In the diapered area, the continuous exposure to excess moisture and irritants from urine and feces weakens the stratum corneum, making the skin more susceptible to irritation. The use of wet wipes for infants (baby wipes) is a common practice to clean skin after urine or bowel movement, and this practice even extends to cleaning the hands and face, resulting in repeated daily use. Therefore, ensuring that baby wipes contain ingredients that are safe and mild on skin is important to help minimize skin irritation and discomfort.

While disposable baby wipes have been shown to be effective and gentle at cleaning infant skin, even the skin of premature infants, there is growing public concern regarding their safety and tolerability. Not all products are made the same, as differences exist in manufacturing processes, ingredients, materials, safety and quality testing. Therefore, it is important that healthcare professionals have accessible evidenced‐based information on the safety and tolerability of common ingredients found in baby wipes to optimally educate their patients and families.

A new article published in Pediatric Dermatology provided a review on best practices for ingredient selection, safety, and efficacy of baby wipes.

The findings suggested that in the diapered area, overhydration and presence of irritants from urine and feces are main contributors to skin irritation. Ensuring effective removal of residues from urine and feces, maintaining gentle contact with skin, using products that are free from potential irritants and contaminants and that can support the acid mantle of the skin can help promote skin health.

Over the recent past, significant advances have been made to the development of baby wipes, including removal of ingredients with irritation or allergenicity potential. In fact, several clinical studies have demonstrated that properly formulated baby wipes can be superior to the use of water and cloth, even on premature skin. Nonetheless, consideration should be given to developing a documented protocol for managing and maintaining healthy diapered skin on extremely premature infants, or infants with an underlying skin condition.

When caring for infant skin, it is important to understand all the factors that can contribute to skin irritation and potentially result in dermatitis, as well as being selective about the diapering products used on infant skin. It is important to note that not all baby wipes are made the same.

It was recommended that ingredients in baby wipes should be carefully selected by industry professionals based on their safety profile, allergenicity and tolerability. In addition, wipes manufacturing processes should adhere to quality guidelines established by recognized scientific organizations to ensure the wipes are not contaminated before or after use. Furthermore, safety testing must be performed considering the unique features of infant skin to ensure tolerability, low irritation potential and skin sensitivity to the product.

Source: Pediatric Dermatology. 2020 May;37(3):447-454. doi: 10.1111/pde.14112.