disposable wipes are a mixture of polyester and other fabrics. This means that they have less to no absorbance power (1). As a result, the gunk and moisture you wipe off get smudged and remain on the skin instead of wiped off. This results in yeast infection and diaper rash. Instead, clean your baby's bum with fresh lukewarm water rather. Then, all the poop, pee, moisture, and dirt in the folds of the skin would get cleaned, and you can avoid a yeast diaper rash, or an existing one would heal faster. 

GIVE YOUR BABY DIAPER-FREE TIME

Anything touching your baby's skin with a yeast diaper rash can irritate the skin further. Moreover, ensure that the skin is dry and there is no moisture. Yeast breeds humidity and the inflammation can worsen if the skin is not dry. Thus, giving the bum some air time and your baby, some diaper-free time is critical.

You can either go zero bum wear for a day or two, or you can make your baby wear Dry Feel Langots, Padded Underwear, or SuperSoft Underwear and avoid diapers entirely for a few days. This will give the infection a proper time to heal and the skin to breathe. 

USING A GOOD DIAPER CREAM

The good news is, if your baby is using cloth diapers, you do not need diaper cream at every diaper change. But if there is an existing rash condition and you want to give your baby diaper-free time, a good diaper cream can help you in this situation. A diaper cream creates a barrier on the skin so that any moisture from the pee or poop does not touch the skin and lets the rash heal faster. 

Please remember to ask your paediatrician for the best diaper cream that suits your child. Even for a topical application product, when it comes to newborn kids, avoid using any over-the-counter medication. 

CONSIDER SWITCHING TO CLOTH DIAPERS

The chemicals and the plastic present in disposable diapers make it difficult for your baby's skin to breathe. Moreover, the moisture gets trapped, leading to frequent diaper rashes for babies on disposable diapers. To avoid recurring yeast diaper rash, you may want to give your baby's skin the best gift to avoid yeast diaper rash – cloth diapers! 

Cloth diapers are reusable, more hygienic and freer of toxic chemicals that can harm your baby's skin and cause all sorts of skin conditions. In addition, if you go for cloth diapers, you would not even need to invest in barrier creams and rash creams. 

ENSURE A PROPER FIT

An ill-fitted diaper can cause a rash due to chafing and friction on the skin. Although this is not a reason for yeast diaper rash, if there is an existing rash, an ill-fitted diaper, rubs against the inflammation, and the chafing can worsen the rash. Thus, make sure that the diaper is neither too loose nor too tight. 

AVOID SCRUBBING THE AFFECTED AREA

The yeast infection bumps caused by the rash can be painful if scrubbed. Scrubbing a towel or any rough material while cleaning or wiping can cause the bumps and the yeast diaper rash to break out and be painful. After washing the affected area, pat dry it with a soft towel. 

CHANGE DIAPERS FREQUENTLY

Waking up in the middle of the night to change diapers can be tedious. But to avoid yeast diaper rash, it is recommended that you frequently change your baby's diaper and prevent moisture build-up leading to yeast diaper rash. 

In the daytime, change the diaper after every poop, or at least after every 3 – 4 hours, even if your baby hasn't pooped in it. For nighttime, change the diaper after the last feed of the night when you change them into the night pyjamas. Then, if your baby wakes up in the night for a feed, you can change them after the feed. 

There are many Home Remedies To Treat Diaper Rash without visiting a doctor. But, if a rash or skin condition on your baby's skin lasts for more than two days, and even after all the home remedies do not reduce, it is advised to see your pediatrician.