PURPOSE: Skin breakdown in the perineal area is a problem with incontinence. Currently, products are designed to cleanse, moisturize, and protect the perineal area, preventing skin breakdown. A new cloth product containing a perineal 3 in 1 product with odor control was designed to have the comfort and feel of a soft wash cloth while delivering a sufficient amount of the formulation to protect the skin and demonstrate superior absorption.

METHODOLOGY: A laboratory study evaluated absorption and delivery of the lotion formulation from a perineal cloth versus a competitor product. Absorption was tested using weighed uniform pieces of each product. Each piece was then submerged in synthetic urine, drip dried, then reweighed. The amount of synthetic urine absorbed was calculated in grams per square inch. Delivery of the formulation was tested by wiping each cloth evenly across a pre-weighed substrate. The substrate was then reweighed and the weight difference determined.

RESULTS: A 100% polyester cloth released twice the amount of the formulation and absorbed on average, 30% more synthetic urine per square inch than the competitor polyester / rayon blend fabric.

CONCLUSION: The 100% polyester cloth product was superior versus a polyester / rayon cloth in absorbing urine, while delivering a sufficient amount of the formulation to protect the skin.