#Overflow incontinence skin#

This combination of ammonia and stool can cause a dramatic shift in the PH of both the skin and the stool into the alkaline range. When urine and stool mix, bacteria in the stool convert urea in the urine to ammonia. The combination of stool and urine can cause huge problems for the skin. When skin becomes constantly exposed to moisture, it can begin to break down and become unhealthy. When skin is overhydrated, the epidermis is also more prone to injury from friction, caused by contact with clothing, incontinence pads or bed linen. Increased permeability caused by overhydration makes the skin of incontinent patients very susceptible to enzymatic, chemical and physical irritation. Moist skin is permeable to chemical irritants contained in some products such as traditional soaps. As moisture increases the skin’s vulnerability to mechanical forces, even the most gentle washing techniques are a significant source of irritation. Excessive skin moisture causes the skin to become more permeable to chemical irritants and provides an excellent medium for microbial growth. This increase of friction causes the skin to become susceptible to rubbing and chafing against diapers, clothing and bed linens. This moisture, obtained from urine, sweat and frequent washings can increase the skin’s coefficient friction. One of these factors is the exposure to excessive moisture. How can Incontinence cause serious skin damage?Ī combination of factors that incontinent individuals are exposed to can cause them to become susceptible to serious skin conditions. Lutz states, “incontinence is associated with considerable morbidity as it predisposes individuals to perineal rashes, pressure sores, indwelling catheters, urinary tract infections and urosepsis.” He continues, “to the patient it represents considerable embarrassment and frequently leads to self-isolation and depression.” Initiatives such as the NHS Safety Thermometer now identify maintaining skin integrity as one of the key factors to reducing patient harm.

As clinical research specialist, James B. Maintenance of healthy skin is a huge challenge for both incontinent individuals and their carers. However, another huge aspect of managing incontinence is keeping the skin healthy. As incontinence is often still a taboo subject, it is commonly just thought of as the constant changing of products.

Overflow incontinence