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Nappy rash and cradle cap

Nappy rash is a very common condition that affects babies. It is usually caused when your baby's skin comes into contact with urine and faeces that collects in their nappy.

A nappy rash causes your baby's skin to become sore and irritated in the area around the nappy. The skin in this area will also be covered in spots or blotches, which are either pink or red in colour.

Most nappy rashes are mild and can be treated with a simple skincare routine. With a mild nappy rash, your baby won't normally feel significant pain or discomfort.

However, some nappy rashes are more severe and can be caused by an underlying condition, or bacterial infection. A severe rash will be more painful and distressing for your baby, and will usually require treatment with medication.

Reproduced under the terms of Click-Use Licence number C2009000382. The content of this page has been published under a Click-Use Licence (link this to http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index) which covers the use of core Crown copyright information. The original material can be found on NHS Choices.