Mustela. The skin care specialist for babies and mothers-to-be.
The specific characteristics of baby’s skin
Introduction
The specific characteristics of an adult skin
The specific characteristics of a baby’s skin
The different skin types
The necessity of using tailored products
The specific characteristics of a baby’s skin
At birth, your baby’s skin is particularly fragile: it has not acquired all of the qualities and functionalities of adult skin. It is an organ of the body that is still immature, which is going to take 2 to 3 years before taking on all of its functionalities.
The specific characteristics that explain this phenomenon are as follows:
• The pH of a newborn is higher than that of an adult
The pH of a newborn is close to neutral and then changes to become more like the pH of adult skin, which is more acidic.
As a result, baby’s skin is more sensitive to infection and irritation.
• The hydrolipid film is finer than in adults
In children, this film is virtually non-existent and thus ineffective: it cannot protect the epidermis from dryness and dehydration. Your baby’s skin is thus much more sensitive to attacks from its surrounding environment.
• The stratum corneum is more fragile
The corneocytes are less firmly bonded, which increases the permeability of external agents and infectious agents. The barrier function is limited and the risk of any external agent penetrating is heightened.
• The dermis is three times finer than in adults.
• In relation to weight, the skin is proportionally three times larger than in adults. Accordingly, a product that passes through the skin will be three times more concentrated in a baby’s body than in an adult, which increases the risk of toxicity.
Related video: Dr Clarence de B. (dermatologist)