To avoid chemical irritation from urinary or fecal incontinence and to maintain skin integrity, the skin should be cleansed as soon as possible after an episode of incontinence. Avoid hot water and use a mild cleansing agent that minimizes irritation and dryness of the skin.
Hot water can injure the skin by increasing thermal energy or accelerating metabolic activity.
A mild cleanser is needed to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils. During the cleansing process, use care to minimize the force and friction applied to the skin. Mechanical trauma from excessively rubbing the skin to cleanse it can cause skin injury and put the patient at greater risk for breakdown. A discussion of these steps follows. Clean the skin.