A carer’s guide to skin integrity with an incontinent patient

Regular use of continence diapers can cause heat and sweat to build.

Skin is weakened, making it susceptible to:

• Bacterial infection.
• Skin irritations.
• Allergic reactions.
• Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD).

The skin needs to be cleaned and cared for after each incontinence episode.

However, cleaning can contribute to irritation by altering the skin’s pH and removing the skin’s protective layer.

Skin integrity can be maintained by using creams and continence products with active skin protection.

Traditional water treatment

• Removes skin’s natural protective layer.
• More skin irritation.
• Greater infection risk.

Skin protection creams (such as MoliCare® skin)

• Helps retain skin’s natural protective layer.
• Reduces skin irritation.
• Lowers infection risk.

Continence products with active skin protection (such as the MoliCare® Premium Elastic range) also help to maintainskin integrity, and feature:

Important: Take care not to rub skin when cleaning.

Disinfect hands and use disposable gloves to avoid contamination.

Step 1 For soiled and heavily soiled areas, apply MoliCare® Skin Cleansing Foam to the skin. This will help quickly remove urine and faeces without rubbing.

Step 2 Clean the skin by debulking with a Vala® Clean Soft washing disposable gloves. Do not rub.

Step 3 Gently clean the skin with a MoliCare® Skin Moist Skin Care Tissue. Do not rub. (optional)

Step 4 Dispose of wash glove, wipe or tissue, disinfect hands and replace disposable gloves.

Step 5 Apply MoliCare® Skin Barrier Cream.

Step 6 Put on a new continence pad/ diaper.

^{1.Junkin J, Selekof JL. Prevalence of incontinence and associated skin injury in the acute care inpatient. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2007 May-Jun;34(3):260-9. doi: 10.1097/01.WON.0000270820.91694.1f. PMID: 17505245.}