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Skin care for the newborn

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Abstract

Skin of the newborn differs from that of an adult in several ways. It is more susceptible to trauma and infection and requires special care. Certain principles of skin care have to be emphasized to the mother or caregiver such as gentle cleansing, adequate hydration and moisturization of the skin, preventing friction and maceration in body folds, and protection from irritants and bright sunlight. The initial bath in full term infants can be given once the baby’s temperature has stabilized and the infant is hemodynamically stable. All soaps, cleansers, and syndets should be used infrequently during the newborn period and it is better if their use is limited to groins, axillae and napkin areas. The use of emollients on newborns should be limited in warm weather.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lady Hardinge Medical College and Kalawati Saran Children Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Srikanta Basu & R. K. Agrawal

  2. University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Piyush Gupta

  3. Department of Dermatology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, 110 002, India

    Rashmi Sarkar

Authors
  1. Rashmi Sarkar
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  2. Srikanta Basu
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  3. R. K. Agrawal
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  4. Piyush Gupta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rashmi Sarkar.

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RK Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan

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Sarkar, R., Basu, S., Agrawal, R.K. et al. Skin care for the newborn. Indian Pediatr 47, 593–598 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0132-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0132-0

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