Handwashing has been touted as one of the most effective techniques for preventing the spread of the coronavirus. But the story is different for older adults.
Increased sanitizer use and more frequent handwashing are likely to exacerbate disorders such as dryness, pruritus, barrier degradation, dermatitis and skin tears for which geriatric patients are already at high risk.
Skin lesions and tears make it easier for the novel coronavirus to be transmitted by indirect contact. And if residents contract the virus, COVID-19 may also cause loss of appetite, low energy and fatigue — posing further challenges to skin health.
While social isolation can reduce the necessity for frequent hand washing, other strategies can help those who do have to cleanse often. A systematic review published by the editors of Wound Source found the following measures to be effective:
• Skin cleansers containing syndets or amphoteric surfactants to improve dryness.
• Lipophilic leave-on products containing humectants to decrease dryness and reduce pruritus.
• Products with pH 4 to improve the skin barrier.
• Application of skin protectants and structured skin care protocols to decrease severity of incontinence-related dermatitis.
• Formulations containing glycerin and petrolatum to reduce the incidence of skin tears. n
