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Premature infant skin barrier maturation: status at full-term corrected age

Marty O Visscher1,2, Andrew N Carr3, Vivek Narendran4,5

  • 1Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Marty.visscher@gmail.com.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|June 5, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Premature infants, even at corrected full-term age, show poorer skin barrier integrity compared to full-term infants. This difference in epidermal barrier development impacts their response to topical treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Dermatology
  • Infant Skin Health
  • Epidermal Barrier Development

Background:

  • Premature infants have immature skin barrier functions.
  • Gestational age (GA) and postnatal age significantly influence skin maturation.
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for neonatal care and treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare skin barrier integrity between premature infants (at corrected full-term age) and full-term infants.
  • To evaluate the impact of gestational age and postnatal age on neonatal skin.
  • To explore how maturational differences affect the response of premature infants to topical agents.

Main Methods:

  • A parallel comparison study involving 36 premature infants and 39 full-term infants.
  • Daily measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin pH, erythema, and rash on chest skin over two weeks.
  • Utilized non-invasive methods to assess skin barrier function.

Main Results:

  • Premature infants exhibited significantly lower skin pH, indicating established acid mantle formation.
  • Higher transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was observed in premature infants compared to full-term infants.
  • These differences persisted even 7-8 weeks after birth, suggesting poorer skin integrity in premature infants.

Conclusions:

  • Skin barrier properties in premature infants at adjusted full-term age differ significantly from those of full-term infants.
  • Epidermal barrier development is dependent on gestational age and time elapsed since birth.
  • Maturational skin differences in premature infants may influence their response to topical medications and treatments.
Abstract

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