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Dermatology

Managing infant and child skincare

02 July 2023
Clinical Focus
02 July 2023
Volume 5 · Issue 7

Abstract

From dry skin in the newborn to atopic eczema in the infant and child, health professionals in primary care play a crucial role in supporting families in the care of skin, and the treatment and management of skin conditions in children. The evidence base can be conflicting and guidance changes frequently. With so much information to share with new parents, baby skincare is often seen as a lower priority when imparting health promotion advice than other areas such as safe sleep or infant feeding. It has been argued that, with the rising prevalence of atopic eczema in the UK population, advice to parents about what to be concerned about and when to seek medical advice is imperative. This article explores the evidence on general skincare from the newborn period to the treatment and management of common skin conditions, including atopic eczema and seborrheic dermatitis.

It has been suggested that, with the rising prevalence of atopic eczema in the UK population, information given to parents about what to be concerned about and when to seek medical advice is imperative (Cooke et al, 2018).

This article explores the evidence on general skincare from the newborn period to the treatment and management of common skin conditions, including atopic eczema and seborrheic dermatitis.

Skin is a dynamic organ that performs several functions (Oranges et al, 2015). The skin has three layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis. The main function of the epidermis is to act as a barrier to prevent penetration of external irritants and to protect against water loss (Cooke, 2015a). The maturation process of the skin starts after the baby is born and continues to the end of the infant's first year (Telofski, 2012; Oranges et al, 2015). Infants have a higher skin turnover than adult (Stamatas et al, 2010).

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Dry skin
Skincare
Infants and children
Eczema
Dermatitis