Sugar Scrub Effects on Skin Barrier Function and Heat Retention in Low Birth Weight Infants

Objective: This investigation sought to compare changes in body heat after using a sugar scrub to bathe low birth weight infants (< 2,500 g), compared with those bathed using conventional baby soap, and to evaluate the relationship between skin barrier function and changes in body heat. Design: Non-Randomized clinical trials Setting: A neonatal intensive care unit in a university hospital in Japan Participants: 22 Low birth weight infants for whom bathing was permitted Methods: Sebum quantity and skin temperature were each measured before and after bathing for a control group bathed with conventional baby soap and a group bathed with a sugar scrub skin care product. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from Aino university of Ethics committee review board (Approval number/27) Results: The results demonstrated that both sebum quantity and skin temperature increased significantly after bathing in the sugar scrub group compared with the baby soap group. Conclusion: Increases in sebum quantity are thought to influence the normal barrier function of skin and to help retain skin temperature. This study suggests that the use of this skin care product can be expected to effectively help maintain body temperature in low birth weight infants, who are prone to low body temperature.journal articl