RECENTLY, I've seen reports of some kids developing rashes around the buttocks and the upper thighs.

The rashes look red and inflamed and the skin may look irritated and there is usually some itching. They may appear as two half moons on the buttocks.

This new outbreak of toilet seat dermatitis has been blamed on the use of wooden toilet seats and the use of harsh chemicals that are sometimes used to clean the surface of these toilet seats.

These chemicals are didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. Both of these have been shown to cause severe skin irritation.

The rash should be treated with a mild cortisone cream like Eumovate or Advantan, and an anti-biotic if the rash is infected. An antihistamine like Histal or Claritin can be used for the itching.

The rash will usually settle promptly after this.

This disease was first described in 1927 so it has been around for a long time.

In those early days, it was due to the wooden toilet seats, and the varnish and paints which were used on the seats, and again the harsh chemicals used at that time to clean the seats.

But with the passage of time most homes switched to plastic toilet seats which essentially got rid of the problem.

Today we have new wooden toilet seats which are in fashion and the problem has arisen again.

People should think about replacing their wooden toilet seats with plastic toilet seats and they should use rubbing alcohol to clean the toilet seats. In addition, there should be a move to put toilet seat covers in public bathrooms and you should teach your kids to make a toilet seat cover from toilet paper when they use public facilities.

Dr Persadsingh is a skin specialist He is the author of Acne in Black Women and The Hair in Black Women. Check out his website at acneinblackwomen.com.