It's practically a parental rite of passage: opening your baby's diaper and seeing his sweet little bottom covered in red splotches. Welcome to the world of diaper rash. Before you start questioning your parenting skills (or running to the emergency room), remember that the rash is harmless if treated. Most babies get a diaper rash at some point but won't continue to get it once they're toilet trained.
When urine and stool are pressed against the skin, they break down its protective barrier, resulting in an angry-looking rash. Some untreated diaper rashes progress to yeast infections; yeast thrives in warm, moist, dark environments. Fortunately, a diaper rash is usually simple to prevent and treat.
