Skin barrier, hydration, and pH of the skin of infants under 2 years of age

The goal of this study was to instrumentally evaluate the skin of healthy i nfants and to compare it to adult skin. A total of 70 infants, 45 girls and 25 boys, ages 8-24 months, and 30 healthy women were studied by means of t ransepidermal water loss (TEWL), capacitance, and pH measurements at two di fferent skin sites, the volar forearm and the buttocks. No significant diff erences in TEWL were found between infants and adults, either on the buttoc ks or on the volar forearm. On the contrary, capacitance values were higher in infants. Their skin also appeared less acid than that of adults, with h igh statistical significance. No TEWL, capacitance, or pH variations were o bserved in infants according to sex and age. On the basis of the above data , the skin of infants 8-24 months of age shows functional signs of immaturi ty. This may lead to an increased permeability and a reduced capacity for d efense against chemical and microbial aggression.