ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Acta Vulnologica 2012 December;10(4):241-50

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Prevention after hygiene: is it always effective?

Ippolito AM.

Vulnera, Italian Vulnological Center, Turin, Italy

Aim. The purpose of the work was to qualitatively analyze the intervention on the skin of elderly patients at risk of skin damage and compare evidence-based data with that scientifically produced by digital electronic instruments to understand if the observation is consistent with the measurement.
Methods. Sixty patients (guests of nursing homes) were recruited and subdivided into three groups of 20 each. All of the patients had the same hygienic treatment with a delicate detergent product at pH 5.5 and a differentiated post-hygiene skin treatment: the first group did not receive any treatment; the second group was treated with products with a zinc oxide base; for the patients of the third group, a long-acting polymeric barrier cream was used. In addition to observation, the states of hydration, erythema and pH of the skin were recorded in the areas most at risk of lesion with an electronic device called MPA5.
Results. There is no correlation between the instrumental evaluation and the observational one, therefore, independently of a positive visual evaluation, it is possible to have alterations in terms of hydration and phlogosis. It would be useful to define a new treatment protocol that implements the hygiene protocols; we must improve the standard procedures in order to improve the sensation of skin well-being of the patient, thus reinforcing the concept of prevention.
Conclusion. After the analysis has been carried out, we recommend the use of oily creams only when the skin is xerotic, adsorbent products only on macerated skin, and balanced products to best maintain, after careful hygiene, the physiological state of the skin.