Comparison of Coconut and Sunflower Oil Application in Preserving Babies' Skin Integrity

Although there is no consensus on the use of products in daily skin care to maintain the skin integrity of newborns, many products are used. These products; mustard, sunflower, sesame, coconut, olive, soybean, palm oils, ointment (Auqophor), cream (Eucerin) and moisturizers. It is stated that these products prevent skin drying and fissures, maintain skin integrity, and reduce transepidermal fluid loss (Vaseline).

Sunflower oil accelerates the maturation of the skin barrier, there is less weight loss in newborns younger than 35 weeks of gestation who are massaged with sunflower oil compared to the control group, the incidence of nosocomial infections in newborns who receive skin care with sunflower oil is lower than the control group, sunflower oil protects the newborn from infections, olive oil, more effective than oils such as soybean oil and mustard oil; In another study, it was determined that skin care applied to preterm newborns with sunflower oil reduced mortality by 26%, the duration of hospitalization was shorter in newborns treated with sunflower oil than the control group, and regular use of moisturizers had no effect on the incidence of infection. Recently, it has been reported that topical application of coconut oil is safe and feasible in very preterm infants and has beneficial effects on skin condition and recovery of infants. In a systematic review of randomized studies evaluating the effects of topical coconut oil in preterm infants, it was emphasized that in general, transepidermal fluid loss and infection rate were reduced in infants in the coconut oil group, the growth and skin integrity of the infants were better, and no significant side effects were experienced. In a study comparing coconut and carrot oils, it was stated that the skin flora and barrier function were better in babies using coconut oil.

Comparison of the application of Coconut and Sunflower Oil in the preservation of skin integrity, the amount of fluid ingested/extracted daily, and weight gain/decrease in infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Inclusion criteria

• Voluntary verbal and written consent of the parents of the newborn,
• The gestational week of the newborn is 34 and above,
• The birth weight of the newborn is 2000 g and above,
• The hospitalization of the newborn is the first day of birth.

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable clinical condition and vital signs,
• Having a major congenital anomaly,
• High risk of infection due to surgery,
• More than 5% of the body surface is a skin disease,
• External application of medication to the skin in its treatment.