Table 1: Infant and adult skin: similarities and differences.

Structural differences Infant skin Adult skin Reference Epidermis        Corneocytes Smaller Larger [2]  Granular cells Smaller Larger [2]  Stratum corneum and epidermis Thinner Thicker [1, 2]  Microrelief lines More dense Less dense [2]  Depth of surface glyphics Similar to adult — [2]  Facultative pigmentation (melanin) Less More [142, 143] Dermis        Dermal papillae (density, size, and morphology) More homogeneous Less homogeneous [2]  Distinct papillary-to-reticular dermis transition Absent Present [2] Compositional differences       Epidermis        Natural moisturizing factor concentration Lower Higher [11]  pH Higher (newborn only) Lower [6, 32, 34]  Sebum Lower (7–12 month-old infant) Higher [144]  Stratum corneum water content Higher Lower [11] Dermis        Collagen fiber density Lower Higher (young adult) [2, 145] Functional differences        Rate of water absorption Higher Lower [11]  Rate of water desorption Higher Lower [11]  Skin barrier function Competent Competent [9, 10]  Transepidermal water loss Higher Lower [11]