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Skin cleansing in children
1Department of Paediatric Dermatology, IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy. carlo.gelmetti@galactica.it
Insights
Infant skin cleansing requires careful product selection due to delicate skin prone to dermatitis. Mild, simple detergents are ideal for maintaining healthy infant skin barriers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Cosmetology
- Skin Physiology
Background:
- Infant skin possesses unique anatomical and functional characteristics.
- While the skin barrier is present at birth, infant skin remains delicate.
- This delicate nature increases susceptibility to irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate infant skin cleansing practices.
- To guide the selection of appropriate cleansing agents for infants.
- To understand the impact of different cleansing methods and products on infant skin.
Main Methods:
- Review of current understanding in cosmetology and skin physiology.
- Elucidation of infant skin peculiarities.
- Analysis of different cleansing product types (detergents, bath oils, powders).
Main Results:
- Cleansing agents vary significantly in properties, indications, and benefits.
- Bathing and showering methods have distinct implications for skin cleansing.
- Cleansing frequency should be adapted to infant's age and environmental exposure.
Conclusions:
- The choice of infant skincare products is critical due to skin sensitivity.
- Ideal pediatric detergents must be mild to prevent irritant dermatitis.
- Formulations should be simple to minimize the risk of allergic dermatitis.
Abstract:
The problems of skin cleansing in infants have been re-evaluated in recent years on the basis of current understanding of cosmetology and skin physiology. The anatomical and functional peculiarities of infant's skin have been elucidated and, although it is known that the barrier function is established at birth in normal babies, it remains the case that children's skin is more delicate and therefore more prone to irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. These factors determine the choice of cleansing agents during infancy. The products available on the market differ markedly. Indeed detergents, bath oils, bath powders, due to their distinctive properties, have different indications and different benefits. The method of cleansing the skin, i.e. bathing or showering, is also important. The frequency of cleansing should take into account the age and the degree of exposure to pollutants. For special purposes, e.g. impetiginized dermatoses, antiseptics such as potassium permanganate or chlorhexidine can be added to the water in appropriate concentrations. The ideal paediatric detergent should be very mild to avoid irritant dermatitis, and very simple to avoid allergic dermatitis.