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Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale
Published on: May 28, 2021
Fragility of epidermis in newborns, children and adolescents
U Blume-Peytavi1, J Tan2,3, D Tennstedt4
1Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
Insights
Newborn skin is structurally and functionally immature, making it fragile and susceptible to damage. This overview examines fragile skin in newborns, children, and adolescents, including various dermatological conditions.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Neonatology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Newborn skin adapts to a dry environment post-birth, transitioning from the uterine milieu.
- Infant skin is physiologically fragile with reduced resistance to external aggressors.
- Fragile skin is categorized into physiological, pathological, circumstantial, and iatrogenic types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of epidermal fragility in newborns, children, and adolescents.
- To synthesize current knowledge on the pathological, pathophysiological, and clinical aspects of fragile skin.
- To highlight the implications of fragile skin in various dermatological conditions and UV protection.
Main Methods:
- Review of extensive research from the past 10 years.
- Analysis of structural and functional immaturity of newborn skin.
- Inclusion of recent pathological, pathophysiological, and clinical data.
Main Results:
- Newborn skin is structurally and functionally immature compared to adult skin.
- Skin maturation continues throughout the first year of life.
- Fragile skin is prevalent in newborns, children, and adolescents, impacting various dermatological conditions.
Conclusions:
- Infant skin requires specialized care due to its inherent fragility.
- Understanding epidermal fragility is crucial for managing dermatological diseases in pediatric populations.
- Further research on UV protection for fragile skin is warranted.
Abstract:
Within their first days of life, newborns' skin undergoes various adaptation processes needed to accommodate the transition from the wet uterine environment to the dry atmosphere. The skin of newborns and infants is considered as a physiological fragile skin, a skin with lower resistance to aggressions. Fragile skin is divided into four categories up to its origin: physiological fragile skin (age, location), pathological fragile skin (acute and chronic), circumstantial fragile skin (due to environmental extrinsic factors or intrinsic factors such as stress) and iatrogenic fragile skin. Extensive research of the past 10 years have proven evidence that at birth albeit showing a nearly perfect appearance, newborn skin is structurally and functionally immature compared to adult skin undergoing a physiological maturation process after birth at least throughout the first year of life. This article is an overview of all known data about fragility of epidermis in 'fragile populations': newborns, children and adolescents. It includes the recent pathological, pathophysiological and clinical data about fragility of epidermis in various dermatological diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, acne, rosacea, contact dermatitis, irritative dermatitis and focus on UV protection.
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