A Standardized Comparative Study on the Barrier Ability of Two Skin Protectants

Background: Maintaining skin integrity and barrier function is critical to protect patient skin from irritants from clinical conditions, such as incontinence. Standardized testing of skin protectants (SP1, SP2) using combined abrasion/washability challenges (AWC) and moisture content analysis was done to determine barrier efficacy.

Methods: For each AWC, porcine skin samples were prepared. Triplicate measurements were taken. Conductance was measured before SP application. Then 10µL of SP was applied to the test sites and set for 30 minutes. Conductance was measured. The first AWC challenged the skin with 20µL of simulated urine for 5 minutes then placed it on the Elcometer®, designed to test the abrasion, washability and resistance of materials, at 37 cycles/min for 100 cycles. Conductance was measured. AWC was done twice. The second AWC challenged the skin with 10µL of simulated urine for 1 minute then placed it on the Elcometer® at 37 cycles/min for 100 cycles. Conductance was measured. The skin was placed in 50ml of simulated urine for 1 hour then air dried for 30 minutes. Conductance was measured. AWC was repeated 10 times. The third AWC repeated the second AWC, followed by the addition of a single drop of hand soap to each site and placed in the Elcometer® at 500 cycles for five trials. The fourth AWC challenged with skin with a single drop of hand soap was applied, placed it in the Elcometer® at 37 cycles/min for 500 cycles, and measured conductance. The skin was placed in distilled water for 5 minutes, air dried for 5 minutes, and conductance was measured. Next, the skin was placed in 50ml of simulated urine for 1 hour. AWC was repeated 10 times. 

Results: SP1 demonstrated superior skin protectant properties compared to SP2 under various standardized testing conditions demonstrated by the lower moisture content.