An applicator for the topical application of a rash-treating substance to a babys bottom without transferring the substance to a caregivers hands includes a handle component and a disposable sponge component adapted to be mounted removably on the handle component. A sponge portion of the sponge component includes a quantity of a rash-treating substance. In one embodiment, (a) the sponge portion is pre-moistened with a rash-treating substance and covered with a sponge-sealing cover that the caregiver removes prior to using the applicator, (b) the sponge component snaps removably onto the distal end portion of the handle component, (c) the distal end portion of the handle component pivots, and (d) the handle component includes a slide component that enables the caregiver to release the sponge component from the distal end portion of the handle component by sliding the slide component.
