Common skin pathologies in infants

Diaper rash (seat dermatitis) in infants :

Does your infant have red and sore buttocks? Your child probably has a diaper rash. This pathology is very common in infants.

Infant diaper rash is irritation of the skin in the area normally covered by diapers. The skin may be slightly red, or cracked and inflamed until it becomes infected. Diaper rash can have many causes, but it is most commonly caused by the skin being in contact with the baby’s urine and stool for too long. Bacteria in the stool break down urine into ammonia, a strong irritant. (These bacteria prefer an alkaline environment; unlike breastfed babies, bottle-fed babies have alkaline stools, so babies are more likely to have diaper rash.) The skin around the genitals becomes irritated and, if left untreated, pimples can form.

Diaper rash can also occur if the baby is poorly wiped after a bath. Most often, the erythema is then limited to the folds of the skin, at the top of the thighs. If the rash covers almost all of the skin at the diaper area and diapers are used, the rash may be the result of an allergic reaction to the detergent. This reaction is one of the first signs of a form of eczema called “infant eczema“. Diaper rash can still occur with illness or diarrhea. Some children are more prone to this irritation than others.

In infant diaper rash, first of all, certain hygiene rules must be observed, in order to limit skin irritation, or even possible superinfection :

Change your baby’s diaper regularly
If possible, leave your child with his buttocks in the open air
Avoid layers that are too tight

Aromatherapy formula for a natural treatment calming baby’s red bottom :

From the age of 3 months (i.e. between 4 kg and 7 kg) – Formula to be applied to the seat at each change :

For 150 ml of lotion :

Roman Chamomile Hydrosol (37.5 ml) + Rosewater Hydrosol (37.5 ml) + Olive Oil Vegetable Oil (50 ml) + Sweet Almond Vegetable Oil (25 ml).

In case of diaper rash on an infected person, the formula can be potentiated by adding up to 15 drops of essential oil of rosewood, (i.e. a dilution rate of 0.5%).

Roman Chamomile :

This hydrosol calms redness and skin irritations.

The Rose :

Rose water is a skin regenerator and a softener that calms redness.

The Olive :

Olive oil is nourishing, moisturizing and calming for the skin.

Sweet almond :

Sweet almond oil is soothing, softening and skin emollient.

Rosewood :

Rosewood essential oil is antibacterial, antifungal and skin regenerator.

Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis) :

These crusts are somewhat reminiscent of hair dandruff. They form red patches on baby’s scalp, covered with flakes of dead skin called dander.

When your baby shows cradle cap, first of all, certain hygiene rules must be observed in order to limit dander:

Do not tear off the crusts of the skull to avoid any risk of infection
Wash your baby’s scalp daily with a suitable mild shampoo such as “Mustela bébé“
Dry your baby’s head with a soft towel
Use a soft brush every day, being careful not to remove any dander