title: Reduction of skin water loss in the newborn. I. Effect of applying topical agents.
abstract: The waterproofing effect of a number of creams, oils, and greases was examined by measuring water loss from adult skin before and after topical application. Creams had a high water content and were ineffective, oils produced a modest fall in water loss, but paraffin in grease form had a pronounced, sustained waterproofing effect. A paraffin mixture (80% soft, 20% hard paraffin (BP) was then applied to the skin of 3 preterm babies nursed naked in incubators. Overall skin water loss fell by 40 to 60% after application and was still lower than pretreatment levels 6 hours later. The topical application of paraffin offers a new approach to reduction of the high evaporative water and heat losses of preterm babies.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009821:Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D010232:Paraffin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D010232:Paraffin