Skin Massage

This project aims to study whether regular skin massage in babies induces cutaneous inflammation and whether this inflammatory response is amplified in those receiving daily (vs bi-weekly or no) skin massage over an 8 week period. Specifically, it aims to: 1. Establish if massage increases /decreases immune signals in the skin. 2. Clarify if the effects of massage are enhanced with the frequency of massage. 3.) Assess changes in skin biology as a consequence of skin massage. 4.) Determine if massage impacts skin barrier function in the early years of life.