Baby oil

Baby oil is often used in the skin care of newborns.

Baby oil is, in general terms, an inert oil for the purpose of keeping skin soft and supple. It is often used on babies for the purpose of maintaining "baby-soft" skin, but it is also often used by adults for skincare and massage.

The skin of an infant, especially a premature one, is sensitive, thin and fragile. The skin's neutral pH on the surface significantly reduces the protection against excessive bacterial growth. The epidermis and dermis are thinner than those of adults and the epidermal barrier is not yet fully developed. Consequences can for example be dry skin, infections, peeling, blister formation and poor thermoregulation. The application of different oils to the skin of the newborn is routinely practiced in many countries. In general, these oils are used for cleansing, to maintain the skin's moisture and to protect its surface. Additionally, baby oil is used for the massage of newborns and as additive in lotions and creams.[1][2]

  1. ^ Chiabi, Andreas; Kenmogne, Maguerite Hortence; Nguefack, Seraphin; Obadeyi, Bolaji; Mah, Evelyne; Meka, Franck Zeh; Tchokoteu, Pierre-Fernand; Mbonda, Elie; Ekoe, Tetanye (December 2011). "The empiric use of palm kernel oil in neonatal skin care: Justifiable or not?". Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 17 (12): 950–954. doi:10.1007/s11655-011-0938-1. ISSN 1672-0415. PMID 22139548. S2CID 207298386.
  2. ^ Kulkarni, Anjali; Kaushik, Jaya Shankar; Gupta, Piyush; Sharma, Harsh; Agrawal, R. K. (September 2010). "Massage and touch therapy in neonates: The current evidence". Indian Pediatrics. 47 (9): 771–776. doi:10.1007/s13312-010-0114-2. ISSN 0019-6061. PMID 21048258. S2CID 5728116.