Interrelationships Between Skin Structure, Function, and Microbiome of Pregnant Females and Their Newborns: Study Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Study

This document describes a prospective cohort study that aims to investigate the characteristics of skin and hair of 100 pregnant women and their newborns during pregnancy and in the first six months after delivery. The study will use noninvasive, standardized measurements to evaluate skin, hair, and skin microbiome. The study will also explore the skin's microbiome's role in skin diseases and the phenomenon of postpartum diffuse hair loss, known as telogen effluvium. The reasons for significant individual differences in postnatal hair loss remain unclear. The study will follow up with the women and their newborns four weeks after delivery and again six months after delivery. The results of this study could provide insights into the factors influencing the cutaneous microbiome of newborns and could help predict cutaneous risk in newborns and infants based on their mothers.