Study of physiological and pathological skin changes in neonates: An east indian perspective

Background: Numerous dermatological conditions are prevalent in neonatal period, i.e., first 28 days of life with varied presentations ranging from transient self-limiting lesions to serious dermatosis requiring clinical attention. Due to lack of complete knowledge, it is distressing for both parents and treating physician. Objectives: This study was done in eastern part of India to record various dermatosis, and their prevalence compared with other part of country and find association between skin conditions and parameters, namely, sex, parity, gestational age, mode of delivery, and birth weight. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in tertiary care hospital entailed recording of 400 neonates having any kind of dermatosis and statistically evaluated using Chi-square test (SPSS) and significance (P < 0.05). Results: Mongolian spot followed by sebaceous gland hyperplasia and epstein pearls were the common dermatologic findings. Physiological desquamation, acrocyanosis, and sebaceous gland hyperplasia were more prevalent in males and was statistically significant while erythema toxicum neonatorum significantly high in females. Epstein pearls, physiological scaling was also significantly high in term babies. Physiological scaling in cesarean patients and acrocyanosis in vaginal delivery was also significantly associated. Some atypical cases such as phakomatosis pigmentovascularis, plantar keratoderma, collodion baby, and congenital whorled hypermelanosis were also present in our study group. Conclusion: Physiological skin lesions are very common in neonates and appreciation of these lesions are important