Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIdentifying BleedingWhy a Rash Can BleedTreatmentsContacting a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Identifying Bleeding
Why a Rash Can Bleed
Treatments
Contacting a Provider
When your child has a bleeding diaper rash that won’t go away, it can be very distressing for them and you. It’s natural to think that bleeding is an extreme symptom of a diaper rash, but it’s common and often not a medical emergency.
Continue reading to learn more about bleeding diaper rash, including at-home treatments and when to see a healthcare provider.
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Identifying Bleeding From Diaper Rash
Blood from a diaper rash is usually easy to tell apart from more concerning signs of bleeding, such as blood in the stool or urine. Blood from a diaper rash will be on the skin rather than within the contents of the diaper.
You’ll also likely notice other symptoms ofdiaper rash, including:
A Word From Verywell
—DANIEL COMBS, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Why Diaper Rash Leads to Bleeding
Urine and especially stool are extremely irritating to the skin. More than half of all babies will develop a diaper rash from prolonged exposure to moisture.This, combined withbabies' fragile skin,can lead to irritation and bleeding.
Interestingly, there are different causes of diaper rash, including:
Common Diaper Rash Types: How to Recognize and Treat Them
Treatments to Relieve Severe Diaper Rash
What Causes Mild to Severe Diaper Rash?
Home Remedies
In most cases, home remedies for diaper rash are enough to cure a bleeding diaper rash. They include:
OTC and Prescription Topicals
Diaper rashes will often go away within three days with the steps above. During that time, you can use over-the-counter treatments for pain relief. Here’s how:
If your child’s rash hasn’t resolved within three days following the above steps, they may have a yeast diaper rash. The signs of a yeast diaper rash include:
If you suspect a yeast rash, apply an over-the-counter antifungal cream, like Lotrimin, three times a day. Continue to follow the home remedy steps above. Call a healthcare provider if symptoms don’t improve or worsen.
When to Contact a Pediatrician
Call your pediatrician if your child:
Although diaper rashes are common, they can be uncomfortable for children and scary for parents. Never hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician’s office when you’re in doubt about whether your child should be seen.
Summary
A bleeding diaper rash is common. Usually, it resolves within three days with at-home care and there’s no need to see a healthcare provider or get prescription treatment. If your child has an extreme diaper rash, change their diaper as often as possible and let them go without a diaper when that’s feasible.
Cleanse their diaper area with warm water, but skip diaper wipes or soap, which can increase irritation. Use over-the-counter pain medications to make your child more comfortable, and monitor them for signs of infection including fever. If the bleeding diaper rash hasn’t resolved within three days or you feel your child needs to see a healthcare provider, call your pediatrician.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seattle Children’s.Diaper rash.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Diaper dermatitis.American Academy of Pediatrics.Common diaper rashes and causes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat diaper rash.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seattle Children’s.Diaper rash.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Diaper dermatitis.American Academy of Pediatrics.Common diaper rashes and causes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat diaper rash.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Seattle Children’s.Diaper rash.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Diaper dermatitis.American Academy of Pediatrics.Common diaper rashes and causes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat diaper rash.
Seattle Children’s.Diaper rash.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Diaper dermatitis.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Common diaper rashes and causes.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat diaper rash.
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