Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) Practice Exam

Newborn skin has unique characteristics that differentiate it from adult skin. The correct answer highlights that newborns do not have scars up to the second trimester, which is indicative of their skin's healing process and development during pregnancy. This characteristic is essential in understanding how a newborn's skin forms and regenerates. In addition, the skin of a newborn is still maturing after birth, and notable changes typically occur in the dermal and epidermal layers as they grow. The option mentioning newborn skin being 30% thicker than adult skin is incorrect, as newborn skin is actually thinner and more delicate relative to adult skin. Slower epidermal turnover in infants is also not accurate; in reality, newborns have a faster turnover rate, contributing to their ability to heal quickly. Regarding greater susceptibility to scarring, while newborn skin is delicate, it doesn’t inherently mean they scar more than adults without considering other factors. Thus, the first characteristic accurately reflects what is known about newborn skin's condition at that stage of development.