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Treatment of diaper rash in adults

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
 
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Treatment of diaper rash in adults at the first stage of development is sufficient air baths and proper hygiene.

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Treatment of diaper rash in men

Adult problems that are not children's problems are diaper rash in the groin area. Oddly enough, such a nuisance with severe itching, pain and reddening of the skin is common among a considerable number of male patients. The risk group includes representatives of the stronger sex who are prone to obesity, neglect the rules of basic hygiene, and suffer from diabetes. In addition to unpleasant symptoms, a brown unaesthetic spot can develop into a complex disease of fungal or bacterial origin and sometimes indicates the presence of venereal diseases.

Treatment of diaper rash in men begins with a visit to a medical facility, where a specialist rules out concomitant pathology and infection. The next step is the use of decoctions with antibacterial, healing and anti-inflammatory effects. For this purpose, chamomile, calendula petals, sage, thyme, St. John's wort and oak bark, which reduces sweating, are suitable. The infusion is prepared in the same way: a tablespoon of dry raw materials is required for a glass of boiling water, the composition is kept on the fire for 20-30 minutes. Cotton fabric is placed in a warm solution, wrung out and applied to the affected area, after treatment, the area with diaper rash should dry completely. Vegetable oils, which are boiled in steam before use, have a good therapeutic effect. Rub the problem areas with cooled oil twice a day.

Treatment of diaper rash complicated by pathogenic microorganisms is carried out in consultation with a doctor, who can prescribe a course of antibiotics and the use of special ointments.

Treatment for diaper rash between toes

The cause of the inflammatory process between the toes is considered to be mechanical impact, profuse sweating and fungal infection.

Treatment for diaper rash between toes:

  • regular washing of feet with soap and boiled water, treatment with antiseptics with mandatory drying of the affected surface (gently blot with a napkin or use a cool stream from a hair dryer);
  • wearing socks made of natural materials and breathable shoes;
  • leave your feet bare more often;
  • use talc, Teymurov paste or creams with a drying effect;
  • for severe diaper rash, lotions with zinc and copper sulfate solution are suitable;
  • in particularly severe cases, it is good to use healing ointments such as lorinden, locacorten-vioform and tar pastes;
  • Antifungal agents, such as clotrimazole, will help remove the fungus;
  • Panthenol and sea buckthorn oil are emergency healing substances.

To create an adequate therapy scheme, it is important to identify the primary source of the disease: differentiate the pathogenic microorganism, exclude provocative diseases. Therefore, if you cannot cure diaper rash on your own, you should trust the medical staff.

Treatment of diaper rash in women

Redness and swelling of the skin, itching, burning, pain, and a feeling of chafing are signs of the onset of inflammation. The appearance of diaper rash in women is most often diagnosed in the folded area, in the genital area, under the breast, on the neck, abdomen, and in the armpits. Excessive weight and sweating, abnormal vaginal discharge, and chemical changes in urine/feces provoke skin dermatitis.

Treatment of diaper rash in women is based on standard rules: determining the root cause and stage of development of the inflammatory process. Like any disease, diaper rash is easier to prevent than to treat. Maintaining hygiene (especially in hot weather), skin care depending on its type, eliminating excess secretion (sebum, sweat, leucorrhoea, etc.), wearing underwear made of natural fabrics, avoiding very tight clothing - all this will help protect you from unpleasant rashes on the skin.

Areas with diaper rash require simultaneous softening, healing and drying. Skin folds are treated with a teaspoon of boric acid diluted in a glass of water. Dried skin is lubricated with Vaseline, oil or baby cream. Herbal baths, such as yarrow decoction (1 tablespoon per glass of water), provide relief from itching and burning. The formation of ulcers, erosions, skin peeling and other clinical symptoms are a reason to immediately contact a dermatologist.

Treatment of diaper rash under the mammary glands

During pregnancy, against the background of vaginal candidiasis, diaper rash is differentiated on the genitals and under the mammary glands. The disease manifests itself as a vesicular rash, often merging into large conglomerates with complications in the form of point erosions. Skin inflammations under the breast in the form of red spots, cracks, small ulcers also appear in overweight women, with friction from clothing elements and excessive sweating.

Initial treatment of diaper rash under the mammary glands is reduced to eliminating friction and moisture in the skin folds. Reddened areas are treated with soap and water and antiseptics. After that, the skin needs to be allowed to breathe. Talc and a drying cream are applied to dry skin and a soft natural fabric is placed in the inflamed fold in order to prevent the affected areas from sticking together. Drying ointments with zinc, Teymurov paste, including baby creams (for example, Desitin) promote healing.

Resorcinol, zinc sulfate and copper help to cope with advanced forms of inflammation. Treatment of diaper rash with ulcers, pustules, localized under the breast, will require special means - clotrimazole, levomekol, solcoseryl and others. It is recommended to use medications strictly as prescribed by a doctor, because diaper rash can be caused by a concomitant disease, an allergy to detergents or food. Without eliminating the primary pathology in this case, it will not be possible to cure diaper rash.

Treatment of diaper rash in the elderly

The skin of elderly people becomes thinner, sensitive and dry, loses elasticity, due to which it easily cracks, is easily injured, rubs and heals slowly. Even bed linen can cause bedsores and diaper rash, especially in bedridden seriously ill patients. In this regard, areas of natural skin folds (groin area, armpits, area under the mammary glands and palms) require special care and constant inspection.

Based on age-related changes, treatment of diaper rash in the elderly is characterized by a number of features - the selection of soft, natural clothing and bed linen that eliminate friction and allow air to pass through. Flabby and dry skin of elderly patients requires mandatory moisturizing and protection, for this purpose, high-quality children's creams with a healing effect are suitable. Skin with diaper rash is treated with herbal decoctions (oak bark, chamomile). Oils, powders or ointments with zinc are applied to dried areas. Skin inflammation in the elderly easily develops into a chronic form, is difficult to treat in advanced forms, so it is important to take measures to prevent their development.

Treatment of diaper rash in diabetes

The problem of diabetes has a negative impact on the health of the entire body. Pathological changes are also observed in the skin - roughness, dryness, loss of elasticity and peeling, especially in the head area. High sugar levels provoke frequent urination, which leads to fluid loss. As a result, the sebaceous and sweat glands are disrupted, an unpleasant odor appears, the skin takes on a yellowish tint, itches, and cracks. Even ordinary soap is a threat to a diabetic, so it is advisable to use neutral products, special lotions and milk. Feet and palms require maximum care, which must be regularly moisturized and softened. By the way, in this situation, cosmetics based on urea are indispensable.

The skin of a diabetic is susceptible to infection, which is caused by frequent blood sampling for analysis and injections. Any minor damage to the skin is prohibited to be treated with alcohol-containing substances; chlorhexidine, furacilin or hydrogen peroxide are used instead. Patients with high sugar are at risk of contracting a fungal infection localized between the toes or fingers.

Increased sweating, problems with thermoregulation lead to the development of inflammation in the skin folds. Treatment of diaper rash in diabetes should begin with a consultation with a specialist. To prevent fungus from joining the diaper rash, it is advisable to use talc or creams containing zinc. To treat inflamed skin, you can use talc cream from the Dia Derm series.

Treatment of diaper rash in diabetes consists of prevention, proper and timely care of problem areas, as well as constant monitoring by the attending physician.

Treatment of yeast diaper rash

Yeast diaper rash or superficial candidiasis is an infectious-allergic disease caused by opportunistic microorganisms – Candida fungi. Dermal lesions caused by yeast-like fungi can develop both independently and against the background of primary infection. The course, depth of penetration and area of the lesion largely depend on the inadequacy of skin barriers, as well as the insufficiency of immune responses. Provocative factors include mechanical damage to the skin (burns, abrasions, sweating, etc.), metabolic disorders and other serious diseases (tumors, blood diseases, immunodeficiency of the first and second degree).

The following areas of skin damage by yeast fungus are distinguished:

  • large folds on the body;
  • between the toes/fingers;
  • outside the fold.

Diaper rash, which develops in the area of skin folds, is often diagnosed in babies (between the buttocks), in women (under the breast and in the groin), in men (in the inguinal-scrotal area), and is less often detected in the armpits and on the abdomen of obese patients. The pathology manifests itself with small blisters and pustules, developing into dark red with a bluish tint erosions. Superficial candidiasis between the fingers is characterized by unbearable itching, burning and causes the carrier severe pain. Yeast rashes of the smooth layer of the skin are extremely rare. For example, in infants, along with lesions of the gluteal folds, trunk or limbs, there are brown, shiny areas.

Treatment of yeast diaper rash is carried out with antifungal creams and ointments - travogen, candid, clotrimazole, travocort, pimafucin, etc. The therapeutic course is selected individually, but it lasts at least 10 days. Good results are given by nystatin-containing powders - Nilstat, Mycostatin, O. Staticin.

In adults, diaper rash is diagnosed in severe diseases, due to which the patient is immobilized or spends most of the time in bed. Diaper rash in the genital area cannot be avoided if a person cannot control urination and does not carry out proper hygiene measures. In obesity, inflammation is often found in the neck areas, as well as in the armpits. Fungal microflora and excessive sweating of the feet become the culprit of interdigital diaper rash.

If the inflammation is not accompanied by a fungal infection, then no special therapy is needed, except for treating the affected area with boiled water. Otherwise, antimicrobial ointments, creams, oils and medications for internal use are recommended.

Treatment of second-degree diaper rash in adults is carried out using external medications - panthenol, purelan, desitin, etc. It is good to treat erosive areas with propolis and calendula tincture, and make chamomile and linden baths.

Therapy for advanced forms of diaper rash should be entrusted to a specialist. It is important to remember that the presence of bacteria in the wound area complicates therapy several times, prolongs the recovery period and threatens dangerous complications.

Overweight people are recommended to use methods of preventing diaper rash - take a shower more often and change clothes in the summer. Patients with diabetes mellitus must consult a specialist when the first symptoms of diaper rash appear.

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