Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease of childhood. Epithelial barrier dysfunction is at the center of the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Stratum corneum provides the first line defense environmental factors including pathogens and allergens and controls trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). The stratum corneum of neonatal skin is significantly thinner than that of an adult, explaining the higher TEWL. Newborn skin also has greater permeability to some substances such as skin care products which could affect skin integrity. Inappropriate skin cleaning practices may also have an impact on the microbiome of immature neonatal skin. Recent evidence-based guidiance of newborn skin cleansing is lacking. There is not a specific guideline or consensus on neonatal bathing practices worldwide. Each country and even each center in the same country have different neonatal bathing procedures that can affect epithelial barrier and/or skin microbiome. This EAACI task force aims to provide the EAACI with a state-of-the- art position paper on neonatal bathing procedures regarding the prevention of atopic dermatitis.

IG:Pediatric

Chair: Burcin Beken

Secretary: Daniela Carvaho