Comparison of perianal skin barrier function with moisturizer application in Japanese full-term newborns.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Some full-term newborns present with erythema and irritation of the buttocks and perianal area as early as the first 4 days of their lives. The effect of moisturizers in protecting this vulnerable skin has not been rigorously studied. This study aimed to clarify whether there is a difference in perianal skin barrier function with and without moisturizer application in the first month of life.

METHODS

Comparative investigation of 118 full-term newborns was performed, and they were allocated to intervention (n = 63) and control groups (n = 55). The intervention group received moisturizer application to the perianal area, and the control group received care without application of moisturizer to the perianal area from the first day of life until the 1-month visit. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH), and skin surface pH in the perianal area were measured as the indicators of skin barrier function on days 1 and 5 after birth and at the 1-month visit.

RESULTS

At the 1-month visit, TEWL was significantly decreased (intervention, 19.4 g/m2 /h; control, 25.8 g/m2 /h; p = .00) and SCH was significantly increased (intervention, 58.8 arbitrary units (a.u.); control, 46.5 a.u.; p = .00) in newborns using perianal moisturizer. The skin surface pH was not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of moisturizer was effective in protecting the skin barrier function of the perianal skin. Further investigations are needed to determine the effect on the frequency and extent of rashes in the perianal area.