Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Neonatal Dermatology

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Braun-Falco´s Dermatology

  • 56 Accesses

Abstract

Immediately after birth, the newborn’s skin is subject to special situations in several respects, as it accompanies the transition from the aqueous environment of the amniotic fluid to the dry, extrauterine environment. From the moment of birth, the newborn skin has vital protective functions: Mechanical protection, protection against infection, protection against dehydration, and protection against cooling. In addition, the previously sterile organ is colonized by microorganisms within minutes and hours. These radical changes in environmental conditions lead to special adaptation processes that shape the physiological skin appearance of healthy newborns; they also explain transitory regulatory disorders and help us understand the peculiarities of early childhood skin changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Physiology of the Skin of Newborns and Young Infants

  • Afsar FS (2009) Physiological skin conditions of preterm and term neonates. Clin Exp Dermatol 35:346–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fluhr JW, Darlenski R, Lachmann N et al (2012) Infant epidermal skin physiology: adaptation after birth. Br J Dermatol 166:483–490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoeger PH (2019) Physiology of neonatal skin. In: Hoeger PH, Kinsler V, Yan A (eds) Harper’s textbook of pediatric dermatology, 4th edn. Wiley, Oxford. in press

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Januário G, Salgado M (2011) The harlequin phenomenon. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 25:1381–1384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolovski J, Stamatas GN, Kollias N et al (2008) Barrier function and water-holding and transport properties of infant stratum corneum are different from adult and continue to develop through the first year of life. J Invest Dermatol 128:1728–1736

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Transitory Skin Changes

  • Canada KN, Merin MR, Munden A, Friedlander SF (2012) A prospective study of cutaneous findings in newborns in the United States: correlation with race, ethnicity, and gestational status using updated classification and nomenclature. J Pediatr 161:240–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

Vesicles, Pustules, Blisters

  • Ayhan M, Sancak B, Karaduman A et al (2007) Colonization of neonate skin by Malassezia species: relationship with neonatal cephalic pustulosis. J Am Acad Dermatol 57:1012–1018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernier V, Weill FX, Hirigoyen V et al (2002) Skin colonization by Malassezia species in neonates: a prospective study and relationship with neonatal cephalic pustulosis. Arch Dermatol 138:215–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley DA, Munn SE, Higgins EM (2001) Neonatal eosinophilic pustular folliculitis. Clin Exp Dermatol 26:251–255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard RM, Peace IJ (2015) Vesicles, pustules, bullae, erosions, and ulcerations. In: Eichenfield LF, Frieden IJ, Mathes EF, Zaenglein AL (eds) Neonatal dermatology, 3rd edn. Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 111–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Tlougan BE, Paller AS, Schaffer JV et al (2013) Congenital erosive and vesicular dermatosis with reticulated supple scarring: unifying clinical features. J Am Acad Dermatol 69:909–915

    Article  Google Scholar 

First Describer

  • Aractingi S, Cadranel S, Reygagne P et al (1991) Pustulose néonatale induite par Malassezia furfur. Ann Dermtol Venereol 118:896–900

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen BA, Esterly NB, Nelson PFC (1985) Genital erosive and vesicular dermatosis healing with reticulated supple scarring. Arch Dermatol 121:361–367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn G, Rywlin AM (1979) Acropustulosis of infancy. Arch Dermatol 115:831–833

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leiner C (1912) Über eigenartige Erythemtypen und Dermatitiden des frühen Säuglingsalters. Deuticke, Leipzig

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucky AW, Esterly NB, Heskel N et al (1984) Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis in infancy. Pediatr Dermatol 1:202–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neligan GA, strand LB (1952) “Harlequin” colour change in the newborn. Lancet 2:1005–1007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramamurthy RS, Reveri M, Esterly NB et al (1976) Transient neonatal pustular melanosis. J Pediatr 88:831–835

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Pediatric Dermatology, Catholic Children’s Hospital Wilhelmstift, Hamburg, Germany

    Peter H. Höger

Authors
  1. Peter H. Höger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter H. Höger .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Gerd Plewig

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Lars French

  3. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Ruzicka

  4. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

    Roland Kaufmann

  5. Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Michael Hertl

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Lars French

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Höger, P.H. (2020). Neonatal Dermatology. In: Plewig, G., French, L., Ruzicka, T., Kaufmann, R., Hertl, M. (eds) Braun-Falco´s Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-58713-3_82-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-58713-3_82-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-58713-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-58713-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation