Skin Surface pH in Newborns: Origin and Consequences

Abstract

The act of birth and the growth of an infant in consecutive months are critical for the baby's adaptation from intrauterine life to the relatively dry and gaseous environment. These adaptive changes have not only effects on structural components but also subsequent functional consequences. The formation of acid mantel is important for the integrity and cohesion of the stratum corneum, a key component of an intact epidermal barrier, as well as for multiple defensive functions of the skin. In this chapter, we review the mechanisms in pH development after birth. Furthermore, we focus on different factors affecting skin surface acidity formation such as the pre- and postnatal age and weight, gender and anatomical site.