Rash where the Pampers diaper doesn't touch?

[lkmiscnet]

My 8 mo old has been getting a red rash around the outline of his Pampers diaper. It's ABOVE and below the elastic on the waistband, in his groin area above his penis, and on his thighs. His bottom is just fine and shows no sign of a rash. Also, not sure why a rash would appear on skin that the diaper doesn't actually touch (e.g. his thigh).

I do try to have the diaper snugly on him, as I have had problems with overnight leaks and occasional daytime leaks, particularly if he is laying on his side. He is wearing size 2 and is 15 pounds now.

He is breastfed every 2 hours still round the clock and we just started solids about a month ago. I change his diaper every 3 hours or so during the day, but go 12 hours overnight, as that is how long he will stay in bed and I don't dare wake him to change his diaper overnight.

I'm not in a position to do cloth diapers or other green options at this point in time, so please don't suggest that right now.

Anyone know what could be causing this? Chemicals in the diaper?

Thanks for any advice.

[lifeguard]

If it's not where the diaper is touching maybe it's something totally unrelated like your laundry detergent.

[Viola]

I was thinking the same thing, that it could be contact dermatitis due to laundry detergent. Or maybe a heat rash?

[CherryBombMama]

is you LO chunky? mine would get "chunky" rashes on his thighs/belly from the folds.

other things that come to mind, detergent, an infection (the groin area is a dead giveaway, but there are so many viruses, it could be totally harmless), itchy clothes materials, reaction to something you ate ...

[DevaMajka]

Is it under his diaper AND outside of his diaper? Is it in his thigh creases?
What does the rash look like?

My ds recently got a rash in what sounds like the same areas- above his penis, a little bit on his thighs and nothing at all on his bum. He was dx'ed with eczema. Sposies made it a tiny bit worse. Next time I get sposies, I'm going to get Earth's Best or some other "less chemically" brand. Could you try that?

Could it be friction? Is your ds more mobile now?

[lkmiscnet]

He has red splotches. He also has very dry skin. It's very arid where we live, but I do have a humdifier on in the house and keep a steam vaporizer on in our room for nighttime. I have also been putting Burt's Bees Baby Bee lotion on him daily, but it doesn't seem to be helping.

The rash is also above the elastic on the Pampers waistband, but the diaper material ruffles above the elastic line, so it is making contact with his skin. That doesn't explain the rash on his upper thighs though.

His only mobility at this point is rolling over. He is not crawling.

I use Seventh Generation laundry detergent, and it's the one with no dyes, perfumes, etc. I also don't use fabric softner.

His bath soap is all organic and made for baby's skin.

Because of the location, I'm certain it's the diaper. I know they make Pampers Sensitive diapers, so perhaps they would help. I wonder why they just don't make ALL their diapers without whatever chemicals they remove for the Sensitive brand? The fewer chemicals the better!

[DevaMajka]

Could his thighs be touching the outside of the diaper?
I'd say to try out a less chemically diaper (I know, shouldn't they all be less chemically?). If that doesn't work, I'd personally be inclined to consider other causes.

Ds had a rash *only* in his diaper area, and it turned out it has very little to do with his diapers. I tried everything with the diapers- different detergent, sposies, changing the instant he peed, etc, and the rash didn't go away.
We stopped giving him solid foods and I stopped eating dairy, and it's gone.

Oh, and for the lotion, do you think an ointment or something really thick would help in those areas? Give him extra protection? I got something with calendula for ds's dry cheeks and it's amazing! Works WAY better than vaseline, cocoa butter, and everything else I tried.