Babies' Skin Care
Skin care throughout life
Infant skin
Every new parent takes a great delight and a tender satisfaction
in looking at, and touching, the delicate skin of a newborn
baby. It is a lifelong challenge to maintain this delicate
skin.
Some newborn babies, especially those
that have arrived prematurely, have very little subcutaneous
fat, with the result that their skin lies loosely over
their muscles and bones. As a result they have a somewhat
wrinkly start. The skin of a premature baby can comprise
up to 13% of its body weight, compared with 3% in an adult.
The skin of a full-term infant has a
well-developed epidermis, similar to that of an adult.
A premature baby, however, has fewer layers of stratum
corneum. This results in increased permeability and increased
TEWL (trans epidermal water loss), and is one of the reasons why very premature babies
are so vulnerable. But by the age of 10-14 days, the skin
of even the youngest premature babies has begun to function
as a reasonable barrier to fluid and heat losses, and
is less permeable to substances applied to its surface.
Another variation in the skin structure
and function involves the connection of the |
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epidermis to the dermis.
At this junction there are normally numerous anchoring
rete pegs ,
but in the skin of premature babies these are fewer
and more widely spread. Premature babies are therefore
more vulnerable to blistering, and care is needed when
removing adhesives to avoid stripping off the epidermis.
Soaps that are used for routine bathing
include 'baby soaps', soaps formulated to have a neutral
pH, superfatted soaps and even deodorant soaps with
antimicrobial properties. All soaps are, at best, mild
irritants to the skin, and frequent soaping increases
the irritant effect. Specially formulated synthetic
cleansing products called syndets are preferable to
soaps (see page 96).
Moisturizers
Lubricants such as creams, emollients and 'baby lotions'
or oils may be used for newborn babies, whether premature
or not, to prevent or treat dryness of the skin.
Treating diaper rash
Wet areas of skin that are kept covered may be prone
to damage. Diaper rash (diaper dermatitis) is seldom
the result of the inadequate washing |
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