Surely not? How can something like a dash of vinegar help a painful diaper rash?
We dig deep into this wonder treatment and find out the facts behind the claims
How Can Apple Cider Vinegar Treat Diaper Rash?
ACV has been used for treating diaper rash naturally for hundreds of years, long before the invention of diaper rash creams. Raw apple cider vinegar has been known since Roman times for its beneficial and skin healing properties.
Apple Cider Vinegar is a type of vinegar made from fermented apple juice. It contains acetic acid and nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. This age-old remedy has been used for centuries to help with all sorts of health issues and skin conditions. You’ve probably heard your granny talking about it!
Apple cider vinegar is a natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent. It helps to soothe the skin and prevent infection. The acetic acid in ACV also helps to balance the pH of the skin, which can help to reduce inflammation and irritation. You may dilute ACV with water and swab the affected region with it throughout the day.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Bath for Babies With Diaper Rash
Whether it’s a diaper rash or a skin rash, apple cider vinegar’s acetic acid characteristics can hinder the growth of a yeast called candida, which is what a yeast diaper rash is. Pour some apple cider vinegar into your child’s next bath; this is especially beneficial for newborns suffering from diaper rash.
To prepare an apple cider bath, fill the bathtub halfway with warm water and add two glasses of apple cider vinegar. Allow your youngster to soak in the tub for around fifteen minutes. Be careful to rinse any leftover residue with cold water.
Many people find that soaking in a warm bath with ACV helps to soothe and moisturize their skin. It may also be an efficient method of combating or preventing yeast infections. The tough aspect is getting enough ACV to work.
Fill the tub a little more than halfway and add 2 cups of ACV. Soak for approximately 15 minutes.
Note do not add baking soda into an ACV bath or diaper paste. Baking soda and vinegar foam and react together creating a carbon dioxide gas.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Yeast Diaper Rash
Candida are yeasts that can cause fungal infections in many regions of the body. Candida are opportunistic fungi that may proliferate uncontrollably in the correct conditions. Candida overgrowth creates an infection with a range of symptoms. A yeast infection is the common name for a candida infection in the crotch area. Thrush is a kind of oral infection. Yeast infections are more common among diabetics.
Excess moisture in the diapered areas is more likely to result in a yeast infection so it’s vital to ensure that you pat dry your baby at each diaper change.
In any event, here’s something extremely essential to remember: there are several strategies for killing the yeast. However, there is only ONE method to destroy yeast SPORES, and if they are not eliminated, they will continue to develop and infect everyone, regardless of whether you use bleach, lotions, or prebiotics.
ACV Kills Yeast Spores
All of the other methods for killing yeast are effective against “growing” yeast cells, but will not work against the spores. You need to kill off the spores entirely to fully get rid of the yeast diaper rash.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a known antifungal. According to laboratory studies, it can impede the development of candida developing in a petri dish. ACV inhibits microbe development and reduces mononuclear cytokine and phagocytic responses. (It kills the yeast!)
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a powerful antibacterial that can be used topically to treat yeast diaper rash in babies and young children. Because apple cider vinegar is a natural material that is non-toxic, it is completely safe to apply on your child’s skin.
If the diaper rash is caused by a yeast infection, yoghurt is also an excellent treatment option. Take a tub of plain yoghurt and gently spread some on the rash to soothe it. This is a fully risk-free and time-saving solution.
How to Use ACV for Diaper Rash
To use apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for diaper rash:
- Dilute one part vinegar with four parts water.
- Soak a cotton ball in the solution and dab it on the affected area.
- Repeat this process three to four times per day until the rash clears up.
- If the rash is severe, add one tablespoon of vinegar to a bathtub of warm water and soak in it for 15 minutes.
- Repeat this process once per day until the rash clears up.
Can ACV be Used with Cloth Diapers?
Yes! You can use the rinse as a diaper rash treatment and there should be no issues with your cloth diapers. Alternatively, it’s also great to wash cloth diapers with, which if you have a yeast rash you will probably need to. If you are cloth diapering you need to be more careful when it comes to yeast rases and the baby’s delicate skin.
That said ACV is a dark vinegar and may leave some stains if you pour it directly onto the diaper. You need to use quite a bit to actually kill the spores so you might have whiffy diapers! However, leaving your diapers out in the sun will cure both of these.
ACV will also remove any detergent residue which may be causing your rashes. Its acidic whilst detergent is alkaline. Going back to your school science days (stop moaning this is useful!), they will cancel each other out, so essentially it can strip wash your diapers.
ACV Baby’s Diaper Rash Cream
If you are looking for a diaper rash cream which includes ACV, here is our favorite recipe:
Ingredients:
- – ¼ cup of ACV
- – ½ cup of coconut oil
- – ½ cup of shea butter
- – a few drops of tea tree oil or lavender essential oil
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients together until you have a smooth cream. Apply to the diaper rash as needed. If you have spare breast milk you can add into this cream as well. Breast milk really soothes and calms diaper rashes and is another great natural remedies for diaper rash.
If your baby’s skin is really sensitive, you can dilute the ACV with some water before applying. This is a great homemade cream to treat diaper rash naturally. Just slather it on the baby’s rash. This cannot be used with cloth diapers and the oil and fat in the coconut oil and shea butter can clog the material up and cause them to repel.
The Bottom Line
Apple cider vinegar is a great natural remedy for diaper rash. The key to using ACV successfully as a home remedy, however, is diluting it with water before applying it to your baby’s skin and then following up by washing the cloth diapers in apple cider vinegar or soaking them in an acidic solution (like lemon juice).
If you’re looking for a more convenient option that also includes ACV, we recommend checking out our favorite recipe: ½ cup of coconut oil, ¼ teaspoon of tea tree oil and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar mixed together until smooth. Apply liberally! This homemade cream can be used on both dry and wet rashes and will not stain your clothes as pure ACV might.
