Really Bad Nappy Rash with bleeding sores

[MichelleMcLachlan]

My poor little baba had diareah for 2 weeks then her first tooth came through and her bottom is in a terrible state. It's all red, had a few sore patches and some dry patches and a couple of little sores that have bled. I've been trying my best to make it better, but bless her, she's not been grumpy about it at all.

I've tried: -
washing every nappy change with warm water
sudocreme (didn't help)
diprobase (moisturised, but doesn't clear the sores)
lots of nappy off time

Anyone have any suggestions, it really is bad :(

Thank you

Chelle & Heather
(nearly 9 months)

[waterfalls]

I have found the best thing is just lots of baths and no nappy time.

Remember most nappy creams will prevent nappies from being absorbant, if you put too much on their bottoms whch wont help withnappy rash. I only put cream on if they are having nappy free time, or for overnight just a tiny tiny amount on the sore areas only. HTH

[Mytwopenceworth]

thought this might help -

The best way to treat an ordinary nappy rash, or nappy rash caused by a fungal infection, is to let it get some air. It is a good idea to leave the baby's nappy off for about an hour a few times a day.

It also helps to change the baby's nappy often. When the rash is at its worst, it may be necessary to change the nappy up to 12 times a day. Dry the baby's bottom carefully after each change.

It is important to wash the baby's bottom every time you change the nappy. If your baby has only wet their nappy, use warm water. If the baby has dirtied their nappy, use a little soap, but remember to always rinse in warm water to make sure there is no soap left on the baby's skin.

Fixed faeces can be removed by using ordinary cooking oil on a wad of cotton wool. Do not use baby wipes, as they can sting and dry the skin out and the chemicals in them can make the rash worse.

If your baby has nappy rash or very sensitive skin it is a good idea to protect it with a thick barrier cream after every wash. To protect the red skin, you can use a zinc paste or barrier cream, which is available at the chemist: zinc forms a protective surface over the skin. Weak hydrocortisone creams (eg Dermacort) can be used for severe cases, but these should not be used without consulting your doctor first.

If using cloth nappies, try changing to disposable nappies as they absorb more fluid from the baby's skin.

Try dressing the baby in woollen underwear on top of the nappy instead of plastic pants.

If using disposable nappies, try switching to cloth nappies. Sometimes changing to another type of nappy will help.

What if the nappy rash just gets worse?

If the nappy rash does not get better in a few days, or gets worse, talk to your doctor or health visitor. If the baby's skin turns even more red, warm and swollen, and the baby gets a temperature, you should also contact a doctor immediately as the nappy rash may be caused by a bacterial infection that requires medical treatment.

How to tell the differences between nappy rashes


An ordinary nappy rash is very red, but not bright red. The baby feels well in general, only feeling a sting when they are wet, or dirty themselves. The redness does not reach into the folds of the skin and disappears a few days after giving their bottom some air, using zinc cream and frequently changing nappies. Get advice from a health visitor or doctor if the rash continues.


A fungal infection is bright red. Check if the baby is red in the folds of the skin as well. The fungus can grow there too. Your baby will get very upset and cry when you change their nappy. The ordinary advice such as airing the bottom and frequent nappy changes is often not enough to improve the condition. If zinc paste for children does not help, contact a doctor.


A bright red, very warm and swollen nappy rash may be caused by a bacterial infection. The baby may be in a bad mood and have a fever. If so, contact a doctor.

[nannyme]

Just to add to v. comprehensive advice below!
Clotrimazole at 1% not 3% as in CAnesten cream for adults is effective if fungal nappy rash. Metanium crem is far better for bad regular nappy rash than Sudocrem imo!

[Linnet]

I use metanium when dd2 gets really bad nappy rash like this while teething.

[izzybiz]

i agree, Metainium is amazing, you can almost see it working with each nappy change.

[Twinkie1]

Don;t give her weetabix - DS's bottom immediately comes up in open sores and bleeds when he has eaten weetabix and he is not the only child I know wo it affects like this!!!

[Yorkiegirl]

DD2 has had this and much worse several times now. Metanium is good but if it gets any worse you need to check with the doc that it isn't thrush and also that it isn't infected. We had a special spray on cream called Sprilon on prescription so as to avoid touching the area too much and making it worse. Bathing with camomile tea is also good.

[MichelleMcLachlan]

Thanks everyone, I bought some Metanium today and have put some on her as she was going to bed, so fingers crossed by morning it'll be a little better.
Thanks for your advice.

Chelle & Heather

[1980cat]

Dd hd this a few times and the doctor gave us something for it. Each time they said don't think it'll make much differnece but just in case and every time is was gone by the next day. Sorry I can't remebr what it was that he gave us but I got it on perscription so may be worth taking her to the GP.

[snowleopard]

I learned from MN to use cornflour as a kind of baby powder. Doesn't affect absorbency of nappy, doesn't cause reaction and keeps DS nappy-rash-free.

[Elibean]

How is she today? I found metanium was the only thing that helped when dd had really bad nappy rash, really hope its helped your little one too.

[MichelleMcLachlan]

It's a little better but to top it off, she's got bacterial conjunctivitis and is gunky all over her face with it.

I took her to see GP who prescribed antibiotic for mystery cold illness that she's had for 2 months, ointmenty type stuff that goes liquid when it goes in her eye and canisten for her bottom because the antibiotic can cause thrush and it might help clear the remaining nappy rash.

the nappy rash is better, the redness is completely gone, there are a couple of sore spots which aren't bleeding, so fingers crossed we're passed the worst of it.

Chelle & Heather

[Eve2005]

have you ruled out any food intolerances. my dd had this and it turned out it was caused by the cows milk we'd just started putting in her cereal, even the trace amounts in formula spark it off.

except for that, i'd just make sure she's completely dry before you put new nappy on, let her air dry for a few mins if you have to and then use sudocreme til it clears a bit, then switch to vaseline, sudocreme doesn't seem to work long term for my dd

[handlemecarefully]

I think some lo's just have bottoms that do this - inexplicably! My dd used to be like this - if she was teething it was as if her poo has turned to battery acid; a few moments contact with her skin and it was red, weeping and bleeding. I found that irrespective of what I did none of my interventions made a difference - it would just clear up of it's own accord as quickly as it appeared.

Fortunately my ds hasn't suffered likewise.

[WestCountryLass]

My DD had a bad case last week, bleeding and very sore and I was recommended to give her oatmeal baths. I did this and she was vastly improved in 3 days. You get a cup of oats and grind them up finely ina food processor or you can out them in a pop sock and run them under the tap as you squish the oats about. I also used Metanium and Dudocrem on her and let her have a bare bum as often as possible.

[Kliciousmomma]

The best thing to use is a thick layer of Vaseline or petroleum jelly works like charm and doesn't contain anything else... creates a barrier between the nappy and skin and is very soothing for the baby dd had something similar when she was younger also try and keep the nappy off for a while as others have suggested too it helps good luck

[Charlene1]

Is it better yet?

My ds developed a sensitivity to Sudocrem, and a pharmacist told us to use plain brand aqueous cream that people use for ezcema (sp?) It worked. Dd developed sensitivity to aqueous cream so we went back to sudocrem. She gets thrush a lot, and "Weetabixitis" :) - she loves weetabix, but daren't give it - so we use Bepanthen to soothe it, then blast her with Metanium, then off to docs for nystatin cream if that fails. She seems to get it when she has lots of white bread (yeast in it), so I also give her small amounts of probiotic yoghurt. Read on one site that certain foods have anti fungal properties but I don't know what exactly. I know about grapefruit juice )(bit sour for babies though, garlic, coconut, avocado

[sareg26tymaddie]

when my two had nappy rash i used dusting powder from vileda. you have to order it over the phone or the web and its for burns but it works a traet on nappy rash as the skin is open. I totally recoment it. When my daughter was born i breast fed and then went to the bottle and it caused her to have the worst nappy rash. It even hurt for her to have a pooh as the skin was cracked and there were slight blisters. I dusted the powder on her bum everytime i changed her and you could see it changing every day until a week later it was gone and she hasn't had it since. I spoke to my hv about it and you cant get it from any chemist and she said if it was working, carry on. If any one wants the details let me know.

[SleepyJess]

This sounds too simple to be true.. but I have found Savlon to be very very good for extra bad (and bleeding) nappy rash scenarios. On more than one occasion and with more than one of my children.

SJ x

[EssJayy]

Hi, I can't find this powder anywhere. Where can I buy it from?