Transepidermal water loss in newborn infants. IX. The relationship between skin blood flow and evaporation rate in fullterm infants nursed in a warm environment.
In order to investigate whether a change in skin blood flow is associated with changes in the evaporative loss of water from the skin of fullterm appropriate for gestational age infants, we measured the evaporation rate and skin blood flow in the body temperature range 36.6 to 37.2 degrees C. Fifteen healthy, fullterm newborn infants delivered by Caesarean section were studied in a warm environment. Evaporation rate and skin blood flow were measured non-invasively without disturbing the infant. When the body temperature slowly rose because of the warm environment, the skin blood flow steadily increased. The rate of evaporation of water from the skin slowly decreased until a body temperature of 37.1 degrees C was reached. The evaporation rate then suddenly increased as the infant began to sweat. Thus, in fullterm newborn infants born by Caesarean section the skin blood flow increases in the body temperature range 36.6-37.1 degrees C but does not influence the evaporation rate from the skin.
D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004301:Doppler Effect; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013696:Temperature; D014835:Volatilization; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance