Background: Zinc oxide ointment may be difficult to use on loose or wrinkled skin in patients with incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). A skin protectant featuring polymer-cyanoacrylate technology that coats erosions has been used for IAD and is expected to be useful for loose or wrinkled skin as well.
Objective: To compare the efficacy of zinc oxide ointment and the cyanoacrylate-blended coating agent in elderly dialysis patients with severe IAD.
Method: The present, retrospective, cohort study included nine patients receiving zinc oxide ointment and 12 patients receiving the coating agent. The IAD-set scores were evaluated weekly for up to 49 days.
Results: The IAD-set score was 11.0 (9-18)in the ointment group and 11.0 (5-18)in the coating agent group on day 0 of the intervention(
p = 0.808). On day 7, the score was 11.0 (6-17)and 6.0 (0-16)(
p = 0.031), and on day 14, it was 10.5 (6-19)and 5.0 (0-14)(
p = 0.034)for the respective group.
Changes in the unhealed rate suggested that the cyanoacrylate-blended coating agent was significantly more effective (
p = 0.004).
Discussion: Friction removed the zinc oxide ointment from the skin, rendering it ineffective in treating IAD. However, the coating agent adhered to loose and wrinkled skin, including the areas affected by erosion, and was able to protect it from irritants.
Conclusion: The present study revealed that the cyanoacrylate-blended skin protectant was effective for treating severe IAD.
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