PATTERN OF USE OF SKIN CARE PRODUCTS IN CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT ECZEMATOUS SKIN LESIONS

Abstract

Objective: To compare the pattern of use of skin care products between children with
eczematous skin lesions and those without.
Design: Case control study.
Setting: Two well baby clinics at the Kenyatta National Hospital and the Mbagathi
District Hospital in Nairobi.
Subjects: Eighty nine infants with eczematous skin lesions and 89 age and sex matched
controls without skin lesions.
Main outcome measures: Presence and severity of skin lesions related to the type of
skin care products used by the child.
Results: Exposure to various products was not significantly different between infants
with skin lesions and those without. However, more mothers whose children had a skin
rash had made a change in the type of soap and or skin cream used for their child
(p<0.0001). The principal reason for changing products was skin rash in the baby and
most mothers made changes away from scented baby soap products.
Conclusion: The study found no significant difference between the cases and
controls regarding the type of skin care products used.