Zinc Oxide Ointment for Treating Diaper Rash

baby standing with chair in front of her

Industrial zinc oxide comes with various beneficial properties, such as antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which make it helpful to treat skin problems, including diaper rash in babies. There are actually many ways to treat diaper rash, but the right solution is by applying ointment that contains zinc oxide. So, what ointment that is effective for treating diaper rash?

Ointment that Contains Zinc Oxide

The American Academy of Dermatology said mentioned zinc oxide ointment as one of the effective treatments for rash on babies’ butts and groins. Zinc oxide forms protective layers on babies’ upper skin (epidermis) to lower the risk of alien substances causing irritation. Ointments that contain zinc oxide are easy to find and generally efficient to treat diaper rash due to irritation.

Also, side effects rarely occur on babies that use this product. However, it’s still suggested to use zinc oxide ointment as directed by the pediatrician or pharmacist. Make sure your hands are clean before thinly applying this ointment on the skin. If rashes don’t get better in a few days, see the doctor for further treatment.

Hydrocortisone Ointment

The next ointment that can be used to treat diaper rash is hydrocortisone ointment. This ointment can help reduce swelling, itching, and irritation on the skin. Most ointments do contain a mild dose of hydrocortisone. However, for treating diaper rash, using hydrocortisone ointment should be under the supervision of doctors, especially for kids under 10 years old.

Use only when your pediatrician recommends it for your child. Recklessly use it can potentially worsen rashes and cause skin irritation. If you use hydrocortisone ointment to treat diaper rash, do not use other medicines or ointments simultaneously. Wait for around 10 minutes before applying another ointment.

Petroleum Jelly

For mild irritation, petroleum jelly can be a good option to treat it. Applying petroleum jelly on babies’ skin can also be an additional treatment for certain diaper rash ointment to prevent it from sticking to the diaper. After the diaper rash healed, you can use petroleum jelly for the follow-up care to prevent diaper rash from recurring.

A 2013 study on Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing showed that the use of petroleum jelly can reduce the risk of diaper rash in the future. For optimal results, use after cleaning babies’ skin with water so that the ointment can retain water, maintaining the skin moisture.

That is the use of the industrial zinc oxide ointment for treating diaper rash.

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