Exploring the Cutaneous Immune Response to Skin Massage in Early Life
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled trial to investigate how regular skin massage impacts the immune system in early life
IRAS ID
346822
Contact name
Carsten Flohr
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Infant massage is a practice commonly adopted in various cultures worldwide, with its prevalence varying across regions. In countries like India, it is a longstanding tradition, with a widespread acceptance among caregivers. In Western nations, the adoption of infant massage has been more recent, often promoted through neonatal care units to support premature infants' development. Estimates suggest that the use of massage in children ranges from 8% to 25% in countries such as the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada.
The benefits of infant massage have been the subject of various studies. Research indicates that regular massage can enhance weight gain, improve sleep patterns, and bolster the immune system. However, the specific effects of infant massage on the skin's immune system remain underexplored.
The skin serves as a critical barrier against pathogens and allergens and plays a vital role in the body's immune response. Understanding how regular massage influences the skin's immune functions in infants could provide deeper insights into atopic diseases. Research focusing specifically on this aspect is limited, indicating a need for further investigation.
Healthy babies up to 6 months old will be recruited into the study and randomly allocated into one of three groups, where parents will be asked to massage their babies either twice a week, daily, or not at all. There are three study visits, over an 8-week period, taking place at St Thomas' Hospital. During these visits, researchers will collect skin interstitial fluid (ISF) from the baby’s calf, take skin swabs for skin microbiome analysis, and perform a skin prick test to house dust mite, peanut, cow’s milk and egg.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0528
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion