Efficacy of the combined use of a mild foaming cleanser and moisturizer for the care of infant skin

Figures & data

Table 1 Full ingredient list of the test materials

Foaming body wash

Water, glycerin, propylene glycol, PEG-150, sodium cocoyl glutamate, lauryl hydroxysultaine, laureth-21, disodium EDTA, laureth-6 carboxylic acid, sodium hydroxide, malic acid, sodium benzoate

O/W lotion including synthetic pseudo-ceramide

Water, glycerin, cetyl-PG-hydroxyethyl palmitamide, squalane, neopentyl glycol dicaprate, dimethicone, polysorbate 60, cholesterol, sorbitan stearate, xanthan gum, sodium methyl stearoyl taurate, succinic acid, sodium benzoate, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, methylparaben

W/O cream including synthetic pseudo-ceramide

Water, glycerin, cyclopentasiloxane, cetyl-PG hydroxyethyl palmitamide, squalane, isostearyl glyceryl ether, polyglyceryl-2 diisostearate, cholesteryl isostearate, dimethicone, PEG-5 hydrogenated castor oil, magnesium sulfate, succinic acid, PEG-12 dimethicone, dextrin palmitate, sodium hydroxide, methylparaben

Abbreviations: EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; O/W, oil-in-water; W/O, water-in-oil.

Table 2 Prevalence of each skin symptom at week 0 based on visual skin assessment by dermatologist (number of infants)

	Dryness	Desquamation	Erythema	Papules	Maceration	Scratching	Crust	Erosion	Pigmentation	Total
Face	38	28	38	25	0	12	4	2	0	48
Flexor of arms	9	10	24	8	9	2	0	0	0	31
Buttock	13	12	8	7	0	2	0	0	0	18
Head	3	4	3	2	0	1	0	0	0	7
Neck	19	16	20	15	4	5	0	1	0	35
Chest and abdomen	16	11	16	22	0	5	1	1	0	36
Back	27	17	21	28	0	9	0	0	0	42
Extensor of arms	21	14	18	12	0	4	0	0	0	31
Hand and wrist	7	2	6	8	0	2	0	0	0	14
Extensor of legs	18	10	18	10	3	6	2	0	2	32
Flexor of legs	18	10	11	13	1	8	2	0	0	29
Foot and ankle	14	8	8	10	0	4	2	0	1	22
Total	44	37	48	46	13	23	8	2	2	50

Figure 1 Evaluation of dryness, desquamation, erythema, and papules following the usage of the cleanser and moisturizer on the face.

Notes: The numeric values in the columns show the number of subjects. **p < 0.01 as a significant improvement from week 0 (W0) to week 4 (W4) by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. (A) Lotion group (n=22), (B) cream group (n=23).

Figure 2 Typical clinical features of facial skin in an 8-month-old female infant.

Notes: The infant had dryness (score 1), desquamation (score 3), erythema (score 3), and papules (score 1) at week 0, but improvements were observed at week 4: dryness (score 0), desquamation (score 1), erythema (score 1), and papules (score 0). (A) Week 0, (B) week 4.

Figure 3 Evaluation of dryness, desquamation, erythema, and papules following the usage of the cleanser and moisturizer on the buttocks.

Notes: The numeric values in the columns show the number of subjects. *p < 0.05 as a significant improvement from week 0 (W0) to week 4 (W4) by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. (A) Lotion group (n=25), (B) cream group (n=24).

Figure 4 Evaluation of dryness, desquamation, erythema, and papules following the usage of the cleanser and moisturizer on the flexor of the arms.

Notes: The numerical values in the columns show the number of subjects. **p < 0.01 as a significant improvement from week 0 (W0) to week 4 (W4) by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. (A) Lotion group (n=25), (B) cream group (n=25).

Figure 5 TEWL, pH and capacitance of the face, flexor of the arm, and buttock following the usage of the cleanser and moisturizer.

Notes: (A, B) TEWL. (C, D) pH. (E, F) Capacitance. (A, C, E) Lotion group: face (n=22); flexor of the arm (n=25) and buttock (n=25); (B, D, F) cream group: face (n=23); flexor of the arm (n=24), buttock (n=25). *p < 0.05 as a significant improvement from week 0 (W0) to week 4 (W4) by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Abbreviation: TEWL, transepidermal water loss.

Table 3 Overall improvement rate and usefulness judged by dermatologist (number of infants)

	Lotion group (n=23)	Cream group (n=22)
Overall improvement
Markedly improved	6	4
Improved	11	11
Slightly improved	6	7
Unchanged	0	0
Aggravated	0	0
Usefulness
Very useful	6	4
Useful	11	11
Slightly useful	6	7
Useless	0	0
Harmful	0	0

Figure 6 Parental assessments following the usage of the cleanser and moisturizer.

Notes: (A) Overall evaluation of the materials: cleanser (n=50), lotion (n=25), cream (n=25). (B) Recognition of improvement in dry skin: lotion group (n=25), cream group (n=25).