Neonatal skin care: what should we do? A four-week follow-up randomized controlled trial at Zagazig University Hospitals.

In conclusion, proper care and good hygiene of the normal mature neonatal skin are essential to maintain skin barrier function and overall health. This is achieved by optimizing epidermal barrier integrity that includes: bathing and using emollient; preventing and managing infections and skin injury; minimizing transepidermal water loss (TEWL); minimizing heat loss and percutaneous absorption of toxins. Baby bath products as well as baby wipes are safe to use and do not appear to affect an infant's skin barrier integrity. It is therefore sensible to use cleansers that have been specially designed for baby's skin, which are pH neutral and very mild to avoid irritant dermatitis and allergic dermatitis.