Napkin lesions in pediatric patients

Abstract

Napkin dermatitis and nappy rash are used to describe various skin conditions that affect the skin under a napkin or incontinence pad. Diaper rash (DR) is one of the most frequent problems of the first 2 years of life, even though older children or adults may be affected when wearing plastic pants for urinary incontinence or medical treatment. Characteristically, DR occurs on the convex surfaces of the pubic region, the glutei, and the genitoanal region, whereas the flexures are generally spared as they are less prone to chemical and mechanical damage. Despite advances in diaper technology, it is a condition that still occurs regularly in young children. To combat this, barrier preparations can be used to protect the skin by coating the surface of the skin and/or by supplying lipids that can penetrate the intercellular spaces of the stratum corneum. With conservative management, most cases of irritant diaper dermatitis are self-limited. When the condition persists, one must consider other diagnoses.