Stratum corneum maturation. A review of neonatal skin function.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative literature review without systematic review methodology
PubMed 14976382 · doi:10.1159/000076015
What was done
The author conducted a review of existing literature examining neonatal stratum corneum maturation and skin barrier function. The review synthesized findings regarding transepidermal water loss, percutaneous absorption, skin thickness, skin pH, and stratum corneum hydration in term and preterm infants compared with adults.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative values or statistical comparisons. It qualitatively notes that based on transepidermal water loss and percutaneous absorption, term infants appear to have adult-like barrier properties, and preterm infants reach similar barrier function at 2-3 weeks of age. However, continuous adjustments in skin thickness, pH, and hydration indicate that neonatal skin remains in an active state of adaptation rather than the steady state seen in adults.
Why it matters
This review highlights that functional barrier maturity cannot be determined solely by water loss or absorption metrics, as other structural and biochemical properties of infant skin continue to adapt after birth.
Limits
The abstract describes a narrative review without systematic search criteria, meta-analytic pooling, or risk-of-bias assessments. No numerical data, sample sizes, or specific study populations are provided in the abstract, and the exact parameters defining complete barrier stabilization remain unresolved.
Cited by
- context Young children's skin is significantly more absorbent to topically applied substances than older or adult skin.