Barrier Creams, Antifungal Creams, Protective Pastes & Ointments

What is Barrier Cream?

At its most basic functional level, a barrier cream is designed to form a physical barrier between the skin and the possible irritants or contaminants that may aggravate the skin. While barrier creams are often used for industrial applications to shield the skin from caustic chemicals and other hazardous materials, their more common usage is for individuals who are at risk for skin breakdown. These include people who have incontinence issues, the elderly, individuals with paralysis or spinal cord injuries, and anyone with weakened or compromised skin.

Barrier creams are formulated from a variety of ingredients, and may use petrolatum, zinc oxide, vitamins A and D, kaolin, silicone, dimethicone and a host of other components to repel moisture and other irritants, such as chemicals, mud, dirt and allergens. These unique shielding lotions may also include antibacterial and/or antifungal properties to help speed healing. While they are often employed to help prevent skin breakdown problems, they are also regularly used to treat existing decubitus/pressure ulcers, rashes and wounds. They help keep these sores and skin irritations clean and dry so they can heal more efficiently.

What is Skin Breakdown?

As the largest human organ, our skin covers and holds our entire body, receiving 1/3rd of our blood circulation. As a natural protective shield, skin is both tough and pliable, and helps guard against outside infectious agents. From maintaining a stable internal environment and temperature to gathering sensory information that allows us to feel pain or pleasure, the skin performs a vast array of internal and external functions.

When the skin becomes compromised, our total health is affected. While the skin certainly requires moisture to function correctly, too much moisture will overhydrate it, weakening the skin’s integrity, and making it more susceptible to infection. When the skin’s structure is undermined, this creates heightened sensitivity to shear, friction and breakdown. Pressure sores may develop more easily, along with abrasions, rashes and skin tears, and these skin issues may become much more difficult to heal.

How Barrier Cream Can Help

Although there are countless reasons for skin breakdown, including poor diet, insufficient water intake, age, lack of exercise and immobility, one of the most common sources is contact with excessive moisture. This is why many incontinent individuals utilize barrier creams to help prevent the problems associated with constant skin contact with urine and/or feces. Shielding creams and ointments place a protective layer over the skin to repel urine, feces and other moisture or irritants from absorbing into the skin.

Barrier creams not only help prevent skin breakdown and infectious sores, but also help to protect and heal existing wounds and skin tears. The ointment, paste or cream is spread over the sore or tear, which helps to keep unwanted moisture and other irritants from coming into direct contact with the wound. This aids in healing, especially when the cream also includes an antibacterial agent.

Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO

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