Care for your Skin

If we were to ask, “what is the largest organ of your body?” you may guess your liver, your lungs, maybe even your large intestine. According to the National Library of Medicine your skin is surprisingly your largest organ. It makes up roughly 16% of your body mass and is split into three primary layers, the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin and is what gives you a waterproof barrier. The dermis is what contains hair follicle and sweat glands. The hypodermis is the subcutaneous tissue that is made of fat and connective tissue.

For our other organs we take vitamins, we drink water, and we wear a seatbelt in a car but how can we help protect our skin? Especially with incontinence skin care is extremely important, right behind preventing leakage. We want to avoid problems like irritation, redness, peeling, itching, and even yeast infections

According to the National Library of Medicine your skin is surprisingly your largest organ. It makes up roughly 16% of your body mass and is split into three primary layers, the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis.

  

 

The first steps in caring for your skin is going to be prevention. Especially when wearing an absorbent product such as a pad or protective underwear change often to avoid urine or stool being close to the skin for an extended period. You can also use booster pads as an option to change more often. They are absorbent pads that are added to your primary product. Once you feel that have had leakage you can change your booster pad and have a dry layer against your skin.

 

As you change your products you will also want to make sure to clean and dry your skin. This can be done with a disposable washcloth or a perineal cleanser. The favorite disposable washcloth at HDIS is the Reassure Travel Pack Washcloths. They are easy to keep in a purse, pocket, or glove box. They not only work well on the perineal area but over the whole body. In the heat of the summer, they can be great to freshen up if you have been outside.

 

Perineal cleansers like Aloe Vesta Perineal Cleanser are gentle cleansers that come in a spray bottle and are much easier to use than soap and water in a basin. You can spray them on the skin and wipe away anything with toilet paper or a dry washcloth. Aloe Vesta also has the added benefit of moisturizing your skin, so you feel clean and smooth.

 

Once your skin is clean, you’ll want to add moisture to the skin to replace any that was lost during our cleansing. We recommend an unscented lotion that is gentle on the skin. Sween Cream is a favorite as it is very creamy and does not have a strong smell. Just make sure you rub it in well, so your skin absorbs it.