Keywords:
Antisepsis; Barrier function; Emollient; Infection prevention; Microbiome; Neonatal skin; Preterm
Abstract:
The neonatal skin is central to early survival and immune development. Far from being a passive mechanical barrier, it integrates physical, chemical, and microbial defences that together protect the infant in the immediate postnatal period. In preterm infants, structural immaturity, reduced antimicrobial capacity, and altered microbial colonisation confer heightened vulnerability to infection and inflammation.