Wound Care Made Incredibly Easy

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External threats to skin integrity

Urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence may be managed temporarily through indwell ing catheters, but these carry the risk of urinary tract infection so this intervention is avoided whenever possible. External devices are avail able, including condom-type catheters for males and padded suction devices to lie between the female labia. The best option, however, when medically possible, is to correct the cause of urinary incontinence. Sometimes using timed toileting visits or simply making a commode available for quicker access can solve functional incontinence. Appropriate pelvic floor muscle train ing can also succeed, and incontinence-educated nurses and therapy professionals can offer evaluation and interventions. Dietary changes can help if the patient has triggers for urge incontinence like caffeine, spicy foods, and others. Overflow incontinence from an enlarged prostate may respond to intermittent catheterization. Which ap proach to take depends on the person’s medical status and level of consciousness. The pain of contact dermatitis has been described as similar to a thermal burn; stinging and burning are made worse with every touch to the area. However, with IAD, it is impossible to avoid all touch in this region. The person with IAD will be sitting or lying on the painful area, and if skin between the thighs is affected, then ambulation will also be painful. Cleansing the area also causes pain and may be so noxious the patient avoids telling anyone they’ve experienced inconti nence again. No matter what type of product you’re using for cleans ing, it is important to reduce the amount of friction used because this increases pain and further disrupts the skin barrier. Let’s look at some options for incontinence care that can be less painful and damaging.

Taking IAD seriously

Product Synthetic detergent

Purpose Cleansing

Comparison

Tips

Avoid regular soap, which is usually alkaline and strips natural skin oil away.

Strips less natural skin barrier than soap does Most have an acidic pH closer to the skin’s acid mantle

(pH-balanced incontinence cleansers)

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