How Breast Milk Affects Diaper Rash Healing

When diaper rash happens, it can be a very minor disturbance or a big problem. Some babies are less susceptible to diaper rash than others. Some babies might get diaper rash for a short time, then quickly recover. Others aren’t so lucky. Diaper rash can also be a very serious and disturbing problem. It can be chronic, painful, and even result in infections.

Because of how common and persistent it can be, many parents find themselves looking beyond the usual creams and ointments for ways to ease their baby’s discomfort. Interestingly, one gentle and natural option that’s gained attention is something parents may already have on-hand: breast milk. Known for its immune-supporting properties, breast milk is being explored not just as a source of nourishment but also as a potential way to support skin healing, including when diaper rash flares up.

Causes of Diaper Rash

It can be hard to pinpoint the specific cause of diaper rash, for your baby, but there are some more common culprits:

• The diaper area stays too wet. Urine and feces are very irritating to the skin. If you are not changing diapers often enough, or are using diapers that are not absorbent enough, the baby’s skin might just be too wet for too long.
• Irritant diaper rash. If you are using soaps, wipes, or lotions with fragrances or a long list of ingredients, your baby might be sensitive to the chemicals/additives. You might try cutting those out to see if things improve. You can even simplify by using just water and a cloth to clean your baby after diaper changes. If your baby’s diaper rash is really tender, you can try spritzing with water then gently dabbing the area dry with a soft cloth. You want to avoid wiping the tender areas.
• Yeast infection diaper rash can be caused by antibiotic use. If you are breastfeeding and using antibiotics, or if your baby is taking antibiotics, be on the lookout for this kind of diaper rash. It looks different from irritant diaper rashes because it will also be present in the baby’s skin folds.
• Bacterial diaper rashes can be tougher to treat and need to be confirmed by your baby’s doctor. Do not use over the counter antibiotic ointments for diaper rash as these can sometimes make it worse.
• Allergic reactions can also look like diaper rash. If your baby is allergic to ingredients in any of the diapering or bathing products you are using, they might develop a rash in the areas you apply the product. A good way to know is to stop using any products like in the irritant diaper rash section above.
• Diarrhea rash occurs in response to a baby having diarrhea. The extra irritation can cause diaper rash or make it worse. Change those diapers often!

Breast Milk vs Formula

You might wonder if there is a difference in the occurrence of diaper rash depending on the baby’s food source. Are breastfed babies more or less likely to have diaper rash than formula fed babies? This is an interesting question! It might actually even out, although there are some indications that breastfed babies are less likely to develop diaper rash.

Some types of diaper rashes are more common for breastfed babies. Those are the ones that are caused by something the breastfeeding parent eats. If you are taking antibiotics and breastfeeding, your baby might develop a yeast infection diaper rash in response to the antibiotics in your breast milk. If you eat something new that your baby is sensitive to or has an allergy to, your baby might develop a diaper rash. These situations are uncommon, but increase those babies’ risk for diaper rash.

Formula-fed babies aren’t more susceptible to diaper rash for the same reasons, but do seem just as likely or more likely to develop diaper rash anyway. A formula fed baby might have a sensitivity to an ingredient in the formula which can cause diaper rash. Formula fed babies more often get diarrhea, which can also increase the risk of diaper rash. There is also some evidence that formula fed babies more often get infections that require antibiotic use, which can be another cause of diaper rash.

How to Treat and Prevent Diaper Rash

Treating diaper rash might look different depending on the type of diaper rash it is. Some of these recommendations are useful for all situations though. The treatment might be to eliminate something that is causing the diaper rash, but you still have a sore and red bottom to worry about until it goes away. Here are some helpful tips:

• Change the diaper often. It’s best not to leave your baby in a wet or dirty diaper for long. Remember that diaper rash is often caused by too much wetness.
• If you use cloth diapers, you might try switching to disposable diapers while the diaper rash is healing.
• If you use cloth diapers, make sure that the detergent being used to wash them is free of chemical irritants.
• If you use disposable diapers, try changing brands or switch to cloth diapers. Some disposable diapers have chemical irritants or fragrances that might be causing the diaper rash.
• Spray with water and dab baby’s bottom, don’t wipe. If your baby’s bottom is VERY sore, wiping might be painful.
• Let the baby’s bottom air dry. As long as you’re able, let the baby be naked. It’s a helpful tip to put them on a waterproof pad with a towel that you don’t care about in case of accidents. Letting the skin dry out can be very helpful for healing.
• Loosen the diaper. Overly tight diapers don’t allow for good airflow and can also irritate the diaper rash with friction.
• Try different diapers/wipes/lotions/soaps. Your baby might have a sensitivity to something in the products you are using. You could try going with the most basic and chemical/fragrance free options to see if the diaper rash clears up faster.
• Diaper creams/balms/salves can be helpful, but only when applied to a clean and dry bottom. You don’t want to put it right over damp or dirty skin to trap in the wetness.
• Oils can also be used in place of diaper creams. Coconut oil or sunflower oil are sometimes recommended to use as a moisture barrier.

Can Breast Milk Help with Diaper Rash?

Well, it might surprise some people, but we are breastmilk enthusiasts, so it’s not as surprising for us! Breastmilk has actually been shown to be effective in reducing diaper rash. Once your baby’s bottom is clean and dry, you can apply some breastmilk to the affected areas using a soft cloth or cotton ball. In studies, it has shown to be as effective as steroid cream! Breast milk has many amazing uses, feeding babies is just one. There are ongoing studies evaluating breast milk as a treatment for all kinds of things from eye infections to cancer. If you’re lactating, it might be the easiest and most cost effective way to treat your baby’s diaper rash!

References:

Assessment Effect of Breast Milk on Diaper Dermatitis – PMC

The effect of topical application of breast milk and education on preventing diaper dermatitis in children in rural areas

Comparison of the effect of human milk and topical hydrocortisone 1% on diaper dermatitis – PubMed

Common Diaper Rashes & Treatments

Early-life formula feeding is associated with infant gut microbiota alterations and an increased antibiotic resistance load – ScienceDirect

Can breastfeeding protect against antimicrobial resistance? | BMC Medicine | Full Text