Developmental alterations of physical properties and components of neonatal-infantile stratum corneum of upper thighs and diaper-covered buttocks during the 1st year of life.
BACKGROUND
Although physical properties of neonatal-infantile stratum corneum (SC) change drastically after birth, precise developmental alterations of specific sites have not been fully elucidated.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the longitudinal alterations of neonatal-infantile SC functions and components of upper thighs and diaper-covered buttocks during the first year of life. The data were compared with those of adults.


METHODS
Nineteen full-term neonates and their mothers were subjected to the measurements. Skin hydration, water sorption/retention capacity, TEWL were measured. Superficial SC analyses for NMF, ester binding sebum, and free fatty acids were performed by ATR-FTIR spectrometer. Total amount of ceramides (CERs) and CER subclasses were analyzed by NPLC-ESI-MS.


RESULTS
SC hydration of neonatal thighs was lower than that of their mothers, which rapidly increased during the 1st month. Skin hydration of neonatal buttocks was similar to that of their mothers. This also rapidly increased during the 1st month. The neonatal TEWL was less than those of their mothers indicating more efficient barrier function at both sites, which significantly increased during the 1st year development. This was mostly correlated decreased in the ω-hydroxy fatty acid-esterified CERs. Superficial ester-binding sebum content of neonates was similar to that of their mothers, which significantly decreased during the measurement; the decrease was more marked on buttocks. Neither NMF nor FFA of the superficial SC showed significant alteration during the 1-year development.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that physical functions and components of neonatal-infantile SC show considerable alterations between diaper-covered buttocks and upper thighs during the 1st year development.
Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan. Electronic address: masakoh@asahikawa-med.ac.jp.
Masako
M
Minami-Hori
Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
Masaru
M
Honma
Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
Mizue
M
Fujii
Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
Wakana
W
Nomura
Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
Kyoko
K
Kanno
Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University Asahikawa, Japan.
Tokinaka
T
Hayashi
Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University Asahikawa, Japan.
Eiki
E
Nakamura
Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University Asahikawa, Japan.
Ken
K
Nagaya
Kao Corporation, Haga-Gun, Tochigi, Japan.
Yuki
Y
Miyauchi
Kao Corporation, Haga-Gun, Tochigi, Japan.
Tsutomu
T
Fujimura
Kao Corporation, Haga-Gun, Tochigi, Japan.
Mitsuyuki
M
Hotta
Kao Corporation, Haga-Gun, Tochigi, Japan.
Yutaka
Y
Takagi
Kao Corporation, Haga-Gun, Tochigi, Japan.
Takashi
T
Kitahara
Kao Corporation, Haga-Gun, Tochigi, Japan.
Yoshinori
Y
Takema
Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
Hajime
H
Iizuka
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002081:Buttocks; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D002657:Child Development; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D041381:Diapers, Infant; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013848:Thigh; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible
D002518:Ceramides; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D014867:Water
ATR-FTIR; Alteration; CERs; Ceramide; FFA; NMF; NPLC–ESI-MS; Neonate-infant; Physical property; SC; SDT; Stratum corneum; TEWL; The 1st year of life; attentuated total reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer; ceramides; free fatty acids; natural moisturizing factor; normal-phase liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry; sorption-desorption test; stratum corneum; transepidermal water loss