Written by Chad Birt on Wed Aug 06 2025.
If you or a loved one uses incontinence products like pull-ups or diapers, it's common for skin irritation to develop. While it's difficult to prevent these flare-ups entirely, using a high-quality adult diaper cream can significantly reduce your risk and keep skin protected.
Since our care team frequently receives questions on this topic, we've created this comprehensive guide to the best diaper creams for adults. We'll highlight some of our favorite skin-friendly products, explain their key benefits, and help you choose the right one for your needs.
Adult diaper creams are over-the-counter ointments designed to protect your skin from diaper rash. Most contain zinc oxide, a powerful ingredient that creates a waterproof seal to prevent urine and feces from touching the skin and helps promote healing.
When applied after changing an incontinence product, these creams create a protective barrier on the genitals, perineum, and buttocks. Many adult diaper creams are also formulated without oils or artificial fragrances, making them a safe choice for people with allergies or contact dermatitis.
The products featured in this round-up are a mix of our highest-rated and best-selling adult diaper creams and skin protectants. We've included real customer feedback under each entry with the header: Customer Review.
Boudreaux's Butt Paste is the gold standard for diaper creams. Invented in the 1970s by a pharmacist, the brand is now synonymous with healthy, rash-free skin. Although it's marketed to parents with babies, this butt paste is just as effective for adults. Its unique formula is free of talc, parabens, dyes, and preservatives.
Key benefits & Features:
Convenient flip-top lid
Helps treat and prevent diaper rash
Protects chafed skin
Seals out moisture
Customer review: "This product has taken away the odor, rash and irritation that used to be a nasty side effect of adult diapers. A little bit goes a long way." - Paul S.
If you only use incontinence products occasionally, this tube of Boudreaux's Butt Paste might be a better choice. It contains the same effective formula with 16% zinc oxide to protect sensitive skin, just in a smaller, more portable size. Caregivers tell us that applying this paste after every diaper change helps protect the skin and provides immediate comfort.
Key Benefits & Features:
Protects skin from wetness and irritation
Comes in a 2 oz. tube
No dyes, parabens, preservatives, or talc
Customer review: “A wonderful, soothing product. Stopped the rash in one week.” - Patty M.
Balmex diaper rash treatment combines zinc oxide, aloe, and vitamin E. This combination goes on smoothly, wipes off easily, and provides instant soothing relief. The cream also has a subtle, pleasant scent. Like other products on this list, it's safe and effective for adults, as evidenced by the customer feedback below.
Key Benefits & Features:
Formulated to moisturize and protect the skin
Helps treat and prevent diaper rash
Soothes the rash, promotes healing
Customer Review: “The creams have helped so much on the sensitive skin and skin breakdowns that my mom has been having.” - Carrie B.
Consider this skin protectant paste from Remedy Essentials if you or a loved one has very sensitive skin or requires CHG-compatible products. The paste contains a mix of 75% petrolatum and 20% zinc oxide to form a long-lasting, waterproof barrier.
Key Benefits & Features:
Fragrance-free
Perfect for people with sensitive skin
CHG-compatible
Customer Review: “I am thrilled to report that this product is the absolute best and [the] only product that worked like magic to aid very fast skin healing for me. I am amazed that this product works way above and beyond everything else I have ever tried, and on the very first application! Thank you for making such a great product!!!” - Susan H.
Calmoseptine ointment is unique because it's not just a diaper ointment. It can also relieve hemorrhoids, rectal itch, anal fissures, and minor burns. The ointment has a cooling effect that soothes the skin and contains anti-itch properties to prevent irritation.
Key Benefits & Features:
Ideal as a moisture barrier, protecting the skin from feces or urine
Antiseptic properties to help prevent bacterial and fungal infections
Safe for multiple daily applications
Customer Review: “Best barrier cream I’ve ever used. Protects and heals irritated skin. Do not want to be without it." - Connie H.
How to choose a diaper cream for adults
Before you select a diaper cream, think about these important factors:
Ingredients: Look for creams that contain zinc oxide or a similar product designed to create a waterproof barrier. This is the key ingredient that seals out moisture and protects the skin from irritation.
Amount: Consider how often you or your loved one uses incontinence products. For daily use, a large canister of cream is a cost-effective choice. If you only need it occasionally, a smaller tube is more convenient.
Scent: Some adult diaper creams have a mild, pleasant scent, while others are fragrance-free. If you have sensitive skin or a sensitivity to smells, an unscented option is a safer bet.
Skin type: If you have sensitive skin, look for a cream that also includes soothing ingredients like vitamin E or aloe to help moisturize and protect the skin.
Yes, absolutely! Many caregivers use products marketed for babies on their adult loved ones. If you have any specific concerns about a product, you should always consult with a doctor or dermatologist first. They can offer personalized recommendations that align with your health history and needs.
Adult diaper creams are thick and pasty, designed to create a waterproof barrier. You need to apply enough cream to provide adequate protection, but not so much that it prevents the skin from breathing. A good rule of thumb is to start with a nickel-sized dab and spread it evenly across the buttocks and genitals, then reapply as necessary.
Yes! Making it a habit to apply diaper cream every time you change an incontinence product can significantly reduce the risk of diaper rash and other skin problems. This consistent application ensures the skin is always protected from moisture.
Using a high-quality adult diaper cream is a crucial step in preventing skin irritation for anyone who regularly uses incontinence products. We offer a wide range of protective barrier creams formulated for adults with urinary and bowel incontinence.
Do you have more questions about the products in this guide? Our Care Specialists are here to help. They speak both English and Spanish and can be reached by emailing support@carewell.com or calling (800) 696-CARE today.
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Read More >Chad Birt is a freelance medical writer who resides in Astoria, Oregon. When he isn't behind a keyboard, you can find him hiking, camping, or birdwatching with his wife Ella and their two dogs, Diane and Thoreau.
