Evidence-based consensus recommendations for skin care in healthy, full-term neonates in India

Background: Neonatal skin care practices that are often guided by personal experience and preferences result in substantial variation in the practices being followed across hospital settings. The objective of this consensus recommendations was to provide guidance to health care practitioners on evidence-based neonatal skin care practices for adoption in hospitals: from delivery to discharge.Methods: A Scientific Advisory Board meeting on “Evidence-based Neonatal Skin Care Practices and Protocols” was held in December 2020 with an expert panel comprising neonatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians and gynaecologists and a pediatric dermatologist were invited. A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases to source relevant evidence.Results: Recommendations were developed on critical aspects of skin care in healthy full-term neonates, including cleansing at birth, skin-to-skin care, cord care, diaper area care, initial and routine bathing, use of cleansers and emollients, and the criteria to choose appropriate skin care products. The newborn’s first bath should occur only once cardiorespiratory and thermal stability have been achieved, anywhere between 6 to 24 hours after birth. Bathing with water alone or water with a mild liquid cleanser demonstrated appropriate for newborn does not impact the developing skin barrier. The use of emollients to maintain and enhance skin barrier function was encouraged for neonates with risk factors that can affect skin barrier integrity. Skin assessment should become an integral part of routine neonatal care. Skin Care Advice with “Do’s and Don’ts” should be a part of the neonatal discharge checklist. The importance of rigorous quality control, high-quality clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of baby products, usage of products that contain only ingredients and which are formulated appropriately for newborn babies, and full label transparency for baby products were highlighted. The panel further identified gaps in the existing literature and discussed the scope for future research. Conclusions: The consensus recommendations may help standardize evidence-based skin care for healthy full-term neonates in Indian hospital settings. This may also improve the quality of care that the neonates receive in the hospital and facilitate improvement in overall neonatal health outcomes.