title: Influence of bathing or washing on skin barrier function in newborns during the first four weeks of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  After birth, skin barrier function is in state of flux and at risk of dysfunction. In a prospective clinical study, we compared the effects of 2 standard cleansing procedures on skin barrier function in newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven healthy full-term neonates aged < or = 48 h were randomly assigned to either a bathing group (group B; n = 29), who were bathed with clear water twice weekly, or to a washing group (group W; n = 28), who were washed with a washcloth moistened with clear water twice weekly. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin pH, stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and sebum production were measured at days 2, 7 and 28 of life on the forehead, abdomen, upper leg and buttock.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group B showed significantly lower TEWL on the buttock and higher SCH on the abdomen and forehead compared to group W at day 28.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both skin care regimens do not harm the adaptation of the skin barrier in healthy neonates within the first 4 weeks of life. Skin barrier function differentiates after birth in a regionally specific fashion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Charité-Universitatsmedizin Berlin, DE-10117 Berlin, Germany. natalie.garcia-bartels@charite.de
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia Bartels
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mleczko
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schink
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Proquitté
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wauer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Blume-Peytavi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001494:Baths / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014867:Water