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Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment review: an effective nappy rash treatment cream
Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment swiftly tackles severe nappy rash, but how does it stack up against other creams? Parent-tester Laura shares her thoughts after six months of testing it on her daughter's delicate skin.
By Laura Westerman | Last updated Mar 18, 2024
Price: RRP From £4
Effective at getting rid of more severe nappy rash
Affordable
Vegan-friendly
Tube lasts a while
Unpleasant smell
Yellow in colour - can temporarily stain clothing
Type: Cream | Size: 30g, 100g
Ease of use: 4/5
Effectiveness: 5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Whilst this popular nappy rash cream might not smell or look the best (it has a yellow tint when applied on the skin), when it comes to treating severe nappy rash, Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment gets the job done.
While I rely on Bepanthen or Sudocrem for daily protection, I always carry Metanium in my changing bag for sudden flare-ups, as its fast-acting formula effectively alleviates irritation and redness from chafing or exposure to wee or poop, particularly beneficial for infants with highly sensitive skin.
The ointment contains titanium dioxide, titanium peroxide, and titanium salicylate in a water-repellent, siliconised base, which collectively work to treat nappy rash. Titanium dioxide forms a protective barrier, titanium peroxide has antibacterial properties which help to ward off possible infections, and titanium salicylate reduces redness and inflammation. The water-repellent, siliconised base forms a barrier against moisture and irritants.
The other bonus is that you only need a pea-sized amount - which goes a long way, so the tube lasts for ages and if it gets under my fingernails, I just grab a few baby wipes to clean it off.
In a nutshell, this effective and fast-acting nappy rash cream is worth keeping on-hand for those nappy rash emergencies.
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How we tested Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment
I used Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment for approximately six months, starting from when my now 22-month-old was born.
It’s a nappy rash treatment rather than a barrier cream, so I didn’t use it every day - only when my daughter experienced some redness and soreness, and when there were any flare-ups. I used Bepanthen as an everyday barrier cream instead.
During use, I scored Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment on different criteria including: ease of use, effectiveness and value for money.
How easy is Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment to use?
A little goes a long way with Metanium, so I only needed to apply a pea-sized amount to treat any nappy rash.
I found it harder to apply than the likes of Bepanthen and Sudocrem because of its yellow tint, which tended to find its way onto vests and babygrows. While it does come out of clothing when washed, the cream’s colour still meant that I had to be careful when applying it if I wanted my daughter’s clothes to stay clean after a nappy change.
Metanium is thicker in texture than smoother barrier creams like Bepanthen so wasn’t as nice to use, however you should bear in mind that it only needs to be used when nappy rash flares up. It also has an unpleasant odour, which I found hard to ignore.
I generally carried Metanium in my changing bag alongside Bepanthen so I always had both on hand when out and about.
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How effective is Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment?
Metanium works as a nappy rash treatment so it’s generally very effective at treating more severe nappy rash than barrier creams like Bepanthen.
When compared to Sudocrem, I generally prefer to use Sudocrem because I find it just as effective but better smelling and non-staining, however some Mumsnet parents think Metanium is more effective, particularly when dealing with nappy rash linked to teething and horrible nappies.
Is Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment good value for money?
Yes. As a nappy rash treatment, you can’t go far wrong with Metanium. It’s more expensive per gram than Bepanthen, but a little will go a long way. A 30g tube retails at around £5, but you can also buy a 100g tube should you need to.
Compared to Sudocrem, Metanium is certainly more expensive, however many Mumsnetters say they prefer Metanium to Sudocrem in terms of effectiveness which makes it good value for money overall.
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About the author
Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a one-year-old, she is fully invested in discovering the best and most affordable baby products on the market, and sharing her knowledge and findings with other parents.
With over seven years' experience as a full-time editor, five of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing pushchair product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier.
In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of baby product videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.