If we notice anything unusual with our babies, we get deeply concerned. This article talks about blisters on a baby’s scrotum and home remedies for them.
Introduction
Sometimes, you may notice tiny blisters on your baby’s scrotum and penis. They can be a few or maybe extensive. These blisters are rashes that occur commonly in young babies. The rash can appear due to diaper usage on your baby’s bottom and genital area. You can usually see this in babies between 4 and 15 months of age.
In male babies, rashes can occur on the penis and scrotum, buttocks, and thighs. Rashes can present as red bumps or blisters on the skin. Skin irritants can also cause rashes. Any irritant present on the hands can cause rashes on the scrotum and penis by hand contact. Irritants can include plants, food, pet saliva, and chemicals.
Symptoms of diaper rash
Diaper rashes are red, tender peeling skin covered with raised bumps on the baby’s bottom, genitals, and thighs. The rashes cause discomfort and pain to your baby. The rashes can present as pimples, sores, or blisters when they get worse. If infection sets in, the skin gets bright red and inflamed. Your baby cries during a diaper change or when you touch his/her tender skin.
Causes
Your baby can develop a diaper rash when s/he is wearing a wet or soiled diaper for a long time. If the diaper is tight or there is too much friction between the diaper and your baby’s skin, it can result in a rash. Sometimes, the warm, wet moist environment within your baby’s diaper can cause the rashes to get infected by bacteria or fungi, resulting in bacterial or yeast infection, respectively. An allergic reaction to the material of the diaper can also cause your baby to develop a rash.
At times, the detergent, fabric softener, or soap used to wash reusable diapers can also cause an allergic reaction. When you leave your baby in soiled diapers or if he is suffering from a bout of diarrhea, then the contents of the acidic stool can irritate his sensitive skin. Something in your baby’s diet or your diet if you are breastfeeding can also trigger an allergic reaction. A course of antibiotics your baby or you have taken could also result in a yeast infection, which manifests as a rash.
Home Remedies
Usually, a diaper rash will resolve in 2 to 3 days if you follow certain precautions and using home remedies. Wash your hands before and after you change your baby’s diaper. Change your baby’s diaper often. Make sure he does not stay in a wet/soiled diaper for too long. Use a gentle wipe devoid of fragrance or alcohol to wipe your baby’s diaper area. Alternatively, wash your baby’s bottom with plain water or a gentle cleanser. Pat dry, use mild baby talcum powder, or apply cream containing zinc oxide or petroleum jelly on your baby’s clean, dry bottom before putting on a fresh diaper.
Make sure the adhesive on the diaper tabs does not touch your baby’s skin. If these treatments don’t work, try changing the diaper brand to rule out an allergy. Use only soft, cotton, or organic diapers of the right size to protect your baby’s delicate skin. If you are using washable and reusable cloth diapers, make sure you wash them with mild detergents. Rinse the diapers well to remove all traces of the detergent. To heal the rashes faster, let your baby be diaper free for extended periods, keeping his skin dry and aired.
When to consult a doctor?
If your baby’s rash does not heal in 3 days or gets noticeably worse, get it checked by your doctor. If the rash is accompanied by a fever, rashes present as blisters filled with pus or as ulcers, rashes appear outside the diaper area or if your baby’s skin is very red and painful, then consult your doctor.
Your doctor will examine the rashes, and if bacterial or yeast infection is suspected, he will prescribe ointments or oral medicines accordingly.
