Diaper dermatitis: How to treat and prevent

Dampness, maceration, fecal enzymes, chemicals, and other irritants lead to diaper dermatitis in infants. Most cases can be cleared with frequent diaper changes, use of superabsorbent disposable diapers (which contain gelling material in their core), and a low-potency topical corticosteroid. If the eruption lasts for more than 3 days or classic erythematous satellite lesions are present, addition of an antifungal agent should help resolve the condition. Recalcitrant or clinically atypical eruptions may signify rarer disorders, such as psoriasis, Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, Leiner's disease, or acrodermatitis enteropathica. Patients with these conditions should be referred to a dermatologist, if possible, for further evaluation and treatment.