Comparison of the Effects of Breast Milk and <i>Hamamelis virginiana</i> (Witch Hazel) on the Healing of Diaper Dermatitis in Infants: A Randomized Trial

<b><i>Background:</i></b> 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 <i>Hamamelis virginiana</i> (12 mg/100 g) on the healing process in 0-6 month-old infants with DD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 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 <i>Hamamelis virginiana</i> 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 <i>U</i>, Wilcoxon signed rank, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. Significance was set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 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 (<i>p</i> < 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. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Topically applied breast milk appears to be a safe, accessible, and cost-effective option for treating uncomplicated DD, with greater improvement than cream containing <i>Hamamelis virginiana</i>. However, baseline severity differences limit direct comparison. Further studies using block randomization are recommended.