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Neonatal skin care: a concise review
Molly J Ness1, Dawn M R Davis, William A Carey
1Departments of Pediatric, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Insights
This review outlines evidence-based neonatal skin care guidelines for healthy and hospitalized infants. It covers essential practices like skin cleansing, umbilical cord care, and managing common skin issues such as diaper dermatitis and pressure ulcers.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal dermatology
- Pediatric nursing
- Evidence-based medicine
Background:
- Neonatal skin is delicate and requires specific care to maintain health and prevent complications.
- Established guidelines are crucial for consistent and effective neonatal skin management in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current evidence-based and consensus recommendations for neonatal skin care practices.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of best practices for both well newborns and hospitalized neonates.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent medical literature on neonatal skin care.
- Inclusion of recommendations on skin cleansing, antisepsis, umbilical cord care, emollients, diaper dermatitis, and pressure ulcer management.
Main Results:
- Evidence-based recommendations exist for key neonatal skin care aspects.
- Guidelines cover a range of practices from routine cleansing to specialized wound care for hospitalized infants.
Conclusions:
- Adherence to recommended neonatal skin care practices is vital for infant health.
- This review consolidates essential information for healthcare professionals managing neonatal skin.
Abstract:
Skin care practices play an important role in the health of well newborns and hospitalized neonates. Fortunately, for many aspects of neonatal skin care, there exist evidence- or consensus-based recommendations to guide best practices. Based on our review of the recent medical literature, we include in this manuscript the current recommendations regarding neonatal skin cleansing and antisepsis; umbilical cord care; use of emollients; and prevention of diaper dermatitis. In addition, we review the recommended practices for preventing and treating pressure ulcers, wounds, and other skin injuries in hospitalized neonates.
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