Diaper dermatitis, commonly referred to as diaper rash, is a frequent diagnosis in the pediatric setting, causing distress in both infants and parents because of its often persistent nature despite diligent care around diaper changes. Although diaper dermatitis can be seen in any patient wearing diapers, it typically peaks between 9 and 12 months. Many underlying etiologies should be considered when evaluating a patient with diaper dermatitis. A thorough evaluation involves the patient’s underlying medical and family history, characterization of the rash distribution and morphology, and any contributing factors, such as topical products, foods, or other exposures.
The most common cause of diaper dermatitis is irritant contact dermatitis. In irritant diaper dermatitis the integrity and barrier function of the skin is compromised by 2 major factors: increased moisture caused by the occlusive environment of the diaper combined with urine and fecal waste and a higher pH environment due to increases...
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