title: Skin care practices in newborn nurseries and mother-baby units in Maryland.
abstract: Skin provides several important homeostatic functions to the developing neonate. However, no consensus guidelines exist in the United States for skin care in the healthy term newborn.
  
  
  
  We performed a study of skin and umbilical cord care (including bathing practices, vernix removal and antiseptic cord application) in newborn nurseries and mother-baby units throughout the state of Maryland to determine practices in a variety of clinical settings and assess if uniformity in skin care exists. These data were then assessed in the context of a review of the current literature.
  
  
  
  We received responses from over 90% of nurseries across the state. In our cohort, practices varied widely between institutions and specific populations, and often were not evidence-based or were contrary to best practices discussed in the scientific literature.
  
  
  
  The frequent departures from evidence that occur regarding the aforementioned practices are likely due to a lack of consensus on these issues as well as limited data on such practices, further highlighting the need for data-driven guidelines on newborn skin care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khalifian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008396:Maryland; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local