PURPOSE Skin protectant barrier formulations exhibit various forms of functionality. For example, some protectants adhere well to moist skin while others form good moisture barriers on the skin. An ideal Skin Protectant should exhibit both excellent barrier properties and skin adhesion functionality. The purpose of this study is to develop a means to quantify desirable skin protectant properties.

METHODOLOGY Barrier property is measured by moisture penetration into Whatman #4 filter paper. A barrier product is coated onto the filter paper, immersed into synthetic urine, allowing any synthetic urine that penetrates the barrier to wick up into the filter paper. The distance the synthetic urine wicks is reported in millimeters per 2 hours.

Adhesion is measured in a moist environment. The barrier is applied to a stainless steel plate. The plate is immersed in Coloplast Peri-Wash II Cleanser and agitated by ultrasonic waves for 5 minutes. The amount of barrier product that remains on the plate is measured.

RESULTS The results are best presented as a graph of barrier property versus adhesion. There is a wide variation of adhesion and barrier functionality among marketed incontinent skin protectant barrier products.

CONCLUSIONS The tests described are rapid, economical, and effective for evaluating skin protectant barriers. A chart was developed which clearly indicates levels of skin protectant functionality.