Ouch! Once again, when changing the baby’s diaper, you notice strong redness on his buttocks. One more erythema, linked to a diaper that is too wet? Possible. But this time, the area seems really very irritated to you. Worse, the inflammation seems not to want to fade, over the care. What if it was a buttock mycosis of baby? “Mycosis is indeed a possible complication of diaper rashusually affected by the candida albicansa germ naturally present in the digestive tract,” says Dr. Fabienne Keller, dermatologist in Strasbourg.
What does diaper yeast infection look like?
If diaper rash is not treated and treated in time, the risk of a yeast infection is very real. Baby’s red buttocks then take on a new look that is a little more inflamed and recognizable by:
- very frank redness of the area, as if it were burned,
- the appearance pustuleswhich on their own can establish the diagnosis.
- a whitish coating of the infected area.
Thrush, another manifestation of candida albicans fungus
Other event candida albicans, baby thrush can also arise in the baby’s mouth (mouth, tongue and inner cheeks.). The two manifestations (mycosis of the seat and mycosis of the mouth) are well often linked. In short, in case of red buttocks and thrush, you can be sure that it is indeed a proliferation of fungi, to be treated by your pediatrician.
What is the difference with diaper rash?
But then, is the cutaneous mycosis located on the baby’s bottom different from diaper rash? If the two medical terms are different, mycosis is, in fact, a consequence of diaper rash. “The two are indeed very connected, superinfection with candida albicans fungus, settling on a sensitive and damaged area such as the skin of the baby’s seat during an erythema”, underlines the dermatologist. The best way to avoid mycosis is therefore to avoid or treat diaper rash.
The term is incorrect. You don’t “catch” a mycosis like you catch a cold! This is a secondary infection that occurs from a fungus already present naturally in the baby’s body or on his skin, and which can proliferate on a damaged area, like an erythema. “Especially a hot and humid area, as the baby seat can be in a diaper. The terms of proliferation of bacteria, are optimal”, confirms the specialist. Certain factors play a role in the installation of a mycosis:
- maceration baby’s intimate area, especially in hot environments,
- the hyperacidity of the stools (in the event of diarrhoea, for example),
- a lack of hygienetoileting too quickly or too infrequent changes.
Go to the pediatrician if the erythema does not pass
When a mycosis has declared itself, the area can no longer be processed merely by usual care of hygiene. “Above all, faced with what could be a mycosis or faced with a diaper rash that does not pass despite well-conducted hygiene care, see your pediatrician or a healthcare professional. Only he will be able to establish the precise diagnosis of mycosis and prescribe appropriate treatment confirms the dermatologist.
An antifungal cream to treat your infant
In the case of mycosis, the usual treatment is a antifungal cream to apply on the skin lesions during about two weeks. “I specify that an antifungal is absolutely not not toxic for the baby and that it can be administered to him without worry, reassures the specialist. However, it is better to consult to be sure of the diagnosis than to buy an antifungal yourself, without a prescription. »
Attention, a lack of treatment on a mycosis can also transform in bacterial superinfection, which will require taking antibiotics. So don’t delay!
To avoid a possible mycosis or a recurrence if baby has already been there, a single watchword: keep baby’s bottom dry, above all avoiding the combination of humidity and heat, which leads to maceration. A daily care that involves several small simple gestures:
- Adopt new nappies, if those used are not suitable and are not sufficiently absorbent
- Change regularly child’s diapers
- Clean her buttocks with liniment (“or even better, with clear water!”, recommends the dermatologist)
- To dry the child with care, changing the towel often
- Cut regularly her fingernails to prevent him from scratching or hurting himself
- Protect your skin with a creamzinc oxide or of water paste
- leave baby the buttocks in the air if possible, in case of redness.
Habits to reclaim so that your infant finally finds his baby skin!