Diaper rash in children age 4 and older

Common symptoms

• Red, sore skin under a diaper, pull-up, or brief
• Pink or red patches on the skin the diaper covers, while the skin folds look normal
• Bright red, shiny patches with sharp edges, often worse in the skin folds
• Small red bumps near the edge of a bright red rash (this can be yeast)

May fit online care

• Adults & children 4+ (with a parent or legal guardian)
• Your child is 4 to 17 and still wears a diaper, pull-up, or brief
• A parent or legal guardian answers for the child
• The rash is only on the skin the diaper covers
• It started in the last 7 days

Look for another care setting

• Very sleepy, hard to wake, limp, confused, looking very sick or gray, or not acting like themselves (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• Trouble breathing, fast or labored breathing, grunting, or blue or gray lips or face (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, or hives with trouble breathing (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• A seizure, a stiff neck, or a very bad headache (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• A fever of 104°F (40°C) or higher, or a fever and the child looks very sick (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• A baby 3 months old or younger with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• No pee or wet diaper for 8 hours, fewer than 3 wet diapers or bathroom trips in 24 hours, no tears, sunken eyes, a dry mouth, or refusing to drink or feed (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• Tiny purple or red spots that do not fade when pressed (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• Vomiting again and again and unable to keep fluids down (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• Severe pain, or pain that is getting worse fast (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• A worry that someone hurt the child, or a bruise, burn, or cut you cannot explain (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• New leg weakness or numbness, along with new wetting or soiling (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• Skin turning dark, gray, or black (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• Blisters or peeling skin together with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher (call 911 or go to the ER now).
• Blisters, or sores that look punched out (go to the ER or urgent care today).
• Pus, yellow crusts, or weeping sores (go to the ER or urgent care today).
• Open sores, raw skin, or bleeding (go to the ER or urgent care today).
• Bright red skin that peels off in sheets or looks scalded (go to the ER or urgent care today).
• Redness, swelling, or warmth that is spreading fast, red streaks, or a rash that is especially painful (go to the ER or urgent care today).
• A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a child older than 3 months (see a doctor in person today).
• Drinking or peeing much more than usual, or losing weight without a reason (see a doctor in person today).
• Bright red skin mostly in a ring around the anus (see a doctor in person within 3 days).
• New wetting or soiling in a child who had been dry (see a doctor in person within 3 days).
• A child under 4 (see your child's own doctor in person).
• A weak immune system or a serious ongoing health problem (see your child's own doctor in person).
• Diapers because of a nerve, spine, bladder, or bowel problem (see your child's own doctor in person).
• A rash for more than 7 days, or one that keeps coming back (see your child's own doctor in person).
• An antifungal cream already used on this rash without clearing it (see your child's own doctor in person).
• A rash that looks different from both descriptions, such as scaly, greasy, or silvery patches (see your child's own doctor in person).
• A rash on other parts of the body too, not only where the diaper is (see your child's own doctor in person).
• A weight under 13 kg, about 29 pounds (see your child's own doctor in person).
• Sores in the mouth, or spots on the hands and feet (use our hand, foot, and mouth visit).
• An adult 18 or older (use our skin-fold irritation visit).