title: Effect of baby swimming and baby lotion on the skin barrier of infants aged 3-6 months.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin care is important especially in infancy as the skin barrier matures during the first year of life. We studied the effects of baby swimming and baby lotion on the skin barrier function of infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  44 infants aged 3-6 months were included in this mono-center prospective study. The healthy infants swam four times and were randomized to group(L) : baby lotion was applied after swimming all over the body and to group(WL) : no lotion was used. Transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, skin-pH and sebum were measured on four body regions using non-invasive methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group(L), sebum and pH remained stable. In group(WL), significant decrease in sebum was noted on forehead and thigh, and for pH on thigh and buttock. Group(L) had fewer infants with at least one adverse event compared to group(WL). Location-dependent gender differences in skin barrier function were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reaction of skin barrier function to baby swimming and skin care regimens showed typical regional variability between body areas. Influence of baby lotion on skin barrier and gender differences in skin functional parameters were demonstrated for the first time in healthy infants participating in baby swimming.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. natalie.garcia-bartels@charite.de
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia Bartels
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rösler
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stroux
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lönnfors
authors.forename: Anett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reisshauer
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Blume-Peytavi
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D001494:Baths; D004643:Emollients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods*; D013550:Swimming; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004643:Emollients; D014867:Water