Assessment Effect of Breast Milk on Diaper Dermatitis

Abstract

Diaper dermatitis is the most common dermatological disease of infancy, which occurs and caused by the combined effect of irritants such as diaper, urine and faces. In this study, we intend to evaluate the effect of breast milk on the healing of diaper dermatitis. This study was a clinical trial of 30 infants between 0-12 months of age that were suffering from diaper dermatitis and referred to the Health Centers in Tehran, Iran. The subjects were selected by open study. Infants were divided into two matched groups: case and control. Data-gathering tools were the questionnaire that contained two parts: the demographic characteristics of infants and the status of care and condition of the lesion. Data analysis was performed using SPSS/18 software and Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests were used. The findings revealed a significant difference between the case and control groups in the number and lesion score of the rashes at the first and third day (P=0.013, P=0.005), these differences were more significant at the fifth day (P=0.004, P=0.001). Because of positive effects of breast milk on healing of diaper dermatitis, it is proposed that educational programs in health centers should be considered by health officials, and the managers would play a key role in increasing knowledge behavior changes in mothers.

Competing interest statement

Conflict of interest: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Introduction

Diaper dermatitis is the most common dermatological problem of infancy.¹ The diagnosis is based on the clinical observation, characterized by an acute inflammatory eruption of the skin in the diaper area of an infant. Although this condition is relatively common, it can cause considerable pain and stress for infants and could be troublesome for their caregivers.^2,3 In the United States, the frequency of diaper dermatitis is substantial and accounts for a high number of health care visits. The three most common types of diaper dermatitis are: chafing dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis and diaper candidacies.⁴ Diaper dermatitis is also known as diaper rash or nappy rash, indicating inflammation of the skin in the area covered by diapers. Diaper dermatitis commonly occurs in general pediatric practice, occurring in 16% of children with a primary or a secondary skin complaint.⁴ An estimated 7% to 35% of the infant population is affected at a given time, with the highest prevalence in infants 9 to 12 months of old. Only 7% of diaper dermatitis cases seek medical advice. On the other hand, a group of skin disorders that result from attack of the skin by physical, chemical, enzymatic, and microbial factors result in the diaper environment.⁵ The integrity of healthy skin is compromised by the very nature of the diaper environment, and normal intact skin. Therefore, remains an elusive goal of current diapering practices. Moist occlusion promotes malaria, and causes an increase in the coefficient of skin friction.⁶ Diapering is unquestionably an effective and convenient way of localizing an infant’s excreta. Unfortunately, infant skin was not designed to operate continuously in the resulting environment, and is frequently unable to whether this assault.⁷ A diverse group of diseases can cause skin conditions in the diaper area, including those which are directly caused by diapers or the diaper environment, some which are not clearly due to, but are worsened by, the wearing of diapers, and those which are independent of the presence of the diaper or its resulting environment.⁸ Many of these conditions are limited to this area of the skin, but others extend to skin outside this area, and some are signs of systemic disease. The most important factors in the development of diaper dermatitis are: water/moisture, friction, urine, feces, and microorganisms (sometimes).⁹ Diaper rash affects the areas within the confines of the diaper. Increased wetness in the diaper area makes the skin more susceptible to damage by physical, chemical, and enzymatic mechanisms. Wet skin increases the penetration of irritant substances.¹⁰ However, Breast milk does appear to have healing properties that can prove beneficial when it comes to treating minor illnesses and injuries. This is due to the antibodies that breast milk contains. It can kill off bacteria and viruses when applied topically to problematic areas because of antibacterial properties.¹¹ It is important to distinguish diaper dermatitis from other dermatomes that may develop within the diaper area. Considerable advances have occurred during recent years in the scientific knowledge regarding the benefits of breastfeeding, the mechanisms underlying these benefits, and in the clinical management of breastfeeding diaper.¹² Studies show human breast milk as a preventive measure and effective treatment of some sores and infections.¹³ These are all conditions that mother’s milk is cheap and readily available, side effects and contraindications, not even anti-bacterial and regenerative properties.¹⁴ In addition to feeding, such as greater use: conjunctivitis, sore nipples, ear infection, diaper rash that there is oriented to the milk as a topical antibacterial agent in the treatment and healing effect.¹⁵ For century’s breast milk as a natural substance used smooth skin. Breast milk contains vitamin groups: A, E, D, K and B complex, vitamin E is that it is very effective.¹⁶ Breastfeeding lead to skin cream. Furthermore it is a natural substance that causes softness to the skin. Research has shown that protein, calcium and vitamin B12 in milk play an important role in the prevention of complications such as dry skin, eczema and its fragility.¹⁷ The lactic acid in milk is used in most skin creams and lotions, face and softening effect upon the skin. There is some evidence that ingestion of breast milk protects the infant against certain infectious and non-infectious conditions.¹⁸ It is important that midwives are aware of current evidence to inform the advice they give to women on infant feeding.¹⁹ According to the above this study was conducted with the aim of assessing the effect of breast milk on diaper dermatitis.

Materials and Methods

This study was a clinical trial of 30 infants between 0-12 months of age that were suffering from diaper dermatitis and referred to the Health Centers in Tehran, Iran. Ethical committee approval was obtained for this HIPAA compliant clinical trial. Thirty infants with diaper dermatitis sought medical advice at our health centers within three months. We planned that thirty infants were recruited for this study. After full explanation of the goals, informed consent was obtained from the caregivers. A through medical history was obtained and a complete physical examination was conducted to rule out any other possible cause of dermatitis. The exclusion criteria were presence of infection or candidacies. However we did not exclude any patient. Infants were randomly assigned to case (n=15) and control (n=15) groups and were matched by age, sex, parent’s job, family income, number of diaper change per day, number of rashes and dermatitis score (lesion score). Both groups were followed up for five days (visits on first, third and fifth days of the intervention). Data were collected by a questionnaire, which contained two parts: demographic and state of care. Demographic data were filled through an interview with mothers on the first day. The state of care included number of the lesions, location, and severity of erythema, which was scored according to Al-Waili study; a five-point scale rash severity: 0=None, 1=Mild erythema, 2=Moderate erythema, 3=Moderate erythema + maceration, 4=Sever erythema + pustules or ulceration.²⁰ The second part of the questionnaire was filled by a research assistant on days 1, 3 and 5. During study, any new signs or symptoms were recorded. A positive therapeutic effect was described as score improvement such as when a moderate rash became mild or a mild rash disappeared. The mothers in the control group were asked to bath the infant following urination or defecation with only warm water, pat them dry and change diapers. They were asked not to apply any topical treatment or creams. In the case group, mothers were instructed to do the same in addition to applying breast milk three times a day on the affected area and let it air dry before putting a diaper back on. All mothers used the same brand of diapers before and during the study. Lesions that did not improve within five days of the study were treated with conventional therapy, and the failure was recorded. No other topical products were used during the study period. Data were analyzed using the SPSS package 18.0 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Chi-Square test was used to assess the differences between case and control groups.

Results

Thirty number of infants were included in the study with the six months of mean age. All infants were breast feeder, used high-power absorbent cloths for diapering, and none used disposable diapers. Infants’ demographic characteristics were shown on Table 1. Most of infants had the first birth seniority. All the mothers were housewives and 53.3% of the fathers had private jobs. The mean family salary was between 300-450 dollars. About 30% mothers and 33.3% fathers had (a qualification of) diploma or higher. The mean ages of mothers were 25.44 years and mean ages of fathers were 30.5. All infants were breast feeder and all of them were used cloth diapers (high power absorbent material) for diapering and none of them used disposable diapers. Nobody used soaps and powders. Frequency of diaper changes in 60% cases was 6 times/day. No sexual difference was observed. Diaper rashes were most common between 8-10 months old.

Table 1.

Demographics characteristics in infants.

Variations	Case (n=15)	Control (n=15)	Results
Age	>6 months: 60%	<6 months: 60%	F=0.5
Sex	Boys: 53.3%	Boys: 60%	F=0.5
Parents job	Mothers: 100% housewives Fathers: 53.3 private jobs	Mothers: 100% housewives Fathers 53.3 private jobs	P=0.229
Family income	Between 300-450 dollars/months	Between 300-450 dollars/months	P=0.584
Diapers	100% used cloth diapers (high power absorbent material)	100% used cloth diapers (high power absorbent material)	P=0.00
Number of diaper change per day	60% six times/day	60% six times/day	P=0.00

About 73.3% infants have one site of diaper rash. The mean and standard deviation of number of dermatitis were shown in Table 2. 60% of infants have moderate rash (according to Al-Waili study;²⁰ a five-point scale rash severity). Table 3 was shown number, location and score of lesions in case and control group. In the case group, 73.3% had two dermatitis with moderate erythema and 53.3% of the control group had one lesion with mild erythema. The mothers reported breast milk application as convenient.

Table 2.

Mean and standard deviation of the number of dermatitis rash, among the study subjects.

Local rash Groups		First day	Third day	Fifth day
Case	Mean	1.0667	0.6	0.2
	Total	15	15	15
	Standard deviation	0.2582	0.50709	0.41404
Control	Mean	1.4667	1.4	1.2667
	Total	15	15	15
	Standard deviation	0.83381	0.91026	1.2228

Table 3.

Compare the situation changes dermatitis rash, of study subjects in both groups.

Days diaper dermatitis		First day	Third day	Fifth day
Number of local rash	Case	86.7%	46.7%	80%
		N=1	N=1	N=0
	Control	60%	53.3%	26.7%
		N=1	N=1	N=0
	P-value	P=0.09	P=0.013	P=0.004
Lesion score	Case	73.3%	46.7%	80%
		Moderate	Mild	None
	Control	53.3	60%	26.7%
		Mild	Moderate	None
	P-value	P=0.132	P=0.005	P=0.001

Out of 15 infants with score 1 or 2 (mild or moderate erythema) in case group, 80% improved during the study period in fifth day. In control group 26.1% infants showed improvement. In case group the mean of scores pre and post intervention showed a significant difference (P=0.006) while in control group no difference was detected.

Most common locations for dermatitis rash in days 1 and 3 were anal (66%), genitalia (10%) and perineum (6%) regions.

The topical application of the breast milk has decreased the incidence of anal dermatitis rash (P=0.009). 80% of infants in case group have been none erythema and 20% failed to respond to breast milk application with mild erythema. 73.3% of infants in the control group placed on conventional therapy at the end of 5-day study (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Diaper dermatitis anal area before and after treatment with breast milk.

Discussion

Physical degradation of the epidermal barrier caused by exposure to excrement, moisture, and friction directly contributes to diaper dermatitis. Furthermore, reduced skin acidity (of pH) is associated with a decrease in epidermal barrier integrity, reduced antimicrobial defenses, and increased inflammation.²¹ Diaper dermatitis can cause significant discomfort for infants and distress for their parents and caregivers.²² Ehretsmann et al. obtained similar results.²³ These provide useful information regarding the comparative skin mildness of baby wipes and water. Our findings showed a significant difference between the number of dermatitis rash and lesion score on the third day as a result of topical use of the breast milk. This result is consistent with the findings of Al-Waili.²⁰ According to Al-Waili et al., olive oil, beeswax and honey are natural products, containing flavonoids, and antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal compounds that affect the production of cytokines by skin cells when applied topically. On the fifth day there was still obvious differences between two groups by the number of rashes and lesion score; this was consistent with the findings of Baldwin et al.²⁴ Visscher et al. noted that regular use of over the counter diaper ointments or pastes, and frequent diaper changes are required in any patient without a history of diaper dermatitis. Topical corticosteroids are still recognized as a treatment option for diaper dermatitis, although it is increasingly discouraged.²⁵ Farahani et al. and Gozen et al. described human breast milk as an effective and safe treatment for diaper dermatitis in infants,^11,26 whereas Spraker et al. recommended topical miconazole nitrate ointment for the treatment of diaper dermatitis.²⁷

Limitations

However, regarding the results, limitation should be acknowledged. This article is limited by its emphasis on papers published in English in journal databases, so we may have missed potentially useful studies.

Conclusions

Diaper dermatitis is a stressful condition for affected infants and their caregivers. Breast milk can be an effective, safe and convenient remedy. Educational programs in primary health centers can target caregivers.