Nappy care

Nappy rash is a common problem, with up to a third of nappy wearing infants thought to be affected at any given time. There is usually a number of reasons for the nappy rash, e.g. prolonged contact with a mix of stools and urine, occlusion, friction due to nappies, etc. Bepanthen helps to protect the skin against these causes of nappy rash by creating a barrier against the harmful effect of the urine, faeces and nappy.

Experts recommend to use a barrier cream or ointment after each nappy change to help reduce the contact a baby's skin has with urine and faeces. The use of topicals on newborns and especially premature babies requires particular care and the use of simple formulations. The use of perfumes, dyes, preservatives or any other kind of known allergenic substances should be avoided.

A recent review by Atherton (2004) discusses how positive action should be taken to care for a baby's bottom.

'This should comprise gentle cleansing, careful nappy selection, changing the nappy as soon as possible after defecation, and application of a barrier preparation at every change.

The barrier preparation should mimic the skin's natural function by forming a long-lasting barrier to increase protection against irritants..., and to maintain optimum moisture levels with the stratum corneum. Ideally, the promotion and use of such products should be supported by evaluation in appropriately controlled clinical trials.'

Curr Med Res Opin 2004; 20(5): 645-649