Randomized trial with soaps - what happens to a newborn baby's skin?

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the effectiveness of a children's soap with physiological pH in maintaining cutaneous pH and moisture of the newborn (NB)'s skin after the first bath.

METHODS

Randomized, controlled and double-blind clinical trial in a rooming-in of a tertiary maternity hospital in southern Brazil with 204 newborns > 34 gestational weeks. Gestational and obstetric history was evaluated, and newborns were randomized into two groups according to the product applied in the bath: the control group (CG), which used common liquid soap with pH 7.0 and experimental group (EG), which used children's liquid soap with pH 5.8. Evaluation was made immediately before and after bath with skin pH measurement, corneometry and clinical parameters (erythema, scaling and moisture), on the forehead, abdomen and thigh.

RESULTS

There was no difference between groups regarding gestational, obstetric and family history (p > 0.05). In CG, skin pH increased in the abdomen and thigh (p < 0.05). In EG there was an improvement in clinical parameters after bathing with: increased moisture, less erythema and less scaling (p < 0.05). On the forehead, there was a significant increase in pH after bathing (p < 0.001) similar in both groups, although no use of soap. There was no difference in corneometry between groups after bathing.

CONCLUSION

Children's liquid soap with physiological pH maintained the acidic skin pH and moisture of the newborn's skin after the first bath, which reinforces the importance of using products with physiological pH in the hygiene of newborns. Registration number RBR-9ky84vd.

Investigation of the Physiochemical Properties of Beauty Soaps Available in Pakistan

This study is aimed to examine the quality of beauty soap bars available to the consumers in Pakistan. A range of soap bars manufactured by local small-scale manufacturers from Pakistan were analyzed for their physiochemical properties such as pH, foaming, total fatty substances, matter insoluble in alcohol, free fatty acids, total alkali and moisture contents. The quality of the Pakistani local soap brands was compared to that of imported soaps or those made by multi-national conglomerates. The products were examined following the national standards set by Pakistan standards and quality control authority (PSQCA). The results showed that pH and total alkali level in the local beauty soaps was ((9,40–9,75) ± 0,03) and ((0,100–0,120) ± 0,02). The values of other physiochemical properties were: total fat matter ((62–71) % ± 0,50) %), matter insoluble in alcohol ((15–21) % ± 0,32 %), free fatty acid ((0,05–0,275) % ± 0,01 %) and moisture content ((10–16) % ± 0,50 %). The results demonstrate that Pakistani locally made soap products showed a relatively low amount of total fatty matter as defined by PSQCA and are required to improve their quality in terms of total fat matter. The products made by multi-national companies were superior for most of the examined features.

Promoting Skin Care for Older Adults

Chronic conditions and age-related changes place older adults at increased risk for skin breakdown and damage to skin integrity, leading to poor outcomes that may impact quality of life. Although we cannot stop skin from aging, home care clinicians are in the best position to mitigate further skin problems and influence healthier outcomes for patients with skin issues. Home healthcare clinicians can improve skin health and well-being for older adults by incorporating simple but thorough systematic skin assessments at every visit. This includes identifying the patient's personal skin care practices and preferences. Home healthcare clinicians can intervene and address excessive moisture or extreme dryness of skin, use available resources for best practices in wound care, and educate about sun protection.

Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders

The art of cleansing has progressed immensely over several thousand years from simply scraping the skin to an exercise in relaxation and improvement in the skin's health and appearance in the present day. Soaps - the basic cleansing agent has also undergone a sea change in its evolution with many variants and newer constituents being incorporated into it. In dermatological disorders like acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, photoaging, 'sensitive skin', occupational dermatosis cleansers may have a beneficial role along with other therapeutic measures. With the advent of aesthetic dermatology, the act of cleansing and the use of various cleansing agents prior to aesthetic procedures has also assumed significance.

Recognizing and treating toilet-seat contact dermatitis in children

Toilet-seat contact dermatitis is a common condition around the world and is reemerging in the United States. It can be easily recognized and treated. However, few practitioners consider this diagnosis, which results in a delay in treatment and often exacerbation of the skin eruption. In the past, exposure to wooden toilet seats and associated varnish, lacquers, and paints led to the development of an allergic contact dermatitis on the buttocks and posterior thighs. In recent years, most public facilities have changed to plastic seats, resulting in a change in the clinical presentation of toilet-seat dermatitis. We present 5 cases of toilet-seat dermatitis in children from the United States and India and review the history, presentation, and clinical course of the disease. Our findings suggest that toilet-seat dermatitis is more common than previously recognized and should be considered in any child with a dermatitis that involves the buttocks and posterior thighs.