Appropriate Skincare for Healthy Infant Skin Maturation

In vivo reflectance confocal laser scanning microscopy also showed that the stratum corneum and supra-papillary epidermis are both thinner in infants, which shortens the penetration path for irritants, contributing to a reduced skin barrier function.

In terms of composition, in vivo Raman confocal microspectroscopy revealed greater water content in infants compared to adults.

Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) of Infant Skin

In comparison to adult skin, these components of the natural moisturizing factor in infant skin are lower:

- Amino acids
- Urea
- Pyrrolidone carboxylic acid
- Other substances

This limits the infant skin ability to hold on to water.

These structural and compositional differences have clear effects on the physiology of infant skin compared to adult skin, such as:

- Lower skin barrier function
- Higher transepidermal water loss

Such exposures may affect the process of skin maturation, as well as the microbial balance that accompanies skin development.

Hence, there is a need for infant skincare products that help establish healthy skin function to protect infants from external aggressors.

Evidence-based guidelines recommend liquid cleansers with these qualities:

- Mild to skin barrier
- Skin-friendly pH

This helps to maintain the skin’s acid mantle and to reduce the risk of irritation and excessive rates of desquamation, which are associated with increased pH.

- Mineral oil
- Petrolatum
- Vegetable-derived oils

However, not all emollients are made equal. Certain fatty acids, such as oleic acid, have been shown to have detrimental effects to skin barrier.

When designing the formula for infant skin, we should avoid including components and/or emollients with detrimental effects to the skin barrier.