Alison Cooke1, Carol Bedwell2, Malcolm Campbell3, Linda McGowan4, Steven J Ersser5, Tina Lavender6. 1. Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building Room 4.336, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Electronic address: Alison.Cooke@manchester.ac.uk. 2. Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK. Electronic address: Carol.Bedwell@manchester.ac.uk. 3. Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK. Electronic address: Malcolm.Campbell@manchester.ac.uk. 4. School of Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Baines Wing, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. Electronic address: L.McGowan@leeds.ac.uk. 5. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of York, Seebohm Rowntree Building, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK. Electronic address: steven.ersser@york.ac.uk. 6. Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK. Electronic address: Tina.Lavender@manchester.ac.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: to identify what skin practices are important for the protection of baby skin in healthy term babies (0-6 months) and generate evidence-based conclusions to inform health professionals and parents. DESIGN: eleven databases were searched for all empirical quantitative and qualitative research published between 2000-2015 which explored baby skin care for bathing and cleansing, nappy care, hair and scalp care, management of dry skin or baby massage, for healthy term babies up to 6 months old. Papers not published in English were excluded. A total of 3062 papers were identified. Pairs of reviewers assessed all citations and extracted data independently. There were 26 included papers: 16 RCTs, 3 non-randomised experimental studies, 1 mixed-methods study and 6 qualitative studies. Primary and secondary outcome measures were analysed using meta-analysis or narrative descriptive statistics. Synthesis of qualitative data was not possible due to disparity of the evidence. FINDINGS: from the small numbers of studies with comparable data, there was no evidence of any significant differences between tested wash products and water or tested baby wipes and water. There was some evidence to suggest that daily use of full-body emollient therapy may help to reduce the risk of atopic eczema in high risk babies with a genetic predisposition to eczema; however, the use of olive oil or sunflower oil for baby dry skin may adversely affect skin barrier function. There was no evidence about hair/scalp care or baby massage. Qualitative research indicates that parents and health professionals believe that water alone is best. KEY CONCLUSIONS: meta-analysis was restricted due to the lack of consistency of study outcome measures. Although there is considerable RCT evidence comparing the use of specific products against water alone, or another product, for bathing, cleansing and nappy care, the power of this evidence is reduced due to inconsistency of outcome measures in terms of outcome, treatment site or time-point. The development of a core outcome measure set is advocated for trials assessing skin care practices. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: this review offers health professionals best evidence available on which to base their advice. Of those studies with comparative outcomes, the evidence indicates no difference between the specific products tested and water alone; offering parents a choice in their baby skin care regimen. Protocol available: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPEROFILES/28054_PROTOCOL_20151009.pdf.
OBJECTIVES: to identify what skin practices are important for the protection of baby skin in healthy term babies (0-6 months) and generate evidence-based conclusions to inform health professionals and parents. DESIGN: eleven databases were searched for all empirical quantitative and qualitative research published between 2000-2015 which explored baby skin care for bathing and cleansing, nappy care, hair and scalp care, management of dry skin or baby massage, for healthy term babies up to 6 months old. Papers not published in English were excluded. A total of 3062 papers were identified. Pairs of reviewers assessed all citations and extracted data independently. There were 26 included papers: 16 RCTs, 3 non-randomised experimental studies, 1 mixed-methods study and 6 qualitative studies. Primary and secondary outcome measures were analysed using meta-analysis or narrative descriptive statistics. Synthesis of qualitative data was not possible due to disparity of the evidence. FINDINGS: from the small numbers of studies with comparable data, there was no evidence of any significant differences between tested wash products and water or tested baby wipes and water. There was some evidence to suggest that daily use of full-body emollient therapy may help to reduce the risk of atopic eczema in high risk babies with a genetic predisposition to eczema; however, the use of olive oil or sunflower oil for baby dry skin may adversely affect skin barrier function. There was no evidence about hair/scalp care or baby massage. Qualitative research indicates that parents and health professionals believe that water alone is best. KEY CONCLUSIONS: meta-analysis was restricted due to the lack of consistency of study outcome measures. Although there is considerable RCT evidence comparing the use of specific products against water alone, or another product, for bathing, cleansing and nappy care, the power of this evidence is reduced due to inconsistency of outcome measures in terms of outcome, treatment site or time-point. The development of a core outcome measure set is advocated for trials assessing skin care practices. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: this review offers health professionals best evidence available on which to base their advice. Of those studies with comparative outcomes, the evidence indicates no difference between the specific products tested and water alone; offering parents a choice in their baby skin care regimen. Protocol available: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPEROFILES/28054_PROTOCOL_20151009.pdf.
Authors: Maeve M Kelleher; Suzie Cro; Victoria Cornelius; Karin C Lodrup Carlsen; Håvard O Skjerven; Eva M Rehbinder; Adrian J Lowe; Eishika Dissanayake; Naoki Shimojo; Kaori Yonezawa; Yukihiro Ohya; Kiwako Yamamoto-Hanada; Kumiko Morita; Emma Axon; Christian Surber; Michael Cork; Alison Cooke; Lien Tran; Eleanor Van Vogt; Jochen Schmitt; Stephan Weidinger; Danielle McClanahan; Eric Simpson; Lelia Duley; Lisa M Askie; Joanne R Chalmers; Hywel C Williams; Robert J Boyle Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-02-05
Authors: Robert J O'Connor; Veronica Sanchez; Y Wang; Roger Gibb; Donald L Nofziger; Mary Bailey; Andrew N Carr Journal: Clin Pediatr (Phila) Date: 2019-04-09 Impact factor: 1.168