Scientific data shows applying olive or sunflower oil onto newborn babies’ skin causes damage to the barrier that prevents water loss and blocks allergens and infections. The finding turns on its head some established health advice, as well as the practices of many midwives and other health professionals. One common practice is to apply a little olive oil to dry skin on babies.
Researchers were concerned about the common health practice and a rise in cases of eczema over the past 20 years, in relation to children aged between two and 15 years old. Eczema incidences in the U.K. for children in this age range stood at just 5 percent in the 1940s compared with around 30 percent today.
To gather empirical data, 115 newborn infants were recruited at Saint Mary’s Hospital for a study (following appropriate ethics checks and with parental consent.) The babies were split into three test groups. In group one, olive oil was used; in group two, sunflower oil; and with no oil applied in group three. Oil was applied, as a few drops, to an area of the skin twice-daily for 28 days.
Following the test period, the lipid lamellae molecular structure in the skin of each baby was investigated. It was found with both oil groups the development of the skin barrier function was suppressed compared to the no oil group. This indicated the ability of the skin to act as an effective barrier would be weak, should oil be used over a baby’s entire body.
Discussing the research with Lab Manager magazine, Alison Cooke, who led the research noted: “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.”
The use of oils, therefore, has the potential to promote the development of, and exacerbate existing, atopic eczema.
The research has been conducted at the University of Manchester. The findings are published in the journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica, and the research is titled “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).”
