J&J skin microbiome-boosting emollient test on infants reveals enhanced “richness”

11 Nov 2022 --- Adding lotion to newborn skincare regimen after washing can “positively affect the microbiome” compared to just washing the baby according to researchers at Johnson & Johnson (J&J). The company’s latest research on this outcome is touted as the “first” to evaluate the impact of baby skincare products on the microbiome in infants.

As emollients enhance the richness and diversity of the skin microbiome for those with atopic dermatitis (AD), researchers from consumer health research and development at the company believed it would have a similar effect in healthy infants when combined with the regimen of baby bath wash.

The findings suggest that routine use of an appropriately formulated emollient for infants will increase the richness of the skin microbiome and the levels of ceramides and free fatty acids – essential for a healthy skin barrier.

Baby products and testing
Parents of infants were told to use J&J’s marketed gentle baby cleanser (Head-To-Toe Baby Wash & Shampoo) during a seven-day washout period at least three times per week, using the cleanser instead of the infant’s usual body wash. They were also instructed not to use any moisturizer or lotion.

The babies were randomized to either “wash-only” or “wash and lotion” group – carried out over 28 days.The researchers noticed that microbiome richness increased for both groups during the study.

Infants were tested based on J&J’s test cleanser CottonTouch Newborn Wash & Shampoo and its CottonTouch Newborn Face & Body Lotion. The lotion contains glycerol, fatty acids and other emollients. It was applied daily – once or twice, with one application after bathing. The products were well tolerated.

After the 28 days, a three to five-day regression followed where both groups followed the initial washout period. Of the 38 participants, 32 were included in the analysis and 30 completed the study. The mean age was 4.0 (±1.2) months.

Limitations and evidence
The authors note that study is limited as it included a small number of participants from central New Jersey, US. Nonetheless, the study showed statistical differences between the treatment group and between time points.

Despite low participant numbers, the study was able to demonstrate statistical differences between the treatment groups and time points.

The researchers noticed that microbiome richness increased for both groups during the study compared to the baseline. Moreover, microbiome richness was statistically higher for the wash and lotion group compared to the wash-only group on day 28.

“Increased richness is the first step toward increased diversity, which is associated with healthy skin,” say the authors.

Also, the microbiome diversity and skin pH were unchanged throughout the study. The wash and lotion group shows reduced protein breakdown and increased levels of skin barrier function – ceramides, free fatty acids and glycerol. The glycerol levels probably originated from lotion deposition, say the authors.

By Venya Patel