NCT01758068

Effect of Twice Daily Application of Coconut Oil in Reducing Water Loss From Skin of Premature Babies in First Week of Life

Effect of Topical Oil Application on Trans-Epidermal Water Loss in Preterm Infants - A Randomized Clinical Trail

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 74 (actual)
• Sponsor: Lady Hardinge Medical College · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Hours – 7 Days
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The skin of newborn infants is immature and ineffective as a barrier. Preterm skin exhibits even more vulnerability to the environment due to poor self regulatory heat mechanisms, paucity of fatty tissue and its thinness. Most preterm babies lose up to 13% of their weight as water loss from their skin during the first week of life. Many strategies have been utilized by neonatologists to decrease this water loss. Edible coconut oil application on the skin acts as a non permeable barrier and can help in achieving this. Hence the investigators decided to undertake this study to objectively assess the reduction in water loss from skin after oil application.

Conditions

• Trans Epidermal Water Loss

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Coconut Oil Application	Coconut oil - 4 ml

Timeline

• Start date: 2005-11-01
• Primary completion: 2006-09-01
• Completion: 2006-12-01
• First posted: 2012-12-31
• Last updated: 2012-12-31