Diaper rash: causes, remedies, when to call a doctor

Viviana Rossi · May 24, 2026 · 6 min · Updated on September 26, 2026

Sooner or later it happens to most babies: red skin in the diaper area, a few spots, irritation that flares up right when you need to leave the house. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that at least half of all babies get a diaper rash at some point, and that it is one of the most common reasons parents call their child's doctor. In most cases a simple routine clears it up; in others your pediatrician needs to step in. Here's how to tell the two apart.

The most common types of diaper rash

1. Irritant diaper rash

The most common form. The diaper area spends much of the day in contact with urine and stool, and the AAP notes that diarrhea makes a rash more likely. It looks like pink or red patches on the skin covered by the diaper, while the groin folds, more protected from urine and stool, usually look normal.

2. Yeast diaper rash

Caused by an overgrowth of a fungus found naturally in the digestive tract. Clues the AAP lists:

Shiny, bright red or pink patches with sharp edges.
Sometimes little pink bumps or pimples; in severe cases, cracked skin that oozes or bleeds.
Usually worse in the groin folds — the opposite of an irritant rash.
It may appear after the baby has taken antibiotics.

Less often a rash is caused by bacteria (yellow crusting, weeping or pimples can be clues) or by an allergy to an ingredient in a diaper, wipe or cream. Any infection in the diaper area needs to be confirmed and treated by your child's doctor.

The basic rule for diaper rash: clean and dry skin

The best prevention is keeping your baby's skin as clean and dry as possible. In practice:

Change wet or dirty diapers as soon as possible. Moisture from a wet or soiled diaper left on too long chafes the skin, and the AAP explains that urine breaks down into irritating chemicals while digestive enzymes in stool wear away at the skin.
Clean gently. Use water, or wipes free of alcohol and fragrance. If the skin is irritated, water and a gentle non-soap cleanser may hurt less than wiping, and a squirt bottle of water lets you rinse without rubbing. Search for fragrance-free wipes
Pat dry and let the skin air-dry, including the skin folds.
Diaper-free time whenever you can (NHS).
Absorbent diapers that aren't too tight. The AAP notes there is no evidence showing which type of diaper best prevents diaper rash, but cloth diapers typically absorb less than most disposables, so you may want to use disposables until a rash heals. Search for extra-absorbent diapers
A daily bath while the area is irritated helps remove debris and irritants (AAP); the NHS suggests not more than twice a day, as washing too much dries the skin. The same gentle criteria apply to the whole daily newborn skin-care routine.

Barrier creams: the first thing to try

A barrier cream works like a shield between the skin and the contents of the diaper. The AAP says the brand matters less than the ingredients: zinc oxide and petrolatum are both good choices, and fragrance-free products are best. If the cream isn't soiled there's no need to rub it off at each change — just add more on top, and apply it again after a bath. In the UK, a pharmacist can recommend a nappy rash cream. Search for zinc oxide diaper creams

Antifungal and steroid creams: only on medical advice

If the rash doesn't clear with the routine above, the next step is your doctor, not the pharmacy shelf. The AAP says a pediatrician may recommend or prescribe an antifungal cream for a yeast rash, and warns that some prescription diaper rash medicines are only safe to use for short periods, so the instructions must be followed carefully. The NHS says a GP may prescribe a steroid cream for redness and soreness, an antifungal cream for thrush, or antibiotics for a bacterial infection.

Don't start a steroid cream on your own, even a mild one sold over the counter: the NHS states that children under 10 should only use hydrocortisone if a doctor or pharmacist has advised it. An antifungal used on a rash that isn't a yeast infection won't help either — which is exactly why the diagnosis comes first.

When to call the pediatrician about diaper rash

The AAP says to call your child's doctor if:

The rash is not going away, or is getting worse, after two to three days of treatment.
It includes pimples, peeling skin, blisters, or pus-filled, oozing or crusty sores.
Your baby is taking an antibiotic and develops a bright pink or red rash with red spots at the edges.
The rash is especially painful.
Your baby has a fever as well as the rash — if you're unsure what to measure it with, there's the guide to choosing a baby thermometer.

In the UK, the NHS says to see a health visitor or GP if the rash does not go away, gets worse or spreads to other areas, if your baby has a high temperature, or if they seem very uncomfortable.

What NOT to do for diaper rash

Talcum powder. The American Academy of Pediatrics tells parents not to use talc-containing products on a baby or child: talc-based powder can contain asbestos fibers without the label saying so, and breathing in a large amount — a spill near the baby's face, for instance — can cause severe lung disease. The NHS says the same in one line: do not use talcum powder on nappy rash.
Over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. The AAP advises against it for diaper rash: some of its ingredients can worsen skin irritation.
Soap, baby lotion, bubble bath or antiseptic creams on nappy rash (NHS).
Mixing or starting medicated creams on your own. Steroid and antifungal creams are for your doctor to prescribe.
Fastening the diaper too tightly, or using plastic covers over it (NHS).

Diaper rash in short

Most diaper rashes are irritant rashes, and the routine that prevents them is simple: change often, clean gently, keep the skin dry, with a fragrance-free barrier cream during red spells. If there's no improvement after two to three days, or you see blisters, pus, crusting or a fever, call your pediatrician. Medicated creams belong in a doctor's hands: never start them on your own.

Frequently asked questions about diaper rash

How can you tell an irritant diaper rash apart from a yeast diaper rash?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an irritant rash, the most common kind, looks like pink or red patches on the skin covered by the diaper, while the groin folds usually look normal. A yeast rash tends to have shiny, bright red or pink patches with sharp edges, sometimes little pink bumps or pimples, is usually worse in the groin folds and may appear after the baby has taken antibiotics. Only your pediatrician can confirm which one it is.

What is the most effective way to prevent diaper rash?

Keeping the skin clean and dry. Both the AAP and the NHS describe the same routine: change wet or dirty diapers as soon as possible, clean gently with water or fragrance- and alcohol-free wipes, pat dry and let the skin air-dry, leave the diaper off when you can, and make sure it isn’t too tight.

Which cream should you try first for diaper rash?

A fragrance-free barrier cream. The AAP says the brand matters less than the ingredients and names zinc oxide and petrolatum as good choices; the NHS says a pharmacist can recommend a nappy rash cream. If the cream isn’t soiled, there’s no need to rub it off at each change.

What about antifungal and steroid creams?

They are a doctor’s decision, not a do-it-yourself step. The AAP says a pediatrician may recommend or prescribe an antifungal cream for a yeast rash, and that some prescription diaper rash medicines are only safe for short periods. The NHS says a GP may prescribe a steroid cream, an antifungal cream or antibiotics, and that children under 10 should only use hydrocortisone if a doctor or pharmacist has advised it.

When should you call the pediatrician?

The AAP says to call if the rash is not going away or is getting worse after two to three days of treatment; if it has pimples, peeling skin, blisters, or pus-filled, oozing or crusty sores; if a baby taking antibiotics develops a bright pink or red rash with red spots at the edges; if the rash is especially painful; or if the baby has a fever. The NHS says to see a health visitor or GP if the rash does not go away, gets worse or spreads, if the baby has a high temperature or seems very uncomfortable.

What should you avoid when treating diaper rash?

Talcum powder — the AAP tells parents not to use talc-containing products on a baby, and the NHS says not to use it on nappy rash. The NHS also advises against soap, baby lotion, bubble bath and antiseptic creams on nappy rash, and the AAP warns against over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, whose ingredients can worsen the irritation. Don’t start a steroid or antifungal cream without your doctor’s advice.

Sources

American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org (Ingrid Polcari, MD, FAAP) — Common Diaper Rashes & Treatments (last updated December 18, 2024; accessed September 26, 2026). Source for: how common diaper rash is, the irritant, yeast, bacterial and allergic types, the prevention routine, zinc oxide and petrolatum barrier creams, antifungal creams on a pediatrician's advice, no over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, and when to call.
American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org — How to Choose Safer Personal Care Products (last updated October 31, 2024; accessed September 26, 2026). Source for: the recommendation against talc, undeclared asbestos fibers and the lung damage caused by inhaling talc.
NHS — Nappy rash (page last reviewed August 28, 2026; accessed September 26, 2026). Source for: the do's and don'ts, the pharmacist's role, what a GP may prescribe, and when to see a health visitor or GP.
NHS — Hydrocortisone for skin (accessed September 26, 2026). Source for: children under 10 using hydrocortisone only if advised by a doctor or pharmacist.