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Changes in skin pH after the use of baby wipes

G C Priestley1, E McVittie, R D Aldridge

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary, Scotland.

Pediatric Dermatology
|January 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Baby wipe pH significantly impacts infant skin pH, with lower pH wipes causing a greater reduction. Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of these findings on infant skin health.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Pediatrics
  • Consumer Product Safety

Background:

  • Infant skin is sensitive and prone to irritation from diaper use.
  • Baby wipes are commonly used for diaper area cleansing.
  • The formulation of baby wipes, including pH, may affect skin health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the safety-in-use of four different brands of baby wipes.
  • To evaluate the effect of baby wipes on infant skin pH.
  • To assess clinical signs of skin irritation associated with baby wipe use.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, 10-week safety-in-use study involving 302 infants.
  • Initial 2-week period using only soap and water, followed by an 8-week test phase with allocated baby wipe brands.
  • Assessment of skin erythema, rash frequency, edema, and desquamation, alongside skin pH measurements.

Main Results:

  • No significant clinical differences in erythema, rash frequency, edema, or desquamation were observed between wipe brands.
  • Baby wipes significantly altered the pH of infant skin in the diaper area.
  • Wipes with a lower lotion pH (2.8) significantly reduced mean skin pH from 5.6 to 5.0, while wipes with pH 5.5 had no significant effect.

Conclusions:

  • Topical application of baby wipes can lower infant skin pH.
  • The pH of baby wipe formulations is a critical factor influencing skin pH.
  • Further research is required to determine the long-term dermatological implications of altered infant skin pH due to baby wipe usage.

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