What Causes Nappy Rash?

There are several causes of nappy rash. The most common is when the skin becomes inflamed after contact with the chemicals in urine or faeces or both.

It’s more likely to occur if nappies are not changed often enough or if your baby has diarrhoea. However, if your baby has particularly sensitive skin, it can occur even when the nappy area is frequently cleaned.

Friction caused by the nappy rubbing against baby’s delicate skin and washing detergents not thoroughly rinsed out of terry nappies can also contribute to the development of nappy rash.

When is Nappy Rash More Likely to Occur?

Nappy rash can happen at any time and there may be no obvious reason as some babies naturally have more sensitive skin and may be more prone to the condition.
However, there are certain times when babies are especially susceptible to nappy rash, such as:

• During teething
• Changing from breast to bottle feeding
• After antibiotics, which can upset baby’s digestive system, causing diarrhoea
• Starting on solid foods
• Drinking cows’ milk for the first time

Always read the label.