Clinical Problem: Patients experiencing both urinary and fecal incontinence, or diarrhea have an increased risk for dermatitis and denudement that can result in physical discomfort. 1, 2, 3

Description of Past Management: When denudement is present, barrier pastes4 are used to protect and promote skin healing however; typically these barrier products do not allow visibility of the skin leading to premature removal to assess the skin.

Current Clinical Approach: An ideal skin protectant should have excellent moisture barrier and skin adhesion functionality while providing visibility of the skin. These case studies compared a newly formulated clear protective barrier (Barrier A) designed to provide moisture holdout while adhering to denuded skin with a marketed protective barrier paste (Barrier B). Patients were entered into a case study if they had fecal incontinence and denudement with or without erythema. A no rinse foam cleanser followed by the selected barrier was used after each incontinent episode. The patients were evaluated for a minimum of three (3) days to a maximum of ten (10) days.

Patient Outcomes: Eleven (11) patients completed the case studies: Five (5) using Barrier A and six (6) using Barrier B. Erythema, denudement, and itching/burning were reduced. Barrier A provided skin assessment without removal. Barrier B required removal to assess the skin.

Conclusion: Health care providers preferred Barrier A to Barrier B as it provided protection while allowing visual assessment of the skin condition.

Products: Barrier A: Critic-Aid Clear Moisture Barrier, Coloplast Corp, Skin Health Division, Marietta, GA, patent pending Barrier B: Sensi-Care Protective Barrier, ConvaTec; Division of E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., Princeton, NJ