Coconut oil is versatile which can be used for not only skin care but also health care. This oil is extracted from the meat of mature coconuts. It is a natural moisturizer with good smelling, helping sooth and nourish the skin without irritation.
Not mention to being used in baking and cooking, coconut oil is also used for various skin issues, including diaper rash. We can see coconut oil available in a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products. Diaper rash is caused by yeast infection, ammonia from the diaper material or urine. This uncomfortable rash often impacts babies. Because it is very important to keep the infected area clean and dry when suffering from diaper rash, so coconut oil can help shield off the wet and prevent diaper rash developments.
What Type Of Diaper Rash Does Your Baby Have?
In order to treat diaper rash, you should understand which type of diaper rash your baby suffers from. Different types of rashes will need different treatment.
- Yeast diaper rash: among types of diaper rash, this looks red and occasionally scaly. There are small pimples, blisters around the affected red area.
- Irritation: being the most common types of diaper rashes in babies, this type of rash features with red skin and perhaps open sores developed. Creases will get less red than the body parts which are more exposed.
- Bacterial diaper rash: this could be caused by several serious infections like strep or staph. The affected areas are often fluid-filled bumps, honey-colored, yellowish, and crusty.
- Seborrhea: this type is a little bit similar to cradle cap. Some other parts of the baby’s body also have similar rashes. They look scaly, waxy and red.
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Is It Good To Use Coconut Oil For Diaper Rash?
Most of you will wonder that question when thinking of coconut oil and diaper rash. The answer is yes. In fact, coconut oil has a lot of amazing properties making it a great treatment for different skin conditions, such as diaper rash. With anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, coconut oil can help promote the healing process. Furthermore, because it has lauric acid and caprylic acid – the natural yeast fighting substances, so this oil can treat fungal and bacterial problems efficiently.
Before getting to know how to use coconut oil for diaper rash, you should acknowledge some advantages and disadvantages of this treating option. From there, you can decide if you want to make use of coconut oil or not.
Pros:
- Coconut oil is safe and good for babies. The fact is, unrefined, virgin coconut oil is safe and natural. It does not contain any chemical filler, preservatives, sketchy things which you do not want to be absorbed by the sensitive skin of the babies.
- Coconut oil is easy-to-use. Coconut oil is solid at the room temperature, but it will melt quickly if applied against the warm bottom of the baby.
- Coconut oil smells great. The scent of virgin, unrefined coconut oil is comfortable. It seems to take your senses on a trip to the beach.
- Coconut oil is inexpensive. Just a small amount of this oil can be adequate for a large area of skin area with diaper rash. So, it is better to use coconut oil for diaper rash than those creams on the market.
Cons:
- Rubbing oil over the bottom of your baby could be messy
- It is not always effective in all babies.
How To Use Coconut Oil For Diaper Rash – 7 Home Remedies
There are a lot of ways to use coconut oil for diaper rash and other health issues, combining it with different ingredients can give you different treatments. Try some of these suggestions and find out which work for you – made by WikiYeah!
1. Coconut Oil Only
In this method, coconut oil acts a natural barrier between the waste in diaper and the skin.
- Before applying coconut oil for diaper rash, wash the bottom of your baby with water and let it dry
- Apply a little bit coconut oil on the infected area with your fingertips
- Just put on a new diaper when your baby’s bottom is dry
2. Coconut Oil, Calendula Flower, Chamomile Flower, Shea Butter And Arrowroot
The mixture of coconut oil, calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, shea butter, arrowroot/zinc oxide powder can act as a natural cream for diaper rash. Take these steps:
- Melt about ½ cup of coconut oil in a glass bowl
- Then, add a tablespoon of calendula flowers and the same amount of chamomile flowers into. Keep the heat on low or medium for 1 hour or more or till the coconut oil turns yellow
- Use a metal strainer to strain the flowers out
- Add arrowroot / zinc oxide or shea butter to the mixture
- Make use of a food processer to make a cream
- Keep this solution in a glass jar and apply it over your baby’s bottom when necessary
3. Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Shea Butter, And Vegetable Glycerin
- Mix ¼ cup of coconut oil, ½ cup of shea butter and 1 tablespoon of beeswax in a saucepan, then melt them
- When the mixture melts entirely, take it off from the heat
- Add 2 tablespoons of veggie glycerin
- Blend it till creamy by using an electrical mixer
- Keep it in an air tight container or a jar, let it cool
- After it cools down, use this cream made from coconut oil for diaper rash
4. Coconut Oil, Lavender Oil
- Take a saucepan and pour 1-2 inches of water into, boil it up
- Pour ¼ cup of coconut oil into the glass jar
- After the water in the saucepan reaches boiling point, you place the coconut jar on water to get the oil melt
- Wait for 10 minutes to let it cool, then add lavender essential oils into
- Stir the oil well, then pour it into a air-tight container
- Let it cool for 1-2 hours before applying it over your affected area
- Apply this as a diaper rash cream
5. Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Extract, Water Spray
- Mix coconut oil and grape seed extract with the ratio of 2 oz : 2-3 drops
- After that, dilute the mixture in 1 oz of distilled water
- Use a spray bottle to pour this solution into
- Spray it over your baby’s rash, let it dry and put on new diaper
6. Coconut Oil, Zinc Oxide Powder And Beeswax
- Mix 1/8 cup of beeswax in 2/3 cup of coconut oil
- Melt it before adding ¾ tbsp of zinc oxide powder
- Blend it for a few minutes using a blender
- Pour the final cream in an airtight container, let it cool
- Apply the cream over your baby’s rash
7. Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil
Among home remedies using coconut oil for diaper rash, this recipe seems to be more suitable for painful rashes caused by a fungus named Candida allbicians.
- Mix several drops of melt coconut oil and tea tree oil together
- Apply the mixture over the affected areas after being cleaned
- Before putting on a new diaper, let it dry
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Important Tips To Treat And Prevent Diaper Rash Successfully
It is worth noting that irritation is often the root cause of any diaper rash, so in order to treat diaper rash well and prevent its reoccurrence, you should keep the baby skin clean and dry. To do so, follow these tips:
- Change dirty or wet diapers instantly. Some rashes even disappear very quickly when the suffered baby is change diaper frequently
- Wash the bottom of the baby with every diaper change. But, do not use perfume soaps. Just warm water can eliminate irritants and debris. Use a wet clean washcloth to put under the bottom of the baby.
- If you do not use coconut oil, you should look for the diaper cream which contains zinc, petroleum jelly, or fish oil. However, if your baby has yeast rashes, then use a cream containing grapefruit seed extract or tea tree oil. But, do not put tea tree oil directly on the baby skin; instead you need to dilute it beforehand.
- Air it out. If possible, let your baby go without using a diaper let his skin breathe.
- Check the quality of diapers used for your little one regularly.
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