Diaper rash is a common skin irritation that occurs in the diaper-covered region of a baby's skin. It can often occur when a baby's skin is exposed to prolonged wetness, friction, or irritation from urine and feces in diapers. Diaper rash can make your baby’s skin red, very tender, and flaky. It can cause redness, irritation, and discomfort for your baby.
What is diaper rash cream?
Diaper rash cream is a product that can help prevent and treat diaper rash, which is a common skin irritation that affects babies. Diaper rash cream can create a barrier between the skin and the diaper, reduce friction, and soothe inflammation. Some diaper rash creams also contain ingredients that can help heal the skin, such as zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, aloe vera, or calendula.
There are many types of diaper rash creams available, and some may work better for different causes and severities of diaper rash. Some factors to consider when choosing a diaper rash cream are: price, ingredients, safety, effectiveness, and preference. You can also consult your pediatrician for recommendations on the best diaper rash cream for your baby.
Is diaper rash cream necessary?
Diaper rash cream is not always necessary, but it can be helpful in preventing and treating diaper rash. Diaper rash cream can protect the skin from moisture and friction, which are the main causes of diaper rash. It can also soothe and heal the skin if it is irritated or infected.
Some factors that may increase the need for diaper rash cream are: how often the baby's diaper is changed, how sensitive the baby's skin is, whether the baby has diarrhea or is taking antibiotics, and whether the baby has a fungal or bacterial infection.
If you are not sure whether to use diaper rash cream or which one to choose, you can ask your pediatrician for advice. You can also try different types of diaper rash creams to see which one works best for your baby. Some common ingredients in diaper rash creams are zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, aloe vera, and calendula². You can also look for products that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and nontoxic.
Should you use diaper rash cream every time?
Some experts recommend using diaper rash cream as a preventive measure, especially if your baby has sensitive skin or is prone to diaper rash. Others suggest using diaper rash cream only when needed, such as when your baby has signs of diaper rash or is at higher risk of developing it, such as during diarrhea or antibiotic us.
Ultimately, the decision may depend on your baby's individual needs and preferences, as well as your own. You can experiment with different types and frequencies of diaper rash cream application to see what works best for your baby. You can also consult your pediatrician for guidance on how to prevent and treat diaper rash effectively.
The best diaper rash creams and ointments
The best treatment for diaper rash is to always keep your baby's skin clean and dry as much long as possible. Depending on the severity of diaper rash, it might take several days to improve. If the diaper rash hasn't improved after a few days of treatment at home or come back again and again, talk with your doctor or other health care professional (dermatologist).
These creams and ointments treat diaper rash and prevent future irritation, as reviewed overwhelmingly by parents:
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
- The best ointment for everyday use
- Key ingredients: petrolatum, mineral oil
- Affordable; can be used for a range of skin issues; easy to find since it’s sold in lots of stores
- A multipurpose ointment that can be used for diaper rash, chapped cheeks, cuts, scrapes, burns, eczema,
helps prevent diaper rash by protecting the skin - Advertised to relieve diaper rash within 6 hours of application
Triple Paste Medicated Ointment for Diaper Rash
- The best medicated diaper ointment
- Best for healing tough rashes
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide, white petrolatum, corn starch, anhydrous lanolin, beeswax
- Hypoallergenic; fragrance-free; HSA and FSA eligible
- Designed to be used as a diaper cream only
- Works to repel water away from skin and create a safe barrier for healing
Organic Diaper Balm by Earth Mama
- Best organic diaper balm
- Best for those who want an organic diaper balm
- Key ingredients: organic olive fruit oil, organic shea butter, organic beeswax, organic jojoba seed oil, organic lavender flower oil, organic tea tree leaf oil, organic calendula flower
- USDA-certified organic; can be used on skin all over the body; petroleum- and preservative-free
- Free from toxins, petroleum, mineral oil, vitamin E, phthalates, and parabens
- Claims to be safe for use on cloth diapers
Babyganics Diaper Rash Cream
- The best plant-based diaper rash cream
- Best for those who want a diaper cream focused on plant-based ingredient
- Plant-based ingredients
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide, shea butter, neonourish seed oil blend
- Contains zinc oxide, calendula, aloe, and jojoba oil to both treat and prevent diaper rash
- Free of parabens, phthalates, petroleum, mineral oil, artificial fragrance, and dye
Pinxav Diaper Rash Ointment
- The best diaper cream for painful diaper rashes
- Best for: treatment of mild to severe diaper rashes
- Heavy duty ingredients that help clear up severe rashes
- Key ingredients: 30% non-nano zinc oxide, aloe, vitamin E, eucalyptol, oil of clove, menthol, petrolatum, lanolin, wintergreen, aluminum hydroxide
- Ingredients recommended by expert, positive reviews from parents
- Contains multiple barrier ingredients to allow inflamed skin to heal, including a whopping 30% non-nano zinc oxide
- Features lanolin and petrolatum. Soothing ingredients such as vitamin E, eucalyptol, and menthol help relieve the pain that babies may experience with bad diaper rashes.
Zarbee’s Naturals Baby Daily Bottom Balm
- The best soothing balm for diaper rash
- A natural ointment to treat diaper rash
- Key ingredients: beeswax, aloe, calendula, chamomile, castor oil, canola oil, sunflower seed oil
- More natural, plant-based ingredients, texture and consistency is less messy than many products.
- No strong smell
- Beeswax has much better consistency
- It stays put and isn’t greasy
- Daily skin soother and prevention for diaper rash, or to treat diaper rashes
Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Diaper Ointment
- The best natural diaper rash ointment
- It is best for those who want a rash ointment with natural ingredients
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide, sweet almond oil, shea butter, lavender oil, jojoba seed oil
- Ingredients are all-natural
- All-natural ingredients; made without phthalates, parabens, or petrolatum; not tested on animals
- The ointment contains almond oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter, which all work to soften and recondition baby’s skin
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste
- The best ointment for severe rashes
- Best for getting rid of severe rashes
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide, castor oil, mineral oil, paraffin, Peruvian balsam, petrolatum
- Free of dyes, parabens, preservatives, phthalates, and talc; easy to buy (sold in a wide range of stores)
- Contains 40 percent zinc oxide
- Gets high praise from parents for healing tougher rashes
Desitin Daily Defense Baby Diaper Rash Cream
- Best tried and true diaper cream
- Best for those who want a tried and true classic
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide, mineral oil, petrolatum, beeswax
- One of the most cost-effective options
- Affordable, widely available and easy to find, hypoallergenic
- Intended as a diaper cream only
- Uses zinc oxide to create a barrier on your baby’s skin to help soothe and prevent rashes
- Fragrance-free, contains no allergens, and has a creamy formula to help keep baby’s skin moisturized
- Work immediately against inflammation that causes the redness, warmth, and pain
Weleda Diaper Care Cream
- The best cream for sensitive skin
- It is best for those who have sensitive skin
- Formulated especially for sensitive and atopic skin in babies
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, sesame seed oil, beeswax, sunflower seed oil
- Free from synthetic preservatives, fragrances, or petroleum
- Made especially for sensitive and atopic skin
- The sourcing of its ingredients is certified by NATRUE and the Union for Ethical BioTrade
- Made with fair-trade beeswax and pharmaceutical-grade zinc oxide
A+D Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Treatment cream
- The most affordable diaper rash cream
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide, dimethicone, aloe barbadensis extract, benzyl alcohol, coconut oil, cod liver oil, fragrance, glyceryl oleate, light mineral oil, paraffin, synthetic beeswax
- Includes zinc oxide and dimethicone to treat itching and aloe vera to moisturize
- Affordable; paraben- and dye-free; available in a wide range of stores
- Offers preventive Original Ointment for baby’s everyday uses
- Contains lanolin and petrolatum, which combine to help seal out wetness
CeraVe Diaper Rash Cream
- The best option for regular use
- Incredibly healing
- It works well for a variety of skin irritations
- Key ingredients: 46.5 percent petrolatum, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E
- Free of fragrance, parabens, sulfates, lanolin, phthalates, dyes and gluten
- Wonderfully moisturizing and healing
- Effective diaper rash product and won’t irritate the most sensitive skin types
Cetaphil Baby Soothe & Protect Cream
- The best cream for dry skin
- more effective with dry and chaffing skin
- Key ingredients: allantoin, organic calendula, shea oil, sunflower seed oil
- Free of parabens, fragrance, and petrolatum; hypoallergenic
- More natural options
- Active ingredient allantoin helps prevent dry, itchy skin as well as minor skin irritations.
- No parabens, fragrances, or petrolatum
- Non-greasy formula
- Suited for the most sensitive skin types
Grandma El’s Diaper Rash Ointment
- Most versatile diaper rash ointment
- Best for: handling a range of skin problems
- Key ingredients: amber petrolatum, anhydrous lanolin, natural vitamin E, balsam of Peru extracts
- Hypoallergenic; can be used for a variety of skin problems
- Works well for eczema, heat rash, minor burns, cradle cap, and more
- Safe for cloth diapers, going on clear, and being manufactured in the United States
If the rash is severe, unusual, or doesn't improve with home care, you should see a doctor or other health care professional for advice. They may prescribe a stronger cream or diagnose the rash as another condition.
If a rash persists even with prescription products, your doctor or other health care professional may recommend that your baby see a specialist in skin conditions (dermatologist).