General information from published guidance, not a diagnosis or medical advice for your baby. If you are worried, call your doctor, midwife or local health line, whatever this page says. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
What does the rash look like?
Common signs, and what the guidance says to do
Usually normal
Pink or red skin where the diaper touches, but not in the folds, is typical of irritant diaper rash. The steps below usually help within 2-3 days.13
Guidance: call your doctor today
This may be a yeast (candida) rash, common after 2-3 days of diaper rash. Call your doctor: it usually needs an antifungal cream.123
Guidance: call your doctor today
Broken skin can get infected, and a shiny, bright red rash can be yeast. Use a thick layer of zinc oxide cream at every change, give lots of diaper-free time, and call your doctor today.13
Guidance: call your doctor today
This may be a skin infection. Call your doctor today.13
Guidance: get medical advice now
Get medical advice now. If your baby is under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or more, or seems very unwell, call your local emergency number or go to an emergency department.1248
Guidance: call your doctor today
Call your doctor today to check what's causing it.23
Clear it in 5 steps
Step 1 of 5
Change often
Change wet or dirty diapers as soon as you can, including once at night if the rash is bad.123
Step 2 of 5
Clean gently
Use warm water and a soft cloth, or fragrance-free, alcohol-free wipes. Pat, don't rub.12
Step 3 of 5
Air time
Let your baby lie on a towel without a diaper for a few minutes several times a day.237
Step 4 of 5
Thick barrier cream
Apply a thick layer of zinc oxide or petroleum jelly at every change, like icing a cake. You don't need to wipe it all off each time.1
Step 5 of 5
Loosen up
Fasten diapers a little looser, and go up a size if they leave marks.12
Add a rash note to a diaper entry in Ella and see if it's improving.Open Ella
If your baby stops breathing, turns blue or grey, is floppy or cannot be woken, call your local emergency number now.
The details
Why diaper rash happens
Wet skin, poop and rubbing break down the skin's protective layer. It is more common when babies have diarrhea or take antibiotics, and at least half of all babies get diaper rash at some point.
Skip perfumed wipes and soaps, baby powder (it can be breathed in), and antibiotic, antiseptic, steroid or antifungal creams unless your doctor recommends them.
With good care, most diaper rash improves in 2-3 days. If it doesn't, or gets worse, call your doctor.13
What is the best cream for diaper rash?
A thick barrier cream with zinc oxide, or petroleum jelly, applied at every change. Antifungal creams are only for yeast rash, on a doctor's advice.12
How do I know if it's a yeast diaper rash?
Yeast rash is usually bright red, in the skin folds, with small red spots at the edges. It often lasts more than 2-3 days or doesn't improve with good diaper care.13
Can I use baby powder?
It's best not to. Babies can breathe in the powder, and it doesn't help rash heal.26
Ella
Note it, see if it's getting better
Add a note to a diaper entry in Ella, with the date. If you need to see a doctor, you can show them when it started and what you tried.
Guidance can differ between countries. Where it does, we show both. Follow your own doctor or health service.
Checked against current guidance on October 8, 2026. General information, not medical advice. Written by the Ella team at Muchita AI from published guidance by the AAP, NHS, NICE, WHO and CDC, with AI-assisted drafting and translation checked against those sources by our team. These organisations have not reviewed or endorsed this page. General information, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, trust your instinct and call a doctor.
