Infant Bathing Frequency and Transepidermal Water Loss in a Multi-Center Birth Cohort

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2-1-2025

Publication Title

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Abstract

Rationale: Skin barrier disruption is important in atopic dermatitis, and bathing practices may impact skin barrier integrity. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is an objective measure of passive water flux from the skin surface, with higher values indicating greater water loss and skin barrier impairment. We hypothesized that specific bathing practices impact TEWL during childhood. Methods: Data from CANOE (N=539)—a multi-center birth cohort study of children with a family history of allergic disease—were analyzed. Bathing frequency and soap and emollient use were assessed at age 2 months. TEWL was assessed at the newborn visit, 4, 12, 18, and 24 months. The association between bathing frequency at 2 months and TEWL from 4 to 24 months was examined using multivariable linear regression on multiply imputed datasets. Models were adjusted for site, age, season, and body area of TEWL assessment, perinatal TEWL, parental ages at birth, parental education, season of birth, and ever breastfed. We did not control for emollient or soap use. Results: Bathing at least once daily compared to bathing less than 3 times per week at age 2 months was associated with a 33% increase in TEWL at 4 months (Estimate [95% CI] = 32.5% [5.9%, 65.8%]; p = 0.014). Bathing frequency at 2 months was not significantly associated with TEWL from 12 to 24 months of age. Conclusions: More frequent bathing during early infancy was associated with increased TEWL at 4 months only, suggesting that bathing during early infancy may have a short-term impact on TEWL and skin barrier function.

Volume

155

Issue

2

First Page

1

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