Elevated skin pH is associated with an increased permeability to synthetic urine
Elevated skin pH is associated with an increased permeability to synthetic urine
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the permeability of the skin following cleansing activities and its susceptibility to synthetic urine penetration. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Ten healthy volunteers (aged 22-58 years) participated in the study, which was conducted in a university bioengineering laboratory. METHODS: Tape stripping and sodium lauryl sulfate were used to simulate the physical and chemical irritation exacerbated by frequent cleansing activities, respectively. An untreated site also was selected to evaluate responses of intact skin. Synthetic urine was then applied for a period of 2 hours. Measurements of transepidermal water loss and skin pH were taken at baseline and after each challenge. To quantify the permeability of the skin following exposure, desorption curves of transepidermal water loss were measured and skin surface water loss was calculated. RESULTS: Chemically irritated skin, characterized by increased pH (7.34 ± 0.22), demonstrated an increased permeability to urine, as reflected by a significant increase in mean skin surface water loss (46,209 ± 15,596 g/m
2) compared to both the intact (14,631 ± 6164 g/m
2) and physically irritated (14,545 ± 4051 g/m
2) skin (P =.005 in both cases). In contrast, the differences between the intact and physically irritated skin were not significant (P =.88). CONCLUSION: Permeability of the skin to irritants is influenced by the status of the skin and its acid mantle. These highlight the need to reevaluate the frequency of cleansing activities, along with the choice of product in clinical settings, favoring the use of pH-balanced cleansers.
Acid mantle, Frequent cleansing, Incontinence-associated dermatitis, Moisture-associated skin damage, Pathophysiology, Skin care, Skin permeability, Urinary incontinence
61-67
Koudounas, Sofoklis
052f50e1-2ef7-487d-8ba2-a60048bae0fc
Bader, Dan L.
9884d4f6-2607-4d48-bf0c-62bdcc0d1dbf
Voegeli, David
e6f5d112-55b0-40c1-a6ad-8929a2d84a10
1 January 2021
Koudounas, Sofoklis
052f50e1-2ef7-487d-8ba2-a60048bae0fc
Bader, Dan L.
9884d4f6-2607-4d48-bf0c-62bdcc0d1dbf
Voegeli, David
e6f5d112-55b0-40c1-a6ad-8929a2d84a10
Koudounas, Sofoklis, Bader, Dan L. and Voegeli, David
(2021)
Elevated skin pH is associated with an increased permeability to synthetic urine.
Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 48 (1), .
(doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000716).
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the permeability of the skin following cleansing activities and its susceptibility to synthetic urine penetration. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Ten healthy volunteers (aged 22-58 years) participated in the study, which was conducted in a university bioengineering laboratory. METHODS: Tape stripping and sodium lauryl sulfate were used to simulate the physical and chemical irritation exacerbated by frequent cleansing activities, respectively. An untreated site also was selected to evaluate responses of intact skin. Synthetic urine was then applied for a period of 2 hours. Measurements of transepidermal water loss and skin pH were taken at baseline and after each challenge. To quantify the permeability of the skin following exposure, desorption curves of transepidermal water loss were measured and skin surface water loss was calculated. RESULTS: Chemically irritated skin, characterized by increased pH (7.34 ± 0.22), demonstrated an increased permeability to urine, as reflected by a significant increase in mean skin surface water loss (46,209 ± 15,596 g/m
2) compared to both the intact (14,631 ± 6164 g/m
2) and physically irritated (14,545 ± 4051 g/m
2) skin (P =.005 in both cases). In contrast, the differences between the intact and physically irritated skin were not significant (P =.88). CONCLUSION: Permeability of the skin to irritants is influenced by the status of the skin and its acid mantle. These highlight the need to reevaluate the frequency of cleansing activities, along with the choice of product in clinical settings, favoring the use of pH-balanced cleansers.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 13 November 2020
Published date: 1 January 2021
Keywords:
Acid mantle, Frequent cleansing, Incontinence-associated dermatitis, Moisture-associated skin damage, Pathophysiology, Skin care, Skin permeability, Urinary incontinence
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 446642
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/446642
ISSN: 1071-5754
PURE UUID: 959927ee-6243-41eb-b0d4-6ba44a72728c
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 17 Feb 2021 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 10:59
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Sofoklis Koudounas
Author:
David Voegeli
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics