Apple cider vinegar has been used as a natural remedy for centuries to treat all sorts of ailments. And while it may not work for every baby, it’s definitely worth a try if your child is suffering from diaper rash.
We go deep into this miraculous therapy to discover the truth behind the promises. Can it heal diaper rash? If so, what’s the best method. This is part of our series of natural home remedies to treat diaper rash.
We all know about the amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair care, but did you know Apple cider vinegar has anti-fungal properties, making it great for diaper rash?
How Can Apple Cider Vinegar Treat Diaper Rash?
Diaper rash can be a minor irritation or an extreme one (with blisters and bleeding), depending on the cause or the type of diaper rash.
The most common cause is Candida albicans, a yeast infection on the skin.
How can apple cider vinegar help?
You can use apple cider vinegar in one of four ways to help treat diaper rashes:
- Give your baby an apple cider bath
- Dab it directly onto the rash instead of diaper rash creams
- Make a diaper cream with it
- Give your baby an ACV ‘rinse’ or wash at each diaper change.
Apple cider vinegar seems to have a few anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that may be effective against diaper rash. It restores the pH in your baby’s little bum so that it becomes more acidic and prevents bacterial development (since bacteria thrive in more alkaline environments).
Apple cider vinegar also eliminates the yeast infection that causes diaper rash. Since Candida cannot survive in acidic conditions, it’s easily wiped out by a few drops of ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Bath for Babies With Diaper Rash
We’ve done a whole series on soothing baths to heal diaper rash, and how they can dramatically improve even the most severe diaper rash. One of the best known of the ‘healing baths’ is an apple cider vinegar bath, don’t worry your baby won’t end up smelling of vinegar!
A baby’s bath with diluted ACV will cleanse your baby’s skin and restore the pH balance. You can mix olive oil, coconut oil, Epsom salts or oatmeal or other natural remedies in the bath. However, don’t mix it with baking soda (they will neutralise each other) and if you are wanting to kill yeast spores don’t mix it with cornstarch.
All of these will work brilliantly as remedies for diaper rash and will be kind on baby’s delicate skin. You can even mix it with breast milk to make a breast milk lotion for treating diaper rash.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Yeast Diaper Rash or Yeast Infection
One of the most common causes of diaper rash is a yeast infection. The fermented liquid kills bacteria that cause the rash and stops yeast development.
If your baby has a yeast diaper rash, apple cider vinegar can help clear it up.
The ACV will restore the pH balance and make the environment less hospitable for the yeast to grow.
You will need:
– Apple Cider Vinegar (Organic with no added sugar or preservatives)
– Cotton Balls OR a washcloth to apply vinegar directly to the rash on the baby’s bum or in the diaper area
This is cloth diaper safe if you are cloth diapering. You can put the ACV direct into a spraybottle which may make it easier to apply each time you put on a fresh diaper. ACV has been proven by research to kill the candida spores which are responsible for yeast infections.
Natural yogurt is also great on a yeast diaper rash. You can combine both yogurt and ACF, however, if you have a bacterial infection it is best not to use plain yogurt or corn starch.
Can ACV be Used with Cloth Diapers?
Yes! In fact, apple cider vinegar can help keep cloth diapers clean and free of bacteria.
Just add a cup of ACV to your washing machine along with the detergent and your usual amount of water when you wash cloth diapers.
You can also soak diapers in a bath of diluted apple cider vinegar before laundering, however follow manufacturer instructions with respect to how you wash a wet diaper or a dirty diaper.
– Add one cup of apple cider vinegar to your wash cycle.
– Soak diapers in a bath of diluted apple cider vinegar before laundering.
A yeast rash will occur whether you use disposable diapers or cloth diapers, just with cloth you need to ensure you are not continually reinfecting your child. There is no need to change diapers to disposables, just ensure you get your washing routine nailed!
Of course, always try and keep your baby diaper free for as long as possible. At each diaper change allow them to air dry before you put a fresh diaper on.
What Else Can Apple Cider Vinegar Do for Diaper Rash?
There are other ways that you can use apple cider vinegar to help treat diaper rash:
– If your baby has a cradle cap, you can use apple cider vinegar to help clear it up. Just add one tablespoon of ACV to a cup of water and apply it to the scalp with a cotton ball. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse off.
– If your baby has eczema, you can use apple cider vinegar as a natural moisturizer. Add two tablespoons of ACV to a cup of water and use it as an after-bath spritz. You can add in chamomile tea into the spray bottle for this spritz which also has anti inflammatory properties.
Safety Note: It is always recommended to do a patch test before applying any product or remedy on your baby’s skin. Dilute some drops of apple cider vinegar in water and apply it on their arm or leg for about 15 minutes. If there is no reaction, you can use it for the diaper rash.
There are no known risks of prolonged exposure to ACV or its use as a baby’s diaper cream at diaper changes. It’s much better to use this than something like talcum powder which has a known risk.
ACV Baby’s Diaper Rash Cream
If you are looking for a home made diaper rash cream which includes ACV, then you may want to try our diaper rash cream for your poor baby. This is a simple recipe using natural ingredients. If your baby has very sensitive skin, we’d recommend making this without the lavender essential oil for the first week or two and seeing how it goes before adding it in as it can be too powerful for extremely sensitive skin types.
To make your own diaper rash cream you will need:
– A small bowl
– A spoon to mix the ingredients together
– An airtight container for storing the cream (glass is best)
Ingredients:
– ½ cup of shea butter, coconut oil or olive oil (or a combination of any two)
– ⅛ cup of beeswax
– ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)
– 15 drops lavender essential oil (or other oils such as tea tree oil grapefruit seed extract or chamomile)
– ¼ cup raw apple cider vinegar
Method:
Mix all the ingredients together and store them in an airtight container. To use, apply a thin layer to the affected area as needed. The beauty of this natural rash cream and most home remedies is that they are anti-inflammatory and heal without the use of harmful chemicals. Whilst petroleum jelly is good as a barrier, it is made from petroleum!
The Bottom Line
Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural remedy that can be used to clear up a yeast diaper rash. It can also be used as a natural moisturizer for eczema and helps keep cloth diapers clean and free of bacteria. You can use it as a bath, as a rinse at each diaper change, dab it directly onto baby’s rash or make your home made rash cream. It’s great to treat diaper rash naturally and for killing a yeast rash.
Apple cider vinegar is a great treatment for diaper rash. If you have been looking for a natural remedy to soothe the discomfort of your baby’s raw, irritated skin, apple cider vinegar may be just what you need. It can also help prevent future rashes from occurring if applied after every change in an effort to maintain healthy pH levels on your baby’s skin and keep it moistened at all times.
