A longitudinal study of skin barrier function in pregnancy and the postnatal period

Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of 52 low-risk, first-time pregnant women nested within the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) Ireland study. TEWL (gwater/m2/h) was measured three times during pregnancy: 19–21 weeks, 27–32 weeks and 36 weeks; and three times postnatally: 2–4 days, 2 months and 6 months post-delivery. Data were analysed using SPSS 18.0 and P40.05 was considered statistically significant.

Background: It is unknown whether skin’s barrier function changes in pregnancy. Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) refers to the total amount of water loss through the skin and TEWL can be measured non-invasively as an index of skin barrier function. We measured TEWL during and after pregnancy to evaluate pregnancy-related skin barrier function.

Conclusion: TEWL increases slightly in pregnancy and the postnatal period. The clinical significance of this is unclear and requires further investigation.

Results: A rise in TEWL was seen between each visit with the highest readings, exceeding the normal range of 0–20 g_water/m²/h, recorded at two months post-delivery. Forty women attended at two months post-delivery of whom 22 women had an average reading between 0 and 20 g_water/m²/h; 10 women had an average reading between 21 and 40 g_water/m²/h and 8 women had an average reading between 41 and 75 g_water/m²/h. Readings had returned to an average of 0–20 g_water/m²/h at six months postnatally.