Skin Care Under Continence Products: What Helps and When to Ask for Help

Skin under a continence product is dealing with warmth, moisture and friction at the same time, in an area that does not get much air. Looking after it is mostly routine rather than product, and the routine is not complicated.

What follows is general information about everyday care. It is not clinical advice, and the last section of this article is the important one.

The routine at each change

Change promptly. Time in contact with moisture is the factor that matters most, which is why the wetness indicator on the outside of the brief is more useful than a clock. Change when it activates.

Clean gently. Warm water and a soft cloth, or a wipe made for the purpose. Skin here is more fragile than skin elsewhere and it does not respond well to scrubbing. Wipe rather than rub, front to back, and use a fresh section of cloth each pass.

Avoid ordinary soap. Regular bar soap is alkaline and strips the skin's own surface layer. A pH-balanced cleanser or a no-rinse product made for this purpose is the usual recommendation. If you are already using something and the skin is fine, there is no need to change.

Dry completely. This step gets skipped and it should not. Pat dry, do not rub, and give particular attention to skin folds and the groin creases. A brief going on over damp skin undoes everything else you have done.

Let the skin breathe when you can. Even a few minutes of air before the fresh brief goes on helps. During a bed change or a shower, that time is already available.

Fit it properly. Friction causes as much trouble as moisture. A brief that is too tight rubs at the waist and thighs. One that is too loose slides and chafes. Both show up as redness in the same places every day.

Barrier products

Barrier creams, films and sprays put a layer between skin and moisture. Community nurses often recommend one where skin is exposed to moisture regularly.

Two practical points. Apply thinly, because a thick layer of a heavy cream can stop an absorbent core taking up fluid properly, which produces the opposite of what you wanted. And check what you are using is compatible with disposable products, since some traditional zinc-heavy preparations are not.

Which barrier product suits a particular person is a question for a pharmacist, a GP or a continence nurse advisor rather than for a supplier's blog. Skin varies, and so do the reasons it is irritated.

Everyday habits that make a difference

• Breathable clothing over the brief. Cotton rather than synthetics, loose rather than tight. Tight clothing traps heat and compresses the core.
• Change position regularly for anyone spending long periods seated or in bed. Pressure and moisture together are harder on skin than either alone.
• One brief, not two. Stacking briefs traps moisture against the skin because the inner backsheet stops fluid reaching the outer product. If more capacity is needed, a booster pad inside a single brief is the design that works.
• Fragrance-free where skin is sensitive. Fewer things in contact with the skin means fewer things to react to.
• Look every time. A quick glance at each change catches changes early, while they are still easy to act on.

When to stop managing it yourself

This is the part to actually remember. Contact a GP, a community nurse or a continence nurse advisor if you see any of the following:

• Redness that does not fade within an hour or so of a change
• Skin that is broken, weeping, blistered or bleeding
• An area that stays discoloured when you press it and release
• A rash that is spreading, or one that is not improving after a few days of good routine care
• Skin that is hot to the touch, swollen, or has an unusual odour
• Pain or distress during changes that was not there before
• Any open area at all in someone with reduced mobility, diabetes, or fragile skin

Skin problems in this area can move from minor to serious faster than people expect, particularly where mobility is limited. Nobody has ever regretted making the call early.

The National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 is staffed by continence nurse advisors. For skin that is broken or not improving, go to a GP or community nursing service.

Common questions

Can I use talcum powder?
It is generally not recommended under continence products. Powder clumps when it meets moisture and the clumps sit against the skin. Ask a pharmacist what to use instead.

Is a rash always from the product?
No. Redness in this area can have several causes, and some of them need specific treatment rather than better hygiene. This is exactly why a rash that is not improving needs a look from someone qualified rather than another product from a shelf.

How often should the skin be checked?
At every change is ideal. It takes seconds and it is the difference between catching something early and catching it late.

Do fragrance-free products help sensitive skin?
Reducing the number of substances in contact with skin is a reasonable general approach where someone is sensitive. Whether it addresses a particular person's problem is a question for a health professional.

About Equipit briefs

Our unisex tab-style briefs are fragrance-free, with a breathable cotton-feel backsheet, 3D standing leak guards, a 360 degree stretch waistband and refastenable tabs so the fit can be adjusted without discarding the product. A colour-change wetness indicator on the outside shows when a change is due, which is the single most useful feature for anyone managing skin care, because it removes the guesswork.

Available in Medium, Large and Extra Large, stocked in Australia. Equipit is the product-supply arm of Kinship Uniting Services, an NDIS registered and CHSP approved provider since 2017. Every order ships in plain outer packaging. 0448 663 293 or products@equipitdsp.com.

This article is general information about everyday care and is not medical advice. It does not describe the treatment or prevention of any condition. For any skin concern, speak to a GP, pharmacist, community nurse or continence nurse advisor.