Redness, itching, blisters, and peeling on the baby's skin: these are some symptoms of diaper allergy, a problem that bothers the little ones' routine a lot. Therefore, it is essential to know what the main reactions and their causes are in order to solve the problem in the best way. Check now the main information about this problem and the reasons why it occurs.

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What is diaper allergy anyway?

According to Dr. Cristina Abud, an allergist at the São Camilo (SP) Hospital Network, diaper allergy is a dermatitis (reddish and rough lesion) in places of contact with the diaper. The problem happens due to the sensitivity of the child's skin to a product constituting diapers, such as plastic, for example.

What are the reactions of diaper allergy?

Diaper allergy can cause red and even purple spots on the child's skin. The shape of the lesion can be identified as shiny, scaling, thick or even ulcerative. However, the characteristics of the problem depend on how the dermatitis is, since it can be mild, moderate or severe.

To find out if the child has a diaper allergy, the recommendation is to analyze whether the lesions are on the convex parts of the baby's body, where contact with the material occurs (inner thighs, buttocks, and glans of the penis or vulva).

Although they are very similar, diaper dermatitis is different from Candida infection because it does not affect the folds, as they remain hidden from the fecal and urinary contents. In most cases, children up to two years old are the ones who suffer most from diaper allergy. In this period, it is not possible to have sphincter control.

The allergist stresses how essential it is to consult a doctor during this period of the child's life: "It is important to have a medical diagnosis to differentiate it from other common skin diseases also in this age group and to guide the most appropriate treatment", she explains.

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What are the causes of diaper rash?

To understand more clearly the reasons why diaper rash occurs, it is important to know, also, the baby's faeces. This is because the faeces are rich in enzymes (coming from the pancreas) and in substance (produced by bacteria in the intestine). When they come into contact with the skin, they potentiate the permeability, leaving the way open for other agents to cause irritation.in the skin

On the other hand, urine is responsible for making the skin very moist. When the urine has been peed on within a few hours, it has no negative consequences. However, when it remains in contact with the skin for more than 18 hours, irritation occurs that can impair the child's quality of life.

The combination of moisture and frequent friction causes diaper dermatitis, in which the reaction between the products of urine and feces has the power to alter the pH of the skin and increase its vulnerability.

How to treat diaper allergy?

Is your child suffering from diaper allergies?

Be careful with food

We know that breast milk protects the baby from many things. The positive side is that it also provides protection against diaper rash. This is because breast milk improves the child's gastrointestinal tract by means of bacteria from the bacillus bifidus family. These bacteria can make the stool more acidic by regulating the actions of enzymes that are responsible for causing skin permeability.

However, children who have a diet based on cow's milk gain the same protection. After all, it causes colonization of the large intestine by enterobacteria. In this scenario, the feces become alkaline and leave the way open for harmful enzymes to penetrate the skin.

Double the attention to hygiene

The products that are used for baby's hygiene cannot be chosen just anyhow. The concern needs to be doubled because the skin barrier is not very resistant and the presence of certain chemical substances can bring a lot of irritation to the little ones. Therefore, opt for products that remove greasy residues, urine and feces. In addition, give preference to thoseitems that follow the following standards.

• Absence of caustic substances;
• Acid pH similar to the pH of the skin;
• Absence of cocoamidopropyl and dimethylamine-7;
• Free of natural essences, including orange, lemon, and tangerine.

The positive side is that other products, such as moistened wipes, are not restricted by specialists. However, some children may suffer allergic reactions in the area where they are used. Therefore, to avoid problems, the ideal is to see a pediatrician so that he can list which products are most indicated for your child.

Try to keep the baby dry and protected

According to the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, parents should change the baby's diapers five to six times daily. After cleaning the child with the appropriate substances, remember to leave it dry. One of the most common mistakes in this process is to rub the baby's skin intensely. Don't do this, since moisture and friction damage the skin barrier.

To avoid problems, try to dry the area with a cloth. In this case, natural fabric models are more appropriate than synthetic products. Another interesting tip is to apply barrier creams based on zinc oxide whenever you change the child's diaper.enzymes and the substances that cause skin irritation.

Finally, the use of seed oils can be applied as a replacement for ointments. They are great shields and speed up the healing of the skin.

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Source: Dr. Cristina Abud, allergist at São Camilo Hospital Network in São Paulo .