Scribd
Upload
61 views3 pages

Differences Between Baby and Adult Skin

Baby skin has important differences from adult skin that make it more susceptible to diaper rash. The epidermis of baby skin is thinner, allowing for quicker moisture absorption and loss. External irritants also penetrate more easily since the skin barrier is not fully developed. Additionally, the dermis of baby skin is thinner, making it less resilient against friction from diapers that can cause irritation. Structural differences include thinner skin layers and functional differences include weaker defenses against bacteria and reduced sweating capability.

Uploaded by

Pramod pati
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
61 views3 pages

Differences Between Baby and Adult Skin

Baby skin has important differences from adult skin that make it more susceptible to diaper rash. The epidermis of baby skin is thinner, allowing for quicker moisture absorption and loss. External irritants also penetrate more easily since the skin barrier is not fully developed. Additionally, the dermis of baby skin is thinner, making it less resilient against friction from diapers that can cause irritation. Structural differences include thinner skin layers and functional differences include weaker defenses against bacteria and reduced sweating capability.

Uploaded by

Pramod pati
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Adult skin vs.

baby skin

Basic differences between baby and adult skin


Your baby has wonderfully soft, smooth skin. That skin has important differences from normal
adult skindifferences that could increase your babys susceptibility to diaper rash.

The epidermis, or outer layer of your babys skin, is 20-30% thinner in babies and
therefore less resilient than adult skin.

Infant skin both absorbs and loses moisture more quickly than adult skin.

External irritants penetrate infant skin more easily, as the barrier is not yet fully
developed.

Friction from diapers may make it easier for your babys skin to become irritated.

Why a babys skin is more fragile


Although a babys skin has many similarities to normal adult skin, there are also important
differences. Both the structural and functional characteristics of a babys skin are different than
those of normal adult skin. That is why a babys skin requires different care and develops
different skin care problems.

Structural differences

The anatomical differences between infant and normal adult skin relate primarily to differences
in the surfaces of the skin, the development of skin layers, the distribution and size of certain
glands, the organization of nerves and vessels, and differences in hair growth.

Functional differences
Here are some of the functional characteristics that may make your babys skin especially
vulnerable to diaper rash:

In babies, the dermisthe layer of the skin that protects the body from mechanical stress
and temperature changeis much thinner than in normal adults. This makes babys skin
less resilient.

Infant skin can be more susceptible to infection. Infant skin has not yet fully developed
the defenses to protect itself from certain bacteria, and babies do not have fully effective
immune systems to fight off infection.

Babies have reduced sweating capability, compared to normal adults. This affects their
ability to reduce body temperature through sweating. In addition to affecting body
processes, this decreased ability to sweat may contribute to rashes.

A babys skin is especially susceptible to external irritants. This may be related to the
relatively higher lipid content of a babys skin, which makes it easier for fat-soluble
substances (which may be irritants) to pass through the skin. Friction that occurs between
clothing and skin, diaper and skin, or two areas of skin breaks down the skin and may
make it easier for irritating substances to penetrate a babys skin.

You might also like