You’re looking for a diaper rash cream when you find that most of them include ingredients such as zinc oxide and steroids. You fear that this will not be good for your baby’s delicate skin.
What if we told you there is a home remedy using an easily accessible household item?
Whether you’re currently faced with a full-fledged diaper rash or are just trying to prevent one from occurring in the first place, cornstarch is an excellent addition to your medicine cabinet. Find out more about how and why it works so well by reading on!
This is part of our series on diaper rashes and natural home remedies to treat them.
What is Cornstarch?
Cornstarch, also known as corn flour, is a staple in most pantries because it is used to thicken soups and gravies. It has no nutritional value but can be used as an alternative to talcum powder on your baby’s skin.
Cornstarch is a gentle, all-natural way to soothe and protect your child’s delicate skin. When applied to a diaper rash, it forms a protective barrier that can help speed the healing process.
Cornstarch has been used to treat diaper rash for a long time now. It is easy to use and very safe for the baby’s skin. In addition, it can also be used as an alternative to commercial diaper rash creams which contain harsh chemicals that may cause more harm than good.
Can Cornstarch Be Used for Diaper Rash?
You’re looking for a diaper rash cream when you find that most of them include ingredients such as zinc oxide and steroids. You fear that this will not be good for your baby’s delicate skin.
There has been a bit of a backlash in recent years against using cornstarch as people believed it would ‘feed’ any yeast rash. If your are unsure what type of rash your baby has, check our guide to the different types of diaper rashes. However, the science has proved this is not the case!
The Science Behind Cornstarch and Diaper Rash
Cornstarch is made from corn grain. It can be used as a thickening agent for foods or even as a substitute for talcum powder.
Meanwhile, cornstarch is effective in making the skin more elastic and smooth. For this reason, it is often used in cosmetics applied to the face or all over the body.
Cornstarch has also been found to be useful for treating diaper rash due to its soothing properties. It can relieve your baby’s irritated skin by forming a barrier between the baby’s delicate skin and the wet diaper.
Does cornstarch make yeast diaper rash worse?
No. Whilst this is the common thought, its actually been proven to be effective against a yeast diaper rash. Recent research published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology tested the efficiency of cornstarch as a barrier in conjunction with natural cream and discovered that it was more than 70% effective with no unwanted effects.
A study published in the journal Pediatric Dermatology discovered that cornstarch reduced and protected against friction irritation while not promoting yeast development on human skin.
How do you use cornstarch for baby rash?
There are several ways you can use cornstarch for a diaper rash:
- As a baby powder at diaper change time to create a barrier
- In a bath to soothe the skin (read our guides on baths and diaper rashes)
- Mix it with baby oil for a gentle massage or mix it with olive oil or shea butter for moisturizing.
- Mix 1/4 cup cornstarch with 2 cups of warm water to make a butt paste. Apply this paste directly on your little one’s irritated skin. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes before wiping it off.
- Make a corn starch diaper cream
Corn Starch Diaper Cream Recipe
4 tbsp. corn starch
2 tbsp. coconut oil
Mix the ingredients until it comes together in a thick cream, adding more or less coconut oil to get the desired consistency. You can also add in any essential oils as desired. Tea tree oil is often added because of its antibacterial qualities.
Apply 1/8-1/4 inch thick on the diaper area. Let it sit on the skin for a few minutes before putting on a clean diaper or covering it with a cloth diaper.
How To Make A DIY Powder to Treat Diaper Rash
You can make your own homemade cornstarch powder to treat diaper rash. Just be sure to use only 100% pure cornstarch.
- Put 1/4 cup of cornstarch in a sifter or a fine-mesh cheesecloth.
- Shake the powder gently above the affected area of your baby’s skin while applying gentle pressure on the skin.
Repeat this process until the diaper rash is completely gone.
How do you make a cornstarch bath?
Mix 1 cup of cornstarch into bath until dissolved!
Alternatively, you can mix 1/2 cup of cornstarch and 1/2 cup of baking soda into the bath
Do not let baby sit in the tub too long as it may dry out his/her skin. Just keep them in long enough that you can wipe off most of the excess with a wet
Other Ways to Use Cornstarch for Diaper Rash
Cornstarch can also be mixed with other ingredients in order to treat your baby’s diaper rash, especially if it is really irritated. You can try mixing cornstarch with baking soda or even plain yogurt. The baking soda can help in treating yeast infections that may have been caused by the wet diaper, while yogurt can be used for its soothing properties.
What Can Cornstarch Be Mixed With?
The good news is you do not need to keep it simple when mixing cornstarch with other ingredients. You can mix it up a bit and try other ingredients as well.
– Mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and enough water to create a paste. (use it also in a baking soda bath).
– Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt or shea butter or coconut oil, then gently apply it on the diaper rash. Shea butter is great on diaper rash on its own or mixed with other ingredients like cornstarch or essential oils.
You can also use some alternatives such as adding a small amount of olive oil to moisturize the skin, or using apple cider vinegar to prevent yeast infections. You can also mix it with aloe vera gel to make a fantastic diaper cream.
Is it safe to use cornstarch for diaper rash?
It is safe to use cornstarch for diaper rash. The good news is that it has been found to be just as effective as commercial diaper rash creams which are often made up of petroleum and other harsh chemicals.
It is especially useful in treating a friction diaper rash. If you are not sure what type of diaper rash your child has, read out guide to the different types of diaper rash. Diaper rashes can be classified into numerous types, including chafing (the most frequent), yeast, intertrigo (a red patch that can leak), impetigo (a bacterial infection), and eczema.
With a chafing rash, cornstarch will be the most effective treatment.
Is cornstarch safe for newborn baby’s skin?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to use on your newborn if they are suffering from diaper dermatitis. It is a safe alternative to baby powder which is not safe for baby’s lungs.
If you are using cornstarch for diaper rash then make sure you put it on after you have used the baby wipes, you don’t wan the baby wipes removing all the cornstarch. Cornstarch can prevent diaper rash as it soothes and protects baby’s sensitive skin from friction and chafing. Just apply it onto the diaper area at diaper change time.
Is cornstarch safe with cloth diapers?
Yes, it is safe to use on cloth diapers. If you are using cloth diapers read our guide to safe diaper creams to use with cloth diapers. Petroleum jelly is the main ingredient which cannot be used with cloth diapers. If you are using disposable diapers then its fine to use any creams or baby powders.
Is cornstarch good for severe diaper rash?
Yes, it is. The most common use of cornstarch is to treat diaper rashes and soothes irritated skin. It helps irritant diaper dermatitis because it keeps the skin dry. Always remember to change a soiled diaper immediately and to give your baby plenty of diaper free time. If your baby has broken skin then applying cornstarch either as a baby powder or as a butt paste will help protect it from further chafing.
Using Home Remedies to Treat Diaper Rashes or Diaper Dermatitis
When your child has a yeast infection or atopic dermatitis, many parents are now going back to natural home remedies to treat instead of mass-produced creams. The reason is ingredients such as petroleum jelly or other toxins can damage a baby’s delicate skin. Many parents are weary of using toxins and chemicals on babies sensitive skin.
This is why cornstarch is a great alternative to use with your diaper rash cream. Using less common ingredients such as simple baking soda, apple cider vinegar and coconut oil (all a pantry staple), on little one’s skin.
This is why cornstarch is a great alternative to use with your diaper rash cream. Using less common ingredients such as simple baking soda, apple cider vinegar and coconut oil (all a pantry staple), on little one’s skin can help.
Cornstarch is a top choice for protecting little one’s skin because it absorbs moisture well and prevents diaper rash from breaking out.
The Top 5 Reasons to Use Cornstarch on Your Baby’s Skin
1. Cornstarch can help absorb moisture, which is essential for protecting baby’s skin during diaper changes.
2. It doesn’t irritate sensitive skin like some other ingredients found in commercial creams and powders do.
3. The corn starch powder will help to reduce any stinging that may occur when you cleanse your baby’s skin.
4. Cornstarch will help to keep the skin dry, which is another key factor in preventing diaper rash or skin irritation from breaking out. It’s also been proven to reduce friction which causes contact dermatitis in the diaper area.
5. Lastly, cornstarch is a cost effective alternative to buying expensive creams and powders all the time!
This way you can save money by using what you have at home right now.
The Bottom Line on is it safe to use cornstarch for diaper rash
Cornstarch is a top choice for protecting little one’s skin because it absorbs moisture well and prevents diaper rash from breaking out. It will soothe the skin from irritations and it won’t cause any issues with your baby’s skin. It can be used as a powder or as a cream so there is always plenty of options for parents to choose from.
There is a reason parents swear by using cornstarch with its fine texture instead of talc powders. it’s natural and it works!
