TRANSEPIDERMAL WATER LOSS IN NEWBORN INFANTS.

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Abstract
To investigate whether a change in skin blood flow is associated with changes in the evaporative loss of water from the skin of full-term appropriate for gestational age infants, the evaporation rate and skin blood flow in the body temperature range 36.6.degree.-37.2.degree. C were measured. Fifteen healthy full-term newborn infants delivered by Caesarean section were studied in a warm environment. Evaporation rate and skin blood flow were measured noninvasively without disturbing the infant. When the body temperature slowly rose because of the warm environment, the skin blood flow steadily increased. The rate of evaporation of water from the skin slowly decreased until a body temperature of 37.1.degree. C was reached. The evaporation rate then suddenly increased as the infant began to sweat. In full-term newborn infants born by Caesarean section the skin blood flow increases in the body temperature range 36.6.degree.-37.1.degree. C but does not influence the evaporation rate from the skin.