Baby Skin Integrity Comparison Survey reveals babies cleansed with Irish brand WaterWipes baby wipes had a lower incidence and a shorter duration of nappy rash compared to other leading brands
The Baby Skin Integrity Comparison Survey (BaSICS)conducted by the University of Salford in Greater Manchester (UK) has been published in Pediatrics & Neonatology[i] — the first research of its kind, revealing different formulations of baby wipes can impact the skin integrity of newborns. The innovative midwifery-led ‘real-world’ study compares the incidence and duration of nappy rash on infants with different leading brands of baby wipes.
Lower incidence and shorter duration of nappy rash with WaterWipes
The clinical study of 698 mothers, showed babies cleansed with WaterWipes (brand three in the study; with the fewest ingredients) are less likely to get moderate to severe nappy rash, and if they do, it lasts fewer days compared to other leading brands. The other brands in the study are marketed as mild and gentle enough for newborn skin but contain additional ingredients compared to brand three (WaterWipes).
The study showed that mothers using WaterWipes on their babies’ skin had a lower incidence of nappy rash* (19%), compared to those cleansed with brand one (25%) or brand two (30%). For each day of nappy rash* experienced by the WaterWipes babies, the rash would have lasted approximately 50% longer had mothers used the other brands – 1.69 days with brand two (p<0.001) and 1.48 days with brand one (p=0.002).
“The BaSICS study is the first research indicating that a baby wipe product may be a determinant of infant skin integrity in the first eight-weeks of life,” says Professor Penny Cook, Professor in Public Health from the University of Salford. “These findings indicate that the baby wipe with the fewest ingredients has the lowest incidence and shortest duration of moderate nappy rash*.”
Experimental study design
The mothers who completed the study were divided into three groups. Each group was allocated at random a different brand of baby wipe marketed specifically as being mild and gentle enough for newborn skin. All mothers received the same brand of disposable nappies and researchers involved in the analysis of the data were blind to the baby wipe brand. Skin integrity was graded from one (no rash) to five (severe rash) and moderate to severe nappy rash was identified as three or above.
“This real-world study utilised a prospective experimental design model of mothers as co-researchers,” says Dr Fiona MacVane Phipps, Senior Research Fellow – Midwifery (now retired) from the University of Salford. “The mothers’ observations were recorded, via a user-friendly app on their smartphone, enabling them to report nappy rash daily, using reference diagrams for the assessment of nappy rash on a five-point scale. This allowed mothers to reflect daily on their baby’s skin condition and cleaning routines using real-time methods of data collection – known to be more accurate than retrospective methods. This resulted in a set of nappy rash data that, to our knowledge, is the most comprehensive to date for younger infants. The study had a 96.7% completion rate and robust sample size; with mothers from a diverse mix of ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.”
Safety and efficacy of wipes on newborn skin
Nappy rash is one of the most common skin complaints in infants. Healthcare professionals have historically recommended cloth and water or cotton wool and water for cleaning babies’ newborn skin; however, recent studies highlight the safety and efficacy of using baby wipes to help decrease skin irritation,[ii],[iii] with parents reporting greater convenience over cotton wool and water.3
“Infant skin has a less effective skin barrier function compared to that of older children and adults,” says Dr Jeanne Lythgoe, Senior Midwifery Lecturer and Co-investigator from the University of Salford. “The epidermis and stratum corneum are thinner, meaning babies’ skin is more susceptible to permeability and dryness. As a result, their skin is far more delicate and vulnerable; requiring special care and protection.”
WaterWipes, the world’s purest baby wipes, are a non-medicated baby wipe containing just two ingredients – 99.9% ultra-pure water and a drop of fruit extract to help maintain skin integrity. Following a review of scientific literature, a team of independent experts at the Skin Health Alliance has validated that WaterWipes are purer than cotton wool and water.
Jill Sommerville, Director of Medical at WaterWipes said, “We are dedicated to supporting invaluable research, which highlights the importance of selecting wipes with minimal ingredients to help protect against the causes of nappy rash and preserve the skin barrier function. The BaSICS study is an important milestone in infant skin health and WaterWipes hope that the findings will inspire confidence and reassurance among both healthcare professionals and parents; knowing that they are using a brand which is specifically developed to be pure and gentle for babies’ delicate newborn skin.”
The key outcome from this study is that babies cleansed with WaterWipes had a lower incidence and a shorter duration of nappy rash, compared to other leading brands.
