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Developmental Changes in Skin Barrier and Structure during the First 5 Years of Life

Russel M Walters1, Preeya Khanna, Melissa Chu

  • 1Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., Skillman, N.J., USA.

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology
|May 11, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The infant skin barrier develops significantly by age 4, with thickness increasing and water loss decreasing. Skin surface area expansion appears linked to changes in skin hydration and barrier function.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology and developmental biology, focusing on the pediatric skin barrier.

Background:

  • The stratum corneum (SC) and skin barrier mature from prenatal stages through early childhood.
  • Significant individual variation necessitates large cohorts for tracking skin barrier development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental trajectory of skin barrier properties in infants and young children.
  • To explore the relationship between skin surface area expansion and barrier function (TEWL, SC thickness).

Main Methods:

  • Measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and SC thickness in 171 children aged 3 months to 4 years.
  • Included a subset of 44 mothers for comparison.
  • Assessed skin surface area expansion rates across different age groups.

Main Results:

  • Skin surface area expansion peaked prenatally and plateaued by 1 year of age.
  • Stratum corneum thickness increased, and TEWL decreased with age, reaching adult levels by 3-4 years.
  • A potential mechanistic link between skin hydration, barrier function, and surface area expansion was suggested.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric skin barrier maturation is a prolonged process extending to 3-4 years of age.
  • Skin surface area expansion is a key factor influencing skin hydration and barrier development in early life.

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