Mom has recently developed a rash under her tummy folds/in groin area/bottom. It appears to be intertrigo. In similar posts many recommend Desitin/zinc oxide. Frequent washing and drying of the area is also recommended. After applying zinc oxide to the area I tried washing it off my hands with soap and water but it wouldn’t come off. It took rubbing it off with a towel. I’m afraid rubbing the area for my mom will break the skin! Some of the areas are already cracked and so red. If I leave the Desitin there how can the skin be cleaned?
I will contact her doctor but it’s currently the weekend.
Many also recommend applying nothing and just letting the area dry. We will try to do this but Mom has had back surgery and does not lie flat in a bed. She stays full time in a lift chair. (She can get up and down and uses a walker to walk).
My other questions is whether there’s anything that can gently keep the stomach folds lifted—like a bra does for breasts?
Any advice is welcome!
I’m not her full time care giver but I am worried about her. :(
Wash the area and pat dry gently. Then apply the cream. I find it very effective and gentle.
I the above mentioned stores do not carry it, any farm sales will have it in their
inventory.
You may think I'm senile, but try it, you might like it.
Naomi Hartness
She can’t lay it down at all? Not on her side even if you prop her up? Humm. Maybe get some help with that. For the folds I don’t know, that’s a good one. A back brace? Pantyhose that you can cut the legs off but leave the mid drift area and see if that might work. Get a size too small? You’d have to Jimmy it of course. Or maybe something like a Corset. Good luck!
Doctors would only order creams that did absolutely nothing except keep area moist.
As a side note, I tried to find some of the old bath powder fluffs that used to be so common as Christmas gifts. No longer popular, but Walmart has a few locked up in the area where makeup is sold. I dumped out the powder and used the container and fluff for her powder mixture.
I found that desitin was almost impossible to remove without taking off some skin. A & D works. My husband's doctor prescribed Sulfadiazin cream ( an old burn treatment) that protests and heals his skin very well.
Prayers.
Keoconazole cream. We use soft baby wipes with soap & water to wash off excess cream before applying fresh cream. Keep the area dry. We have used gauze 4X4's and tucked into skin folds, left there to keep area dry.
For the days there are no rashes she uses gold bond powder. Daily inspection is needed on all fold areas to stay on top of these rashes. They can get bad fast.
Using cleansing spray specially formulated to clean urine and feces every time she goes will also help to clear up her skin conditions. Nystatin cream (perscription) or Nystatin powder is like a miracle for these conditions.
To get it off, soap and water. If it all does not come off do not worry about it. clean the area as best as you can. Excess will eventually come off. It will either come off on clothing or slough off as the skin sheds.
My Husband used to develop a rash like you are describing in the skin folds. The Hospice Nurse ordered Nystatin Powder and that worked well. The rash might be due to fungal (yeast) infection.
Have you done a forum search on skin folds?
https://www.agingcare.com/search?term=skin+folds