ABSTRACT
Diapers are commonly worn from birth until a person is toilet trained. Diapers evolved in the 1960s from a double layer of cotton folded into a triangle and attached with safety pins to products that include a top sheet of plastic and cellulose pulp core. More recently, the core was changed to gel for its absorbency potential. Product innovations include the use of superabsorbent polymers, re-sealable tapes and elastic waist bands. Gel also prevents skin from becoming super hydrated, and as a result diaper rash has been on the decline in recent decades. However, it still occurs, and in most cases, diaper dermatitis is caused by the diaper itself (Gorgos, 2006). Diaper rash or diaper dermatitis is one of the most common skin disorders in infants and toddlers (Liptak, 2001). The etiology is multifocal and a diaper rash may present in various conditions in the pediatric community (Borkowski, 2004). Diaper dermatitis usually occurs as a primary reaction to irritation by urine, feces, moisture, or friction (Van Onselen, 1999). Distribution patterns may vary, but irritative dermatitis typically involves the convex surfaces where the skin is in greatest contact with the diaper. Irritative dermatitis usually spares the inquinal folds, and may be mild red, shiny, and with or without papules (Liptak, 2001; Wysocki and Bryant, 1992).
