Comparing the effectiveness and wash-off resistance of skin barrier creams: a healthy volunteer study.

Preventing moisture damage and breakdown of the skin can be a particular challenge for patients with incontinence. The level of protection offered by various skin protectant products can vary according to the chemical nature of the formulation and can decrease following wash procedures. The aim of this study was to compare five silicone-containing skin barrier creams indicated for use on incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) in terms of their resistance to a standardised wash cycle in healthy volunteer subjects. A skin surface hygrometer (Skicon 200EX) evaluated skin surface conduction non-invasively on 36 non-patient subjects using a high-frequency (3.5MHz) electric current. This provided an index of the degree of protection given by barrier products after a single application and also any reduction in barrier properties after a repeated wash procedure. Medi Derma-S barrier cream (MDS), Cavilon barrier cream (CBC) and LBF barrier cream (LBF) all demonstrated statistically significant differences (p<0.001) in the Skicon values following the first moisture challenge compared with Medihoney (MH), Remedy barrier cream (RBC) and the untreated control. All other comparisons were not significant (p>0.05). Statistical analysis following four moisture challenges reflected the results following the first, whereby Skicon values following treatment with MDS, CBC and LBF was significantly different compared with MH, RBC and the untreated control. Again, all other comparisons were not significant (p>0.05). When expressed as percentage barrier effectiveness, the results show a similar pattern to the absolute Skicon values. The results of this study show that there were differences between the barrier creams in terms of the initial moisture challenge and the resistance to wash-off following a repeated standardised wash procedure. It was concluded that MDS, CBC and LBF barrier cream all showed significant and equally effective moisture barrier protection and wash-off resistance.