A&D ointment works well for preventing and treating mild diaper rash, but it has limits. Its two active ingredients, petrolatum (53.4%) and lanolin (15.5%), create a moisture barrier that shields irritated skin from urine and stool. For simple rashes that look pink, dry, or slightly scaly, A&D can help the skin heal within a couple of days. For more severe or persistent rashes, especially those caused by yeast, it won’t be enough on its own.
How A&D Ointment Protects Skin
The core job of A&D ointment is to sit on the skin’s surface and block irritants from reaching it. Petrolatum, which makes up more than half the formula, forms a semi-occlusive layer that locks in moisture while keeping wet diaper contents out. Lanolin, derived from sheep’s wool, works alongside petrolatum to instantly improve the skin’s permeability barrier, helping damaged skin retain the hydration it needs to repair itself.
The “A&D” in the name refers to vitamins A and D, which come from cod liver oil in the formula. Topical vitamin A plays a meaningful role in skin repair: it speeds up the turnover of skin cells, increases the rate at which new skin forms over a wound, and boosts production of collagen and other structural proteins. These aren’t just marketing claims. Vitamin A deficiency is directly linked to abnormal skin development, and applying it topically has been shown to restore healthy skin structure in damaged tissue. Vitamin D supports skin integrity in a complementary way, though the concentrations in A&D ointment are modest.
What A&D Treats Well (and What It Doesn’t)
A&D ointment is best suited for mild, irritation-based diaper rash. This type of rash is typically light pink to purple in tone, appears dry or smooth, covers a broader area like the buttocks, and stays in one general patch. It’s caused by prolonged contact with moisture, friction, or the digestive enzymes in stool. A barrier ointment like A&D addresses all of those triggers by physically separating the skin from the irritant.
Where A&D falls short is with yeast-based diaper rashes, which are a different problem entirely. A yeast rash looks noticeably different: deep red or purple, bumpy or shiny, sometimes with tiny fluid-filled pimples. It tends to settle into skin folds near the groin and genitals rather than spreading across flat surfaces. You may also notice several smaller patches rather than one large area. Yeast rashes require antifungal treatment and can take weeks to clear, while a simple irritation rash typically resolves in days with a barrier cream.
If a rash doesn’t improve after a few days of consistent A&D use, grows larger, causes your baby obvious pain, or develops open sores that ooze fluid or bleed, those are signs of a possible infection that needs medical attention.
How A&D Compares to Zinc Oxide Creams
The most common alternative to A&D is a zinc oxide cream or paste, found in products like Desitin and Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. Zinc oxide works differently: instead of just forming a moisture barrier, it also has mild astringent and soothing properties that can help calm inflamed skin.
The clinical evidence on this comparison is mixed. One systematic review found that petroleum jelly alone showed no significant advantage in reducing the frequency or severity of diaper rash symptoms, challenging the widespread assumption that it works as a preventive measure. Zinc oxide pastes, meanwhile, showed some healing benefit, with one study reporting 22% of babies achieving complete healing and 44% partial healing. That said, zinc oxide wasn’t universally superior either, performing worse than antifungal treatments in some comparisons. The takeaway: for active rash with visible redness and irritation, zinc oxide creams generally offer a slight edge. For everyday prevention at each diaper change, A&D’s barrier function still serves a practical purpose.
How to Apply It
The labeled directions are straightforward: clean and dry the diaper area, then apply A&D liberally. Reapply with each diaper change, and be especially generous at bedtime or any time your baby will be in the same diaper for a longer stretch. You don’t need to scrub off the previous layer at every change. If the ointment is still intact on the skin, you can gently clean what’s soiled and add a fresh layer on top. Aggressive wiping can irritate already-raw skin.
A thick, visible layer is the goal. Think of it like spackling a wall: you want enough coverage that irritants can’t reach the skin underneath. A thin smear won’t create an effective barrier.
Ingredient Considerations
The original A&D formula is free of parabens, dyes, and phthalates, which removes several common irritants from the equation. It does, however, contain added fragrance, which is worth noting if your baby has particularly sensitive skin. The fragrance concentration is low, and most babies tolerate it without issue, but fragrance is one of the more common triggers for contact reactions in skincare products.
The other ingredient to be aware of is lanolin. While lanolin allergies are uncommon, they do occur. Signs of an allergic reaction include a new rash in the area where the ointment was applied, swelling, or worsening redness that doesn’t match the original diaper rash pattern. If the skin looks worse after applying A&D rather than better, stop using it and try a lanolin-free alternative like plain petrolatum or a zinc oxide cream.
A&D Original vs. A&D Diaper Rash Cream
A&D sells two products that often get confused. The original ointment, in the yellow tube, is the petrolatum-and-lanolin formula described above. It’s classified as a skin protectant and works primarily as a barrier. The A&D Diaper Rash cream, in the white tube, contains zinc oxide as its active ingredient and is specifically formulated to treat active rashes. If your baby already has a visible rash, the zinc oxide version is the more targeted choice. If you’re looking to prevent rash during routine diaper changes, the original ointment does the job.