[pH, temperature, hydration of the stratum corneum of the dorsal hand and the cord area, and acid mantle formation during early days of life in high-risk newborns].

PURPOSE The study was done to explore variations in physiologic parameters of the stratum corneum (SC) of the dorsal hand and cord area during early days of life in high-risk newborns. METHODS In this longitudinal study, a total of 77 high-risk newborns were assessed for pH, temperature and hydration of the SC of the dorsal hand and the cord area on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th days of life. RESULTS Results showed that an acid mantle (AM) was formed in 57.1% for dorsal hand and 35.1% for cord area, implying significant delay regardless of decrease in pH (F=103.60, p<.001), and hydration (F=4.00, p=.003) across days in both areas. Peripheral hypothermia with low hydration level was also observed in both areas. There was a positive relation between hydration and temperature (.14<r<.27, p<.010), and negative relation between hydration and pH in both areas (-.23<r<-.15, p<.010). Antibiotics may play a positive role in AM formation. CONCLUSION High-risk newborns may experience delay in acid mantle formation on SC, hypothermia and decreases in hydration on peripheral sites during the first 7 days of life.