Prevalence of cutaneous findings in hospitalized neonates: a prospective observational study

To determine the frequency of physiologic and pathologic skin findings in the newborns hospitalized in our Newborn Unit.

All of newborn infants hospitalized in the Newborn Unit of Erciyes University Medical School Hospital in Central Anatolia, Turkey from February 1 to November 30, 2003, were included prospectively in the study. A questionnaire regarding maternal gestational history, maternal and family history was administered to the parents of each child. All skin lesions were recorded and mapped on a body chart.

Of the 816 newborns, parents of 650 gave informed consent. Only 28 (4.3%) of the infants had no dermatologic examination findings. The most common 10 diagnoses were: xerosis/desquamation 257 (39.5%), sebaceous hyperplasia 207 (31.8%), transient toxic erythema 201 (30.9%), salmon patch 125 (19.2%), Mongolian spot 86 (13.2%), cutis marmorata 69 (10.6%), suction bulla 67 (10.3%), miliaria 55 (8.5%), hypertrichosis 51 (7.8%), and dermatitis (irritant, seborrheic, or diaper) 14 (2.1%).

This study confirms that skin changes in the newborn are common, particularly desquamation, sebaceous hyperplasia, and transient toxic erythema.