Despite most midwives recommending olive or sunflower oil for dry skin, as highlighted in a previous University study, there has been little research into the effects of these oils, outside of small studies in the lab.
This is despite changes to baby skin care being linked to a dramatic increase in eczema over the last few decades: from 5 percent of children aged 2-15 in the 1940s to around 30 percent today.
To test the effects of the two oils on babies’ skin, 115 new born infants were recruited at Saint Mary’s Hospital to the pilot study, which was supported by the NIHR. The babies were divided into three groups – olive oil, sunflower oil and no oil.
At the end of a 28-day trial period where babies in the oil groups were treated with a few drops on their skin twice a day, the lipid lamellae structure in the skin of each baby was investigated and in both oil groups the development of the skin barrier function was delayed compared to the no oil group.
Alison Cooke, the lecturer in midwifery who led the research said: “If the skin barrier function is a wall with bricks made of cells, then the lipid lamellae is the mortar that holds it together. If it isn’t developed enough then cracks appear which let water out and foreign bodies through.
“Oil prevents this mortar from developing as quickly and this could be linked to the development of conditions such as eczema.”
Audio interview with Alison Cooke here:https://soundcloud.com/theuniversityofmanchester/alison-cooke-on-olive-oil-and-baby-skin
The skin of the babies who were given the oils tended to be better hydrated, however the researchers feel that since the implications of the effect on the lipid layer weren’t fully understood, this was not enough of a benefit to outweigh possible harm.
There is no UK national guidance on neonatal skincare, although there is evidence from studies carried out in South Asia that sunflower oil has an anti-microbial effect which could benefit premature babies in developing countries.
However in healthy babies in the UK, the Manchester researchers say that they cannot recommend the use of either sunflower or olive oil on babies’ skin.
Alison added: “We need to do more research on this issue with different oils and also study possible links to eczema, but what is clear is that the current advice given to parents is not based on any evidence and until this is forthcoming the use of these two oils on new born baby skin should be avoided.”
The paper, ‘Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil or no Oil for Baby Dry Skin or Massage: A Pilot Assessor-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial (the Oil in Baby SkincaRE [ObSeRvE] Study)’, was published in the journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica.doi: 10.2340/00015555-2279
Full study available here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26551528
ENDS
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The University of Manchester is one of the country’s major research institutions, rated fifth in the UK in terms of ‘research power’ (REF 2014), and has had no fewer than 25 Nobel laureates either work or study there. The University had an annual income of £886 million in 2013/14.www.manchester.ac.uk
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR is the research arm of the NHS. Since its establishment in April 2006, the NIHR has transformed research in the NHS. It has increased the volume of applied health research for the benefit of patients and the public, driven faster translation of basic science discoveries into tangible benefits for patients and the economy, and developed and supported the people who conduct and contribute to applied health research. The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. For further information, visit the NIHR website (www.nihr.ac.uk).Alison Cooke was funded by a Doctoral Research Fellowship Award from the National Institute of Health Research.
This study is supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network, which provides researchers with the practical support they need to make clinical studies happen in the NHS, so that more research takes place across England, and more patients can take part. This practical support includes:• Reducing the “red-tape” around setting up a study• Enhancing NHS resources, by funding the people and facilities needed to carry out research “on the ground”• Helping researchers to identify suitable NHS sites, and recruit patients to take part in research studies• Advising researchers on how to make their study “work” in the NHS environment
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