Comparison of the Effects of Breast Milk and Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) on the Healing of Diaper Dermatitis in Infants: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Background: Diaper dermatitis (DD) is a very common problem in infants between 1 and 6 months. While it rarely causes long-lasting problems, it can cause serious short-term problems for both infants and parents. Accordingly, this study compared the effect of breast milk and diaper rash cream containing Hamamelis virginiana (12 mg/100 g) on the healing process in 0-6 month-old infants with DD. Methods: This randomized, single-blinded trial was conducted with 60 infants aged 0-6 months diagnosed with DD. Participants were assigned to either the breast milk group (BG) or the comparison group (CG) receiving Hamamelis virginiana cream. Demographic characteristics and DD severity were assessed using a structured demographic questionnaire and the validated Assessment of the Severity of Uncomplicated DD in Infants Scale. Statistical analyses included Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed rank, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Before the intervention, the mean scale score was 5.17 +/- 0.46 in the BG, 2.83 +/- 1.37 in the CG, which was a statistically significant difference. After the intervention, there was a significant decrease in the mean scale score in the BG to 0.03 +/- 0.18, whereas the mean decrease was smaller in the CG (1.53 +/- 1.11). The difference in the mean scale scores between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the postintervention mean scale score of the BG was significantly lower than that of the CG. However, baseline severity differences limit direct comparison of treatment efficacy. Conclusions: Topically applied breast milk appears to be a safe, accessible, and cost-effective option for treating uncomplicated DD, with greater improvement than cream containing Hamamelis virginiana. However, baseline severity differences limit direct comparison. Further studies using block randomization are recommended.