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Parental concern over infant dry skin is a common challenge that midwives and other maternity professionals frequently address in the early postnatal period. Although infant dry skin is a normal process of adaptation to extra-uterine life, parents often wish to treat it, and there is uncertainty among health professionals about what is safe and best practice. For decades, health professionals have recommended the use of topical natural oils to prevent or treat infant dry skin, but more recently, there has been increasing concern that use of these oils on the skin may be a contributory factor in the rising prevalence of childhood atopic eczema. This article will consider how infant skin may be affected by topical products, the role of the health professional giving infant skin care advice and current evidence to support clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive oil is commonly recommended by health professionals to new parents for use in the prevention and treatment of the term baby's dry skin, and for baby massage. There is no evidence to support this practice. The use of olive oil may be harmful to skin, affecting skin barrier function. This effect may be a contributory factor in the prevalence of childhood conditions such as atopic eczema. This paper discusses a national online audit of UK maternity hospitals (n = 67) and neonatal units (n = 33) performed between November 2010 and January 2011. Our findings confirm that oil use on babies' skin is common practice. As the direct cost to the NHS for treatment of atopic eczema is high, it is imperative that further research in this area is performed, preferably in the form of a randomized controlled trial. Health professionals will then be in a position to provide accurate information to parents with regard to oil in baby skin care regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]