Neonatal dermatology: skin care guidelines.

Skin care of the neonate is a very important issue, especially if the infant is either premature or is in critical condition. Guidelines for skin care put special emphasis on the skin barrier properties, transcutaneous absorption, and transepidermal water losses of the skin. The main objective of this article is to give general skin care guidelines for full-term newborn and premature infants, whether in the delivery room, the intensive care unit, or at home. These guidelines are directed to medical staff and nurses with a brief summary for parents.