Issues with yeast/have bleached diapers at every washing and it hasn't helped :-(

[PoetryLover]

My 20 month old DS recently had pneumonia and was on antibiotics. He developed a really bad rash that looked especially painful on his penis and scrotum. We've mixed a drop of TTO with diaper creams and even with neosporin. We've even bleached the diapers at every wash. For a day or 2 it will seem like it's getting better and then it will start looking bad again. I've given him probiotics. Please help. I don't know what else to do and actually bought disposables so that his bum can heal. :-(

[AdinaL]

Oh gosh, if it is yeast, don't treat it with Neosporin. That would make the yeast worse, I would think, since it is also an antibiotic.

Your dipes may be clean and fine, but it sounds like you might need to treat him for a yeast rash if you feel like that is what it is. 

I hope you get some good answers! 

[PoetryLover]

Thanks for your response.

I feel so silly. :-( It seemed to be making it better for a while. :-( 

How should I be treating it? Right now we just started disposables until he is healed. But now both sons have the rash. :-(

[AdinaL]

Oh! Don't feel silly!

I would probably do a couple of things at this point.  I would see the doc about the rash - if it is yeast, they will probably give you and antifungal cream to help clear it up.

THen I would strip my diapers.  I think you can find some info on here about stripping dipes.  I usually did a wash with no soap to get residue out, and then a wash on hot with something like Dawn dish detergent to get out everything, then another wash with no soap, and  double rinse to get everything out.

There is probably a more detailed thread in here if you search for stripping diapers. :)  I hope that you get a solution and the boys feel better soon.

[PoetryLover]

Thanks, we have seen the doctor and she recommended either a drop of tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract mixed with his diaper cream. We had TTO, so that is what we used. It did lessen the rash and even make it appear nearly healed. But then it worsened again. I think it's because the yeast is in the diapers. I'm hoping not to have to bring them back to the doctor's, so I'm seeing if the disposables make a difference. They seem to be, but it's early to tell.

Question: Does bleach not strip the diapers? We've been using bleach at every wash (even though I don't like to). I will absolutely try Dawn dish detergent. Thanks for the advice. :-)

[AdinaL]

Bleach can strip the diapers, but is can also leave residue in them.  I was amazed, even after bleaching, how much soap came out in a wash with no added soap.  It was crazy!

[PoetryLover]

Thank you so much! I had no idea. Dawn it is! I definitely want to return to cloth as soon as I can. 

Thanks again. 

[fluffymamaof1]

If you suspect yeast, my Pedi suggested lotrimin, like an athletes foot cream. Try putting him in a prefold with no cover for a while if you can too so his bum gets a little fresh air :)

[PoetryLover]

Originally Posted by fluffymamaof1 

If you suspect yeast, my Pedi suggested lotrimin, like an athletes foot cream. Try putting him in a prefold with no cover for a while if you can too so his bum gets a little fresh air :)

Thank you! I'll pick some up. My older DS is improving, but the yeast has spread to the younger DS (they were using some of the same cloth diapers). So I'll definitely try it. :-)

[stephbrownthinks]

Lotrimin, or monastat (the 7 day one) both will kill the yeast and cam be applied at every diaper change. Baths with baking soda to soothe, then a rinse of dilluted apple cider vinegar (for the yeast) also help. If you don't kill the yeast in the rash he will just keep infecting the diapers. Lots of diaper free time or at least no diaper cover will help too. Good luck! Yeast is a beast to deal with...

[PoetryLover]

Thanks so much for the great advice. The yeast has been cured as far as the boys go and now I am stripping all of our diapers and returning to using cloth. The grapefruit seed extract mixed in their diaper cream worked WONDERS. They've been cured for a while now. I've just been too lazy to strip the diapers.