Attends Skin Care
Background
There are a number of factors that may affect the integrity of the skin such as age and skin type, nutrition and hydration, immobility, infection and urinary and faecal incontinence.
Maceration has been identified as a factor that contributes to skin breakdown, where over exposure to moisture e.g. urinary and faecal incontinence, can cause the skin to become moist, making it fragile (Bates-Jensen, 1997; Gray et al, 2002).
The normal pH of the skin is slightly acidic, between 4 and 5.5 (Cooper and Gray, 2001) and the natural acidity of the skin normally discourages bacterial colonization, however if the pH of the skin increases the natural protection is lost. Urine and faeces are both alkaline resulting in an immediate chemical reaction on the surface of the skin. It is the exposure to caustic agents, such as ammonia found in urine, that is associated with skin breakdown (Draelos, 1997). Ammonia will increase the pH of the skin causing irritation and potential soreness. Clients with faecal incontinence are at an even higher level of risk for bacterial colonization of the skin.
Repeated over exposure to urine, can lead to further damage and incontinence dermatitis.
Prevention
The use of good quality containment products is associated with a lower frequency and with lesser severity of incontinence dermatitis.
How does Attends Prevent this?
Quick DryTM is unique technology that is available on Contours and Slips which consists of an acquisition patch that is placed in the centre of the pad and its underlying core.
The Quick DryTM fibres underneath the top sheet (pH 4.5) quickly transports the urine into the pad, but then prevents urine returning to the surface of the pad. The fibres can open and close several times so that they can handle several gushes of urine with almost the same speed and strength. In the core of the pad the urine is turned into a gel so reducing the risk of leakage and keeping the skin dry.
In addition the combination of the unique Quick DryTM technology and odour protection system gives both optimal skin dryness and significantly better odour protection.
If you are interested in learning more about how Attends can help you please click here to contact us.
We are currently...
...announcing the opening of the Attends Scottish Service Centre, a new purpose build facility based at Cardonald Business Park near Glasgow Airport.