REVIEW   Free access

Italian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 2022 February;157(1):23-32

DOI: 10.23736/S2784-8671.21.07172-3

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Expert consensus on ceramides containing skincare in newborns and infants and potential mitigation of atopic dermatitis

Lawrence A. SCHACHNER ¹, Ulrike BLUME-PEYTAVI ², Anneke ANDRIESSEN ³ ✉, Jan IZAKOVIC ^{4, 5}, Annabel MARUANI ⁶, Giuseppe MICALI ⁷, Nikolay MURASHKIN ⁸, Carmen SALAVASTRU ⁹, Antonio TORRELO ¹⁰

¹ Department of Pediatric Dermatology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami FL, USA; ² Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Clinical Research Center of Hair and Skin Science, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; ³ Radboud Academy, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen and Andriessen Consultants, Malden, the Netherlands; ⁴ Department of Dermatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; ⁵ Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Basel University Children’s Hospital (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland; ⁶ Unit of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Center of Tours, Tours, France; ⁷ Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; ⁸ Research Institute of Pediatrics and Children’s Health, Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; ⁹ Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; ¹⁰ Department of Dermatology, Niño Jesús University Children’s Hospital, Madrid, Spain

INTRODUCTION: The vulnerable skin of neonates and infants is still developing anatomically and functionally and more susceptible to skin barrier disruption. The current consensus paper explores challenges in caring for neonates and infants’ skin, skincare use and evaluates the role of ceramides (CERs) containing cleansers and moisturizers.
EVIDENCE AQUISITION: A panel of eight clinicians who treat neonates and infants developed a consensus paper on new-born and infant skin barrier integrity and CERs-containing skincare importance. The consensus process consisted of a modified Delphi technique. The selected information from the literature searches, coupled with the panel’s opinion and experience, was used to adopt statements to provide clinical data for pediatric dermatologists, dermatologists, and pediatric healthcare providers who treat neonates and infants.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Increasingly, evidence supports skincare starting early in life, recognizing the benefits of ongoing daily use of non-alkaline cleansers and moisturizers to maintain skin barrier function. Skincare for neonates and infants should be safe, effective, and fragrance as well as sensitizing agent-free. Skincare with CERs may benefit the stratum corneum’s lipid and water content.
CONCLUSIONS: When applied from birth onwards, gentle cleansers and moisturizers containing barrier lipids help maintain the protective skin barrier and soothe the skin with long-term moisturizing benefits.

KEY WORDS: Newborn infant; Skin care; Ceramides