Related Experiment Videos
Transepidermal water loss and skin hydration in preterm infants during phototherapy
A Maayan-Metzger1, G Yosipovitch, E Hadad
1Department of Neonatology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqva.
Insights
Phototherapy significantly increases transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in preterm infants, particularly in specific body areas. This finding is crucial for understanding infant skin physiology and managing fluid replacement during treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal dermatology
- Infant skin physiology
- Phototherapy research
Background:
- Preterm infants have immature skin barriers.
- Phototherapy is a common treatment for neonatal jaundice.
- The impact of phototherapy on infant skin barrier function requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of phototherapy on skin barrier function in preterm infants.
- To quantify changes in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin hydration during phototherapy.
- To identify body areas most affected by phototherapy-induced skin barrier changes.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of TEWL and stratum corneum hydration in 7 body areas.
- Study included 31 preterm infants (25-36 weeks gestational age).
- Each infant served as their own control, with measurements taken before and during phototherapy.
Main Results:
- A mean increase of 26.4% in TEWL was observed during phototherapy.
- The most significant TEWL increases occurred in the cubital fossa (45.9%), groin (36.4%), and back (29%).
- No significant differences in skin hydration were found in most body areas.
Conclusions:
- Phototherapy leads to increased TEWL in preterm infants, indicating compromised skin barrier function.
- Specific body areas are more susceptible to phototherapy-induced water loss.
- Findings have implications for optimizing fluid management in infants undergoing phototherapy.
Abstract:
TEWL and skin hydration was measured in 7 body areas before and during phototherapy in 31 preterm infants (gestational age 25 to 36 weeks). Each patient served as his/her own control. There was a mean increase of 26.4% in TEWL during phototherapy. Most prominent increases were recorded in the cubital fossa (45.9%), groin (36.4%), and back (29%). There were no significant differences in stratum corneum moisture in six of the seven body areas before and during phototherapy. This study provides a better understanding of skin physiology during phototherapy in preterm infants and has important implications for the estimation of fluid replacement.