If you have a baby, then chances are high that you will also deal with a diaper rash at some point. This is especially true if your child suffers from extreme diarrhea or explosive bowel movements because these types of problems can cause the skin on their bottom to become irritated.
One way to protect their skin and avoid having them develop a painful diaper rash is by using a product that has witch hazel in it. This is part of our series of natural diaper rash remedies to help heal treat diaper rash.
There are actually a number of reasons for this, but the most important ones have to do with the fact that witch hazel is an astringent. This means that when you apply it to diaper rash, then it will help to dry out the skin which will make it less tender, red, and inflamed.
What Is Witch Hazel?
Witch hazel has been used for a very long time as a natural type of treatment for skin problems. It is an extract from the witch hazel shrub and it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic and analgesic properties that can be highly beneficial to people who want to avoid using chemical based products on their skin.
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a small tree that is often used as a natural astringent. It’s one of the few plants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved as an ingredient for over-the-counter medicines. It’s one of the few plants that has been used as a natural remedy for centuries.
For centuries, witch hazel has been a common home remedy for various skin conditions, including inflammation, irritation, and acne. Witch hazel is the primary ingredient in many skincare products, including cleansers, toners, astringents, lotions, and moisturizers. It is also available as an extract by itself—usually called witch hazel water.
Why do people take witch hazel?
There’s some evidence that witch hazel water used as an astringent might be helpful for skin problems. Witch hazel might also help keep the skin clean, which could prevent future skin conditions.
How does it work?
Witch hazel has anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an irritant or infection. This causes redness, swelling, and irritation of the skin. Witch hazel helps reduce skin inflammation by blocking certain immune system signals in your body. Witch hazel has antimicrobial, antiseptic, and analgesic effects.
Benefits of Witch Hazel for Treatment of Diaper Ras
Some of the benefits of witch hazel for the treatment of diaper rash include:
Relieves inflammation
Witch hazel is a plant extract that contains a number of compounds that have potent anti-inflammatory properties, including gallic acid and tannins. It also contains antioxidants that help prevent widespread inflammation and neutralize free radicals, which are disease-causing compounds that can build up in your body. When applied topically to the skin, witch hazel can reduce redness, soothe the skin, and treat rashes.
Reduces Skin Irritation
Witch hazel can be used topically to relieve itchiness and treat minor skin irritations from insect bites, eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash, and hemorrhoids. It may also help reduce skin redness and provide relief for irritated and sensitive skin.
Protects Against Skin Damage
Witch hazel is rich in tannins, which are natural plant compounds with powerful antioxidant properties. When applied topically, tannins can act as a barrier, preventing inflammation-causing substances from entering your skin cells. The tannins in witch hazel help the babies skin repair itself.
Healing Diaper Rash
Witch hazel can help in the treatment of diaper rash and also help to prevent diaper rash as it will soothe the skin, relieve irritated skin and dry out the baby’s skin. You can use it on its own or mix it with other natural diaper rash products like breast milk lotion, coconut oil, shea butter etc.
Is Witch Hazel Safe for Children?
Witch hazel products are commonly used to treat a number of skin conditions in children, such as diaper rash or eczema. However, it should be used cautiously because it may cause an allergic reaction.
Like various diaper rash medications, it can be used with other natural remedies like aloe vera in the diaper region. Aloe vera is another plant that heals diaper rash.
Using Witch Hazel as a Natural Remedy for Diaper Rash
Witch hazel can ease diaper rash in infants and children. This is due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and astringent properties.
To treat diaper rash using witch hazel
Mix water with witch hazel extract. Spray it onto the baby’s bottom after each diaper change. More frequent diaper changes and if it’s soiled changing diapers immediately will really help a child’s rash improve.
Alternatively, add it to shea butter and make a soothing diaper rash cream. You can add in zinc oxide and cod liver oil or any other natural ingredient (even applying breast milk helps). Human breast milk applied to the diaper area also soothes it.
Can Witch Hazel Be Used to Treat A Yeast Rash?
Witch hazel may be used to treat yeast infections (candidiasis) affecting the skin. However, it is important to treat any yeast infection first before applying the product to your baby. Apple cider vinegar is a great natural product for killing yeast infections.
To use witch hazel for yeast infection, mix water or witch hazel extract with equal parts baking soda and apply it onto your affected area 2-3 times daily with a cotton ball. Combine this with baking soda baths to heal the diaper rash.
Is it Safe to Use Witch Hazel with Cloth Diapers?
Yes, witch hazel is safe to use if you are cloth diapering. Whether you use disposable diapers or cloth diapers it’s vital to change diapers frequently and keep the baby’s diaper area clean and dry. Frequent diaper-free time is also very important.
When you launder cloth diapers make sure that the detergent is thoroughly rinsed out. Detergent, like many diaper rash products, can have scents added which can be a skin irritant!
The Bottom Line
Witch hazel is a natural remedy that has been shown to be effective in treating diaper rash. It contains anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and astringent properties which work together to soothe the skin and prevent further irritation making it perfect for the treatment of diaper rash. To use witch hazel for diaper rashes, mix water or witch hazel extract with equal parts baking soda and apply it onto your affected area 2-3 times daily.
