How to Make Nappy Rash Ointment

When it come to treating nappy rash, here's what every concerned parent should know. First of all, nappy rash is quite common, the symptoms your baby will have depend on the severity of the nappy rash. Nearly all cases of nappy rash can be successfully treated at home and you can also follow this excellent recipe for making your own nappy rash ointment with natural herbs.

What is Nappy Rash?

Nappy rash is really quite common among babies. It develops when the skin remains in contact with urine and faeces. When waste products are eliminated from the body and allowed to remain in contact, they combine to create ammonia. It is the ammonia that actually causes most cases of nappy rash. The pain and discomfort experienced by your baby is usually minor. But sometimes it can become more painful.

The symptoms of nappy rash depend directly on the severity of the rash. A mild nappy rash covers about 10 percent of the skin area under the nappy. More serious outbreaks can spread more widely, and may even begin to travel down the legs. Severe cases like this cause a great deal more pain and irritation.

Most cases of nappy rash are easy to treat with little risk of complications. One of the easiest remedies is to simply leave the nappy off when possible. It's not the sort of thing you should do on an expensive rug or fine furniture, but allowing your baby to sleep on an absorbent pad or towel will work well. You should also avoid using harsh soaps or rough cloths. Change your baby's nappy more frequently or even try a different brand or style.

Nappy Rash Ointment Recipe

The irritation caused by nappy rash can make any baby uncomfortable. You can soothe the sore patches on your baby's skin with the following herbal remedy. Begin by gathering your ingredients. If you can't find these items in a local shop, they are readily available online.

• 1 tbsp dried marsh mallow root
• 1 tbsp dried chickweed
• 1/8 tsp goldenseal (orangeroot) powder
• 1 tbsp dried comfrey root
• 225ml/8 fl oz sweet almond oil
• 60g/20 oz natural beeswax
• cheesecloth for straining
• small glass storage jar

Method

Set the beeswax aside and combine the other ingredients in a medium saucepan. Warm the pan over moderately low heat until the mixture softens, usually in about 5 to 10 minutes. Now add the beeswax and stir while continuing to heat. When the beeswax has melted completely, strain through cheesecloth into a small glass jar. Seal the jar tightly and refrigerate until solid. You can use this herbal ointment at every nappy change. The recipe makes enough for 20 applications and will keep for two months in a cool place. However, if your baby's rash doesn't begin to fade after a couple of applications, consult your doctor.

Now that you understand the basics of nappy rash, you should be more comfortable dealing with it. Nappy rash is common and usually mild. As the rash becomes more severe, so will the symptoms.