CARE ASSISTANT
ESHealthy skin is acidic
The skin surface has a pH between 4.5 and 5.5: the "acid mantle". It slows bacteria, keeps the skin barrier sealed and limits water loss. Anything that makes it more alkaline weakens it.
Fresh urine is close to neutral, but as soon as bacteria break it down it releases ammonia and its pH climbs. Stool brings digestive enzymes and bacteria that attack softened skin. Ordinary soap, at pH 9 or 10, widens the gap further.
How skin gets damaged under a product
Three factors add up. Trapped moisture softens the outer layer. Rising pH, with ammonia and enzymes, dissolves what protects it. Friction from the product or the sheet finishes the irritation. The result is called incontinence-associated dermatitis: a diffuse, shiny, sometimes burning redness on every area in contact with urine or stool.
It is common in bedridden people and in care homes, and it differs from a pressure injury, which forms at pressure points (sacrum, heels) and needs a clinician's opinion.
Four habits that protect
Keep dry: a product with low rewet keeps the surface dry, but no product replaces a change as soon as it is saturated, and immediately after stool. That is what the wetness indicator is for.
Cleanse gently: warm water and a soap-free cleanser at skin pH, or Nateen wipes designed for adult incontinence. Pat, do not rub, and dry the folds without insisting.
Protect: a thin layer of barrier cream (zinc oxide or dimethicone) on exposed areas after each wash. Thick, it clogs the product and traps moisture.
Look every day: groin folds, sacrum, under the belly. Redness spotted on day one settles in a few days; ignored, it gets infected.
What Nateen does for the skin
Our products have a top sheet that lets liquid through without holding it, a core that gels and a breathable outer film: less trapped moisture, low rewet. Our skin care range is formulated at skin pH, soap-free, for the daily wash of people who wear a product.
| What you see | What it suggests and what to do |
|---|---|
| Diffuse, shiny redness on every area in contact | Incontinence-associated dermatitis: dry, barrier cream, change earlier; advice if no better in 48 h |
| Redness limited to a pressure point (sacrum, heel), skin that no longer blanches under the finger | Early pressure injury: clinician's opinion without delay, relieve pressure |
| Redness in the folds with small satellite spots | Possible fungal infection: clinician's opinion, keep the folds dry |
| Dry, tight skin without redness | Moisturise after washing, avoid soap |
| Redness that follows the edge of the product exactly | Friction: check the size, barriers in the groin fold |
When to seek advice
We guide towards habits, never towards a diagnosis. Redness that does not improve within 48 hours despite regular care, skin that cracks or weeps, small spots around the redness or fever call for a nurse's or doctor's opinion.
FAQ
Should I use talc?
No. Talc forms a paste with moisture, clogs pores and rubs. Prefer gentle drying and a thin layer of barrier cream.
What is the difference between incontinence dermatitis and a pressure injury?
Dermatitis is diffuse and follows the wet areas; a pressure injury is localised on a pressure point and the skin no longer blanches under the finger. The second needs a quick clinician's opinion.
Can I use baby wipes?
If they are alcohol-free, fragrance-free and at skin pH, yes, as a fallback. But prefer a specialised wipe: the Nateen wipe, designed for adult incontinence, is larger, softer, soap-free and at skin pH.
- Lambers H. et al., Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2006
- Global IAD Expert Panel, Incontinence-associated dermatitis: moving prevention forward, Wounds International, 2015