Best Diaper Rash Cream for Babies: Sudocrem vs Desitin

Diaper rash is one of the most common reasons parents end up in the baby-care aisle. The shelf is packed with options: Desitin, Triple Paste, Aquaphor, Boudreaux’s Butt Paste and A+D. Now there is also Sudocrem, the Irish cream that recently arrived in the United States. They look similar in the tub, but they work in different ways, and the wrong pick can drag a mild rash out for weeks.

This guide explains which diaper rash cream to choose and how Sudocrem compares with US favorites. You will also learn what works for prevention versus an active rash, which cream suits newborns, and when your baby needs to see a pediatrician.

What causes diaper rash

Diaper rash (diaper dermatitis) is inflammation of the skin under the diaper. The main trigger is prolonged contact with urine and stool. Digestive enzymes in stool and ammonia from urine break down the skin’s protective layer. Moisture and friction from the diaper make the irritation worse.

It is extremely common. The UK’s National Health Service estimates that up to a third of babies and toddlers in diapers have diaper rash at any given time. It is most frequent between about 4 and 15 months of age, when solid foods change stool patterns and diapers stay wet longer overnight.

Typical signs of simple irritant diaper rash:

• pink or red patches on the buttocks, genitals and inner thighs;
• the deep skin folds are often spared, because the rash appears where the diaper touches the skin;
• fussiness during diaper changes and wiping;
• clear improvement within 3–4 days of good care.

Types of diaper rash creams

Most products fall into a few groups. Knowing the difference helps you avoid buying a little of everything.

Zinc oxide creams and pastes

Zinc oxide forms a white, water-repelling barrier that keeps urine and stool off the skin, gently dries weepy areas and calms inflammation. Together with petrolatum, zinc oxide is the best-studied over-the-counter option for irritant diaper rash. Concentrations range from roughly 10% to 40%. Higher-strength pastes such as Desitin Maximum Strength, Boudreaux’s Maximum Strength and Aquaphor Baby Diaper Rash Paste are thicker and more protective. Lower-strength creams such as Triple Paste, Boudreaux’s Original or Sudocrem spread more easily.

Petrolatum-based ointments

Ointments such as Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment, A+D Original or plain petroleum jelly seal the skin against moisture. They are clear, inexpensive and well suited to daily prevention, especially for babies with sensitive skin.

“Natural” and botanical balms

Many boutique diaper balms combine low-dose zinc oxide with plant oils, calendula or shea butter. They are fine for routine care, but for an established rash they usually trail drugstore zinc pastes. Fragrances or plant extracts can also irritate sensitive skin.

Medicated treatments

Antifungal creams (clotrimazole, miconazole, nystatin), low-strength hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointments are for rashes complicated by infection or significant inflammation. Check with your pediatrician before using them under a diaper.

Sudocrem: ingredients and how it works

Sudocrem was created in a Dublin pharmacy in 1931 and has been a staple in Irish and British homes for generations. The brand is now owned by Teva. In the UK it is a licensed medicine and appears on NHS regional formularies for nappy rash. Since early 2025, Sudocrem has been sold across the US through Amazon and Walmart.

The formula contains:

• zinc oxide — about 15.25% (labeled 15.29% on US packs): forms a protective barrier with astringent, soothing properties;
• benzyl benzoate — about 1% and benzyl cinnamate — 0.15%: the main esters of Peru balsam, with mild antiseptic action;
• benzyl alcohol — 0.39%: a weak local anesthetic with disinfectant properties that helps ease stinging;
• hypoallergenic lanolin — about 4%: softens the skin and helps hold in moisture.

The water-repellent base contains paraffins, waxes and mineral oil, along with the preservative sodium benzoate and a light lavender fragrance.

That combination works on three fronts: it shields the skin from urine and stool, soothes irritation and helps limit bacterial growth on broken skin. Its UK license also covers minor burns, sunburn, cuts and grazes, eczema and pressure sores.

How to apply Sudocrem

Sudocrem is used differently from American zinc pastes. US pediatric advice often says to spread zinc paste on thickly, like frosting. Sudocrem’s manufacturer instead recommends a small amount, massaged in with small circular movements until the white cream disappears and leaves a thin, translucent film. If a white layer remains, you have used too much — excess cream can reduce how well the diaper absorbs.

1. Remove the dirty diaper and gently clean the skin with warm water or fragrance-free, alcohol-free wipes.
2. Pat dry with a soft cloth and let the skin air-dry for a couple of minutes.
3. Apply a small amount and rub it in until a clear film forms.
4. Put on a fresh diaper without fastening it too tightly.

For prevention, it can be used at every diaper change, especially at bedtime. For an active rash, keep applying at each change until the skin has healed.

Cautions

• Do not use if your baby is sensitive to any ingredient.
• Lanolin and fragrance. Babies who have reacted to lanolin or fragrance may get contact dermatitis from Sudocrem. For them, a fragrance-free zinc paste such as Triple Paste is the safer choice.
• Newborns with jaundice. The UK product information notes that sodium benzoate may increase jaundice in newborns up to 4 weeks old. If your newborn has significant or prolonged jaundice, ask your pediatrician before using it.
• External use only. Keep away from the eyes and mucous membranes, and store the tub out of children’s reach.

Best diaper rash cream: Sudocrem vs. Desitin, Triple Paste and Aquaphor

There is no exact US equivalent of Sudocrem’s formula, but several familiar drugstore products do a similar job. Here is how the main options compare.

Product	Main active ingredient	Best for
Sudocrem	Zinc oxide ~15% + benzyl esters, lanolin	Prevention and mild to moderate rash; sore, irritated skin
Desitin Maximum Strength	Zinc oxide 40%	Severe redness, diarrhea, overnight barrier
Triple Paste	Zinc oxide 12.8%	Sensitive skin, fragrance-free routine treatment
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste	Zinc oxide 16% (Original) or 40% (Maximum Strength)	Everyday treatment; Maximum Strength for stronger rashes
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment, A+D, petroleum jelly	Petrolatum	Daily prevention, clear barrier

Sudocrem vs. Desitin

Desitin Maximum Strength contains 40% zinc oxide — roughly two and a half times more than Sudocrem. It is a dense paste applied in a thicker layer and best removed with a little oil rather than by scrubbing. Parents often reach for it when a rash is bright red or stools are frequent and loose. Sudocrem is softer, spreads more easily and adds mild antiseptic and soothing ingredients, which makes it a good everyday choice for mild to moderate irritation.

Sudocrem vs. Triple Paste

Both sit in the mid-range for zinc oxide. Triple Paste is fragrance- and preservative-free, which appeals to parents of babies with very sensitive skin. Sudocrem contains lanolin and lavender fragrance but adds antiseptic and mild anesthetic components. If your baby reacts to fragrance or lanolin, Triple Paste or another fragrance-free paste is the better fit.

Sudocrem vs. Aquaphor

Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment is a clear petrolatum barrier without zinc oxide. It is excellent for prevention but does less to dry and calm an active rash. Sudocrem combines barrier protection with zinc’s soothing effect. Many families use Aquaphor day to day and switch to a zinc product when redness appears.

Which diaper rash cream to choose

• Healthy skin, prevention only. A thin layer of Aquaphor, A+D, Sudocrem or a fragrance-free zinc cream at each change, especially overnight.
• Mild pink redness. A zinc oxide cream such as Sudocrem, Triple Paste or Boudreaux’s Original at every change, plus diaper-free time.
• Severe diaper rash or frequent loose stools. A 40% zinc oxide paste such as Desitin Maximum Strength and more frequent changes. If there is no improvement in 2–3 days, call your pediatrician.
• Dry, cracked skin after a rash. A bland ointment such as Aquaphor or petroleum jelly.
• Red dots at the edges, skin folds involved, no response to zinc creams. Likely a yeast (Candida) diaper rash — see your pediatrician for an antifungal treatment.

Best diaper rash cream for newborns

In the first weeks, simpler is better. For newborns, a fragrance-free petrolatum ointment such as Aquaphor or a gentle, fragrance-free zinc cream such as Triple Paste is a sensible default. Sudocrem is used from birth in the UK and Ireland. However, it contains fragrance and the preservative sodium benzoate, so check with your pediatrician first if your newborn has significant jaundice or very sensitive skin.

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How to treat diaper rash at home

Effective diaper rash treatment starts with hygiene, not cream. These steps do most of the work — the cream simply protects skin that is already clean and dry.

• Change diapers as soon as they are soiled and promptly when wet — newborns may need 8–10 or more changes a day.
• Clean with warm water, wiping front to back for girls. Use mild, fragrance-free soap only for heavy soiling.
• Choose fragrance-free, alcohol-free wipes, or use soft cloths and water.
• Pat the skin dry instead of rubbing.
• Give your baby diaper-free time several times a day.
• Make sure diapers fit properly — too tight causes chafing, too loose causes leaks.
• Avoid talc and cornstarch powders on an irritated rash: powder can be inhaled and may cake on moist skin.
• Do not apply cream to damp skin, which traps moisture underneath.

When to call the pediatrician

Most diaper rashes clear at home within a few days. Some signs, however, point to infection or another skin condition. Contact your pediatrician if:

• the rash does not improve after 3–4 days of good care, or gets worse;
• you see separate red dots or patches spreading from the edges, or the skin folds are bright red — a typical sign of yeast;
• there are blisters, pus-filled bumps, honey-colored crusts, open sores or bleeding;
• the rash spreads beyond the diaper area;
• your baby has a fever, seems unwell, is feeding poorly or cries constantly;
• the rash started during a course of antibiotics;
• a newborn in the first weeks of life has noticeable jaundice.

Yeast diaper rash and antifungal creams

Yeast diaper rash is caused by Candida, a fungus that thrives in the warm, moist diaper area. Unlike simple irritation, it often involves the skin folds, looks bright red and has small satellite spots at the edges. Standard barrier creams, Sudocrem and Desitin included, do not treat yeast. The usual fix is an antifungal cream for diaper rash, such as clotrimazole, miconazole or prescription nystatin. A barrier product is added afterward or on a separate schedule, so ask your pediatrician how to layer them.

If you can’t get to a doctor quickly, you can ask a doctor online and describe the rash — a specialist can tell you whether an in-person visit is needed.

Common mistakes with diaper creams

• Too much Sudocrem. It should be rubbed in to a clear film, not left as a white mask — unlike thick 40% pastes.
• Layering several products. Stacking ointments, creams and powder makes the skin harder to clean and can trap moisture.
• Cream instead of changes. No barrier can protect skin that sits in a wet diaper for hours.
• Steroid creams “just in case”. Do not use hydrocortisone under a diaper without medical advice — the diaper increases absorption through delicate skin.
• Scrubbing off every trace of paste. Gently remove the soiled layer and reapply; aggressive wiping damages healing skin.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sudocrem safe for newborns?

Sudocrem is used from birth to prevent and treat nappy rash in the UK and Ireland. Because it contains the preservative sodium benzoate, which may worsen jaundice in babies under 4 weeks, check with your pediatrician first if your newborn has significant jaundice.

Can you buy Sudocrem in the US?

Yes. Since 2025, Sudocrem has been available nationwide in the United States through Amazon and Walmart, marketed as a diaper rash cream with 15.29% zinc oxide.

Is Sudocrem better than Desitin?

Neither is universally better. Sudocrem spreads easily and adds antiseptic and soothing ingredients, which suits mild to moderate rashes. Desitin Maximum Strength has 40% zinc oxide and forms a heavier barrier, which many parents prefer for severe redness or diarrhea.

What is the best diaper rash cream for newborns?

For most newborns, a fragrance-free option such as Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment for prevention or Triple Paste for mild redness is a gentle starting point. Ask your pediatrician before using any product if your baby has jaundice, broken skin or a rash that does not improve.

How often should you apply diaper rash cream?

At every diaper change, on clean and completely dry skin. If the rash does not improve within a few days, see your pediatrician instead of applying more cream.

Can I use Sudocrem on my baby’s face?

Its UK license covers eczema and minor skin injuries. On the face, however, it can leave a heavy white film, and the fragrance and lanolin may irritate sensitive skin. Keep it away from the eyes and mouth, and ask your pediatrician about facial rashes.

Why won’t my baby’s diaper rash go away?

The most common reasons are infrequent changes, skin not drying fully before cream goes on, or a yeast infection. If the rash lasts more than 3–4 days, has red dots at the edges or involves the skin folds, see your pediatrician.

Sources

• NHS. Nappy rash. nhs.uk/conditions/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/nappy-rash
• NHS South West London. Self Care Briefing for Clinicians: Nappy Rash, V1.1
• NHS Scotland East Region Formulary. Skin conditions: nappy rash
• Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream — Summary of Product Characteristics. electronic Medicines Compendium (emc), 2025
• American Academy of Family Physicians. Diaper Rash. familydoctor.org
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Helping Hand: Diaper Rash
• Patient.info. Nappy Rash. patient.info/health/nappy-rash