Hydration and pH of the Stratum Corneum in High-risk Newborns in the First 2 Weeks of Life

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to measure stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and pH (SCP) in high-risk newborns in the early postnatal period and to explore the features related to patterns of change in those parameters. METHODS: SCH and SCP were measured on the dorsal hand in 99 hospitalized newborns during the first 14 days of life and the results were analyzed using a general linear model. RESULTS: The mean hydration was 42.9% on day 1, which decreased to 34.6% by 2 weeks (F=15.61, p= < .001). An association was observed between SCH and prematurity (F=21.12, p < .001), as well as for their interaction (F=8.11, p < .001). The mean SCP was 6.2±0.3 on day 1, and decreased to 5.7±0.2 (F=95.75, p < .001), with no association with prematurity. After adjusting for birth weight, SCH was higher in newborns with vaginal delivery (F=9.07, p=.023) and who received phototherapy (F=11.81, p=.011). For SCP, only delivery type had a significant influence (F=6.40, p=.044). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that SCH is typically in the 30% range during the early postnatal period, and that an acid mantle on the SC surface is very unlikely to form; these findings could be applied to the nursing process for promoting skin integrity in high-risk neonates.