Why Using Incontinence Skin Care Products Is Important

When it comes to investing in tools for managing your incontinence, skin care products are some of the more overlooked items to look for. While briefs, pads, and catheters are all beneficial, you should never forget to buy yourself some essential skin creams and wipes.

If these items sound like weird inclusions, you likely aren’t aware of why skin care products are so important for incontinence. In this post, we’ll explore the importance of skin care as well as cover which types of skin care items you should prioritize for your needs. By the end, it’ll make much more sense to stock up on these crucial items.

The Importance of General Skin Care

Most of the time, when people hear the term “skin care,” they think of beautifying techniques and products. While that is a big part of the industry, it’s certainly not the only reason people use these items. Health and problem prevention are also reasons to care for your skin.

The skin is the human’s largest organ. Plus, it’s the outer-most protective layer for the rest of your body. That means you need to properly care for it as you would for any other part of your body to stay healthy. If your skin is dry or irritated, it could cause you to become more prone to other infections.

In order to correct this, you need to use proper skin care products. Creams and oils will help rejuvenate the skin, making it look and feel like new again. Even after everything heals, the skin care process doesn’t end. You need to use products that will help prevent future damage to ensure your skin remains healthy.

Why Skin Care Matters More for People With Incontinence

What does skin care have to do with incontinence, though? Due to the nature of the condition and how you must handle it, skin irritations are much more likely to occur. The main problem that contributes to irritated skin is moisture. While incontinence products have the ability to absorb a lot of moisture, they’re not perfect—some of it will end up on your skin.

Though this isn’t an issue in the short term, if you deal with incontinence on a regular basis, this slight annoyance will build into a larger issue if not addressed. Generally, the consequences of constant moisture will start as redness and itchy skin. If left untreated for long enough, it could lead to a yeast infection.

Even if you change your briefs, pads, and catheters right away, leaks and prolonged usage could still cause these problems to occur. That’s why the best prevention method is to use skin care products that actively fight the causes of irritation and infection. We offer a large variety of incontinence creams and washes on our website for this reason. We want you to have what you need to ensure that your skin remains as healthy as possible while dealing with your incontinence.

What You Should Use To Care for Yourself

One of the most crucial parts of understanding the importance of incontinence skin care products is learning which items are best for which issues. In this section, we’ll cover each type and go over the reasons why you might choose a certain product for your skin’s health.

Wet Wipes

One of the most popular items you can use to ensure your skin remains healthy is wet wipes. This product has a place in many households, and for a good reason. These wipes are very helpful for ensuring everything is as clean as possible after using the restroom.

Wet wipes are an excellent option for gently removing and dissolving any irritants that you might leave behind during general clean-up. Plus, the wipes are easy to dispose of, making them a smart choice for on-the-go use.

Perineal Cleansers

If you’re looking for something a little more heavy-duty than wet wipes, the next best choice is perineal cleansers. Most of these come in the form of a foam spray. The foam can be easier to apply and clean up. In most cases, there won’t be any leftover residue or dripping to worry about after using this product.

These cleansers are also soapless, which means they won’t dry out your skin in the process of removing other irritants. On top of that, many of them contain deodorizers that will help you smell fresh and clean throughout the day.

Moisturizing Lotions

Even though all the previous options are wonderful for ensuring your skin doesn’t dry out during the cleaning process, it never hurts to have a moisturizing lotion on hand. Buying one that specializes in cleansing and soothing the perineal area will help you feel more comfortable while keeping your skin healthy.

Barrier Creams

While cleansers that help remove irritants are useful, prevention is the part of incontinence skin care that’s more crucial. Stopping a problem before it even exists will allow you to manage this aspect of incontinence, and the best tool for prevention is a barrier cream.

This ointment does what the name implies—it creates a protective barrier that stops excess moisture from reaching your skin in the first place. These products rely on lanolin or petroleum to provide a base layer on top of your skin that protects you from irritants.

Film-Forming Protectants

One downside to barrier creams is that people who are immobile could develop pressure ulcers due to the ingredients in this product. Film-forming protectants might be the better choice for those with this need. These items provide the same benefit in a different way than the barrier creams.

These protectants use a spray, wipe, or sponge to form a film on the surface of the skin that will prevent moisture from getting through. This film is typically thinner and less noticeable than barrier creams but is not always quite as effective.

Antibacterial or Antifungal Ointments

Despite all your efforts, sometimes your normal skin care measures aren’t good enough to stop a pesky bacterial or fungal infection. If the issue persists, you’ll need a strong, over-the-counter antibacterial or antifungal ointment to manage your skin infection. It’s important to speak to your doctor to determine if a prescription version of these products is necessary.

Skin Powders

Among the possible infections that can stem from the effects of incontinence are yeast infections. If you find yourself dealing with this kind of infection, skin powders are often the best way to fight it. These powders are also effective options for people who experience moist skin for any reason. You can even use them with other incontinence skin care products to increase your level of protection.