Safe Home Remedies for Infant Skin Rashes

"Soft as a baby's behind..." or so goes the saying. Unfortunately, our family doesn't know much about that. But we do know a lot about eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, severe dry skin, and even ringworm. You would not believe the things kids can bring home from school to share with their infant siblings.

I also know from multiple friends and family that we are not alone in our experiences with children and inflamed skin conditions. So here are some of our favorite resources and some that have been recommended by other parents who believe in natural and home remedies whenever possible. Please remember that I am not prescribing anything and you really should check with a doctor for a correct diagnosis of any rash that your infant is experiencing.

Diaper Rash

This one has been the easiest for us to treat. I know some of my friends have not been so lucky. Diaper rash thrives in wet conditions. So change diapers often if your baby is experiencing diaper rash. Avoid scrubbing at any sticky or dried on messes as this can irritate baby's fragile skin. A good option if you are at home is to stick baby's bottom under a stream of warm, running water in the tub to get it good and clean. Then pat dry with a clean towel and let baby air dry for a few minutes if possible. The more time they can spend without a diaper on, the better it will be for treating the diaper rash, although reasonable precautions should be taken to protect the house from any accidents. If you want to powder your baby's bottom before putting a fresh diaper on her, use cornstarch instead of talc.

Oatmeal baths can be very soothing to irritated skin. Grind up a cup of uncooked oatmeal (not the instant kind) in a food processor or blender until it is powdery. Add the powder to baby's bath. Also I have heard of putting milk of magnesia on affected areas of diaper rash, although we haven't personally tried this one.

Avoid commercial products with mineral oil or petroleum-based ingredients. Most of us who are into "natural" remedies and a non-toxic lifestyle agree that these are pretty unnatural and toxic options for the skin.