Acta Paediatr. 2002;91(5):546-54. Related Articles, Links


Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for
neonatal health in developing countries.

Darmstadt GL, Mao-Qiang M, Chi E, Saha SK, Ziboh VA, Black RE,
Santosham M, Elias PM.

Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health,
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
gdarms@dc.savechildren.org

Topical therapy to enhance skin barrier function may be a simple,
low-cost, effective strategy to improve outcome of preterm infants with
a developmentally compromised epidermal barrier, as lipid constituents
of topical products may act as a mechanical barrier and augment
synthesis of barrier lipids. Natural oils are applied topically as part
of a traditional oil massage to neonates in many developing countries.
We sought to identify inexpensive, safe, vegetable oils available in
developing countries that improved epidermal barrier function. The
impact of oils on mouse epidermal barrier function (rate of
transepidermal water loss over time following acute barrier disruption
by tape-stripping) and ultrastructure was determined. A single
application of sunflower seed oil significantly accelerated skin
barrier recovery within 1 h; the effect was sustained 5 h after
application. In contrast, the other vegetable oils tested (mustard,
olive and soybean oils) all significantly delayed recovery of barrier
function compared with control- or Aquaphor-treated skin. Twice-daily
applications of mustard oil for 7 d resulted in sustained delay of
barrier recovery. Moreover, adverse ultrastructural changes were seen
under transmission electron microscopy in keratin intermediate
filament, mitochondrial, nuclear, and nuclear envelope structure
following a single application of mustard oil. Conclusion: Our data
suggest that topical application of linoleate-enriched oil such as
sunflower seed oil might enhance skin barrier function and improve
outcome in neonates with compromised barrier function. Mustard oil,
used routinely in newborn care throughout South Asia, has toxic effects
on the epidermal barrier that warrant further investigation.

PMID: 12113324 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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