Skin Integrity and Continence Care

SKIN INTEGRITY AND CONTINENCE CARE

Protecting the integrity of the skin and providing effective treatment if skin breakdown occurs is an essential part of effective nursing care.

General principles

Encourage the client or carer to check the skin regularly to ensure healthy skin is maintained (1).
Soap can be very drying to the skin, especially if not properly rinsed off.  Unperfumed soap or soap-free cleansers are kinder to the skin (1). 
Do not use talcum powder in conjunction with body worn continence products (1).  When dampened by sweat or urine, talc can form encrustations, which may cause discomfort and increase potential for frictional damage.
Additional oil-based or silicone-based creams should not be used, unless prescribed or indicated.  If creams are recommended they should be thinly applied, as thick application may adversely affect the permeability of absorbent continence care products.

Further considerations when using creams

Creams based on the following may adversely affect the absorbency of the product

· Mineral oils eg. light liquid paraffin, liquid paraffin, white soft paraffin and yellow soft paraffin
· Silicones eg. dimethicone

Barrier and skin rehydration preparations
LOWER in concentrations of mineral oils and silicones (2)

Almond oil, Aveeno cream, Aquadrate, aqueous cream, Balneum Bath, bath emollient and lotion, Calmurid, Cavilon, Dermol preparations, Eucerin lotion, Hydromol cream, Lacticare, Nutraplus

Preparations containing mineral oils or silicone (2)

Alcoderm, Alpha Keri, Cetraben, Conotrane, Decubal Clinic, Dermalo, Diprobase, Diprobath, Doublebase, Drapolene, E45 preparations, Emulsiderm, Epaderm, Imuderm, Keri emollient, Morhulin, Oilatum preparations, Siopel, Sprilon, Sudocrem, Unguentum M, Ultrabase, Vaseline (white soft paraffin), Vasogen, Zinc & Castor Oil, most nappy rash creams and lotions.

These guidance notes have been prepared taking into account current evidence, where available.

(1) Penzer R, Finch M (2001) ‘Promoting healthy skin in older people’, Nursing Older People. 13, 8.
(2) Source: British National Formulary

Article published by HARTMANN Direct - an online shopping site for incontinence and personal hygiene products. Products delivered direct to your door in discreet packaging. www.hartmanndirect.co.uk

This article is copyright protected and is not for republishing