Incontinence Induces Stratum Corneum Vulnerability and Impairs the Skin Barrier Function in the Perianal Region

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Abstract
Incontinence leads to a reduced skin barrier function, while also increasing the risk of skin breakdown. To investigate the perianal skin barrier function of elderly patients with or without incontinence. We compared the skin barrier function by investigating the skin hydration, the skin pH, the amount of ceramide and by making a dermatological skin inspection of the perianal region in patients with and without incontinence. Twenty-one incontinent patients (70.0%) showed a glossy skin, which indicates impairment of the skin barrier while none of the patients in the continence group did so. In the incontinence group, those who had a glossy skin showed a significantly greater skin pH and total amount of ceramide than those with a normal skin (p = 0.0099, p = 0.0179, respectively). These results demonstrate that a glossy skin may be a useful indicator of a reduced perianal skin barrier function.