Understanding Diaper Rash & How to Prevent It

In the US, approximately 35-50% of babies under the age of two have had a diaper rash. Diaper rashes can keep a child up at night and prevent a parent from getting the rest they desperately need. We’ve been there and we don’t want other baby bums to suffer. As a parent, you may be wondering what causes diaper rashes and what the best way is to prevent them.

 

What does diaper rash look like?

Diaper rash often looks like a general pink area on the inner parts of a baby’s butt cheeks. In mild cases, it is only visible when changing the diaper. When it gets severe, the diaper rash may include bumps. Parts of the baby’s skin may become dry, raw, and even bloody. Ouch!

In addition to skin irritation, a baby with diaper rash may experience poor sleep and seem fussier than usual (understandable, considering how painful a rash must be!).

What causes diaper rashes?

Here are the top three reasons a baby might be experiencing diaper rash:

1. Prolonged contact with pee and poo- Whether using cloth or disposable diapers, baby’s skin can be exposed to urine and poop (which can create ammonia and high humidity) for an extended period. Moisture + ammonia = an environment where bacteria and fungi thrive. This can cause the redness and irritation seen with diaper rash.

    Prevent moisture rash by using high quality disposable diapers and changing diapers more often.  Kudos diapers have 100% cotton liner made with unbleached natural cotton which is proven to remove 7 times more excess moisture from baby’s sensitive skin, compared to the synthetic liner in a typical diaper. Beneath the cotton, Kudos also has a patented pending DoubleDry TechTM uses two plant based layers to quickly wick away moisture. This leaves your baby’s bottom as dry as possible. Every Kudos diaper comes with a wetness indicator, so you know when you need to change your baby. Giving the baby’s bottom some diaper-free time to air out between changes can help prevent future moisture rash.

    2. Friction from poor fit or a scratchy diaper- Friction, or rubbing, can cause rashes anywhere on the skin -- just ask anybody who has tried running with shoes or shorts that just don’t fit right. This comes into play with diaper rash because it might be a poor diaper fit that is causing baby’s rash.

      The inside layer of all major disposable diaper brands is made of more than 80% of polypropylene or polyethylene (derivatives of plastic). These materials can feel rough to the touch, and that can cause irritation on a baby's bottom.  Prevent friction rash by choosing diapers that fit well and feel soft. Kudos is the only disposable diaper with a 100% cotton (not plastic!) inside layer. That cotton layer feels gentle and smooth on a baby's sensitive skin.

      3. Allergies- A baby may be allergic to ingredients in detergents, soaps, baby wipes, and certain diaper brands. Exposure to these ingredients can cause contact dermatitis, the medical term for skin irritation like diaper rash. 

        Prevent allergic rash by choosing an allergen-free disposable diaper and baby wipe. Kudos diapers are free from irritants like perfumes and latex, and Kudos cotton is free from chlorine bleaching. Cotton is clinically proven to be non-irritating to skin.  Choosing soft, irritant-free diapers, wipes, detergents, and soaps can make a world of difference in soothing a rashy tush.

        Living free from diaper rash? Kudos to that.

        Sources:

        Comparison of the Effectiveness of New Material Diapers versus Standard Diapers for the Prevention of Diaper Rash in Chinese Babies: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled, Cross-Over Study: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2018/5874184/

        Skin Health Connected to the Use of Absorbent Hygiene Products: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5574741/

        Effects of breathable disposable diapers: reduced prevalence of Candida and common diaper dermatitis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11576399

        Kudos testing performed at Vartest Laboratories, April 2020

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        Hello world, we’re Kudos! The first and only natural disposable diaper giving babies 100% clean, breathable, soft cotton to sit in all day. Not plastic. Join our mailing list below to learn more.

         

        Questions? Email us at hello@mykudos.com

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