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Influence of bathing or washing on skin barrier function in newborns during the first four weeks of life
N Garcia Bartels1, A Mleczko, T Schink
1Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Charité-Universitatsmedizin Berlin, DE-10117 Berlin, Germany. natalie.garcia-bartels@charite.de
Background And Objectives:
After birth, skin barrier function is in state of flux and at risk of dysfunction. In a prospective clinical study, we compared the effects of 2 standard cleansing procedures on skin barrier function in newborns.
Methods:
Fifty-seven healthy full-term neonates aged < or = 48 h were randomly assigned to either a bathing group (group B; n = 29), who were bathed with clear water twice weekly, or to a washing group (group W; n = 28), who were washed with a washcloth moistened with clear water twice weekly. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin pH, stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and sebum production were measured at days 2, 7 and 28 of life on the forehead, abdomen, upper leg and buttock.
Results:
Group B showed significantly lower TEWL on the buttock and higher SCH on the abdomen and forehead compared to group W at day 28.
Conclusions:
Both skin care regimens do not harm the adaptation of the skin barrier in healthy neonates within the first 4 weeks of life. Skin barrier function differentiates after birth in a regionally specific fashion.
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