Almost all babies get diaper rash at some point, although it's usually harmless. Sometime a bit of sleuthing reveals the culprit to be something in the baby's diet, although other causes are possible. In the case of the diet-induced diaper rash, the solution is usually simple.
Diaper Rash
Diaper rash occurs when something irritates and inflames the skin underneath a baby's diaper. The rash can appear as red or pink patches, which can be raised or flat. The area may be tender and the baby may become irritable if it becomes uncomfortable or painful. Diaper rashes are most common in babies between 8 months and 10 months old, but they can occur in any baby who wears diapers.
Dietary Impact on Diaper Rash
One way that diet can affect diaper rash is with the introduction of solid foods, says MayoClinic.com. As stool consistency and acidity changes with the introduction of new foods, this can make it more likely that the baby will experience irritation from the contents of his diaper. Food allergies are another possibility, because allergenic foods can irritate sensitive skin around the anus. When allergies are to blame, the rash typically resembles a red ring close to the anal opening, not blotchy patches spread across the baby's bottom. Exclusively breastfed babies can develop an allergy-related diaper rash from food proteins passed along in the mother's breast milk, although this is rare. Common food culprits are tomatoes, dairy and citrus.
Other Causes of Diaper Rash
Though it's easy to blame diet, most instances of diaper rash are actually caused by something else. In some cases, the cause is a dirty diaper that has been allowed to stay in place too long. New products, such as a new brand of diaper or wipes, can also bring on a rash in the diaper area. If the rash begins in creases of skin and spreads from there, the culprit may be a bacterial or yeast infection.
Solution and Prevention
To solve the problem of diet-induced diaper rash, you need to identify the specific food causing it. Eliminate all possible sources from the diet and slowly reintroduce each one, one at a time, until you discover which food affects the baby. Breastfeeding mothers can eliminate foods from their own diet to see if that has an impact on diaper rash frequency as well. Once the responsible food is discovered, discontinue feeding it to your child for a few months. Sometimes babies outgrow a sensitivity to certain foods and when she is a little older, your child may be able to eat the food without developing diaper rash.
