Caring for Skin Health When Using Continence Aids

Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis (IAD) occurs when prolonged contact with urine or feces irritates the skin, leading to redness, pain, and sometimes blistering. It often affects the perineal area, buttocks, thighs, and skin folds, and can worsen with improper use of continence aids. Gentle cleansing, proper fit, barrier creams, and breathable products—along with healthy habits and regular skin checks—can help prevent and manage IAD.

Incontinence is a condition that’s challenging both physically and emotionally. Having helped to care for many people suffering from the condition, I’ve learned that people are often embarrassed or scared to ask for help, even when areas like their skin health are affected.

So, over the years, I’ve taken the time to look into skin care products and routines that can help give people suffering with incontinence some much-needed relief and everyday confidence. 

Following a healthy skin care routine while using incontinence products can help prevent rashes, irritation, and even infections. In this guide, I’ll take you through how to prepare your skin, the products I recommend, how to clean and dry your skin properly, and how to adjust your lifestyle comfortably.

Understanding Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis (IAD) and Its Symptoms 

IAD, or Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis, is a condition caused when faecal matter and/or urine come into close contact with your skin for long periods. It usually manifests as patches of sore, red, and itchy skin.

According to the National Healthcare Group, IAD worsens because bodily fluids, solids, and faecal proteins permeate your skin, causing swelling and reducing its acidity. You may suffer from IAD if your skin is:

• Unusually warm

• Painful or itchy

• Covered in blisters

• Leaking discharge

• Open, cracking, or wounded

• Swollen and red

• Wrinkled and wet

Acting fast against IAD helps to protect against painful infections, increasing discomfort, insomnia, and even immobility.

Many people I’ve supported over the years, understandably, started taking care of their incontinence by self-medicating with over-the-counter aids and containment products. However, improper use of aids like containment pads may exacerbate skin problems:

“Containment pads have different absorbency levels dependent on the volume of urine. Inappropriate use of too high or too low an absorbency can contribute to an increased risk of skin damage. Too low an absorption will lead to increased volume of effluent on the skin(...)”

Sharon Holroyd, Urology & Continence Care Today

Therefore, it’s important to learn how to use incontinence aids effectively while ensuring your skin is protected. I’ll take you through some useful tips a little further down.

Vulnerable Skin Areas Prone to IAD

Skin in your perineal and genital areas, across your buttocks and inner thighs, and in folds across your body, are most at risk from continence aid damage. This is largely because they’re the most sensitive to moisture buildup and friction while moving. 

Perineal and Genital Area

Your perineal and genital areas are at particular risk from IAD because it’s here where moistness is most likely to build. Improper cleaning and drying when using incontinence aids can make redness, soreness, and skin cracking worse.

Buttocks and Inner Thighs

Your buttocks and inner thighs, too, are prone to developing skin problems when incontinent, in part because they are close to where you urinate and defecate. When wearing pads, for example, stools and urine may rub around close to your skin for long periods.

Skin Folds

Skin folds are at high risk from moisture because water and fluid can get caught, and therefore persist on your body. Given that folds rub, too, moisture can help to worsen redness, itchiness, and general discomfort.

Treatment and Management of Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis (IAD)

Managing Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis (IAD) effectively often requires a combination of clinical treatment and good hygiene practices. In moderate to severe cases, healthcare professionals may recommend topical antifungal or oral antibiotic medication to treat infections or prevent secondary infection from developing in open or irritated skin. Maintaining a healing environment is crucial—this means keeping the skin clean, dry, and protected while allowing it to breathe.

For individuals requiring ongoing support, products such as absorbent incontinence pads, faecal management systems, or anal bags can help contain waste safely and reduce direct skin contact. In more complex situations, medical professionals may advise the use of indwelling urinary catheters, indwelling rectal catheters, or intermittent urinary catheters to better control fluid output and minimize irritation.

Additionally, adopting consistent toileting routines and using skin protection products, such as barrier films or creams, are essential parts of an ongoing care plan. These strategies not only promote comfort and skin integrity but also reduce the risk of recurring infections and discomfort.

Cleansing and Hygiene Routine for Skin Protection

To keep your skin clean, hygienic, and protected when suffering from incontinence, it’s important to carefully remove any aids you wear, to cleanse your skin with mild treatments and products, to pat dry, and apply barrier creams and ointments. Here’s a routine I recommend you follow:

Step 1: Gently Remove the Aid

Always remove any aids or pads carefully when they have reached the end of their life. For example, some continence aids should be changed once a day or more. To avoid irritating or scratching your skin and potentially letting fluids in, gently remove your aid and dispose of it hygienically.

Step 2: Cleanse with Mild Products

Your sensitive skin will thank you for using as mild cleaning products as possible. Consider a very gentle soap or dilute solution and carefully clean your skin, rinsing well, but don’t submit it to aggressive blasts of water. Make sure any products you use are fully rinsed away, no matter how mild.

Step 3: Pat Dry

Roughly drying skin can, again, lead to irritation and potential skin breakages. Make sure to pat your skin dry with a clean towel or paper towels before applying creams.

Step 4: Apply Barrier Products and Creams

As soon as your skin is clean and dry, apply a light amount of barrier cream or ointment and carefully massage in. Medshop’s range of moisturisers and barrier creams helps to protect and heal your skin without causing extra moisture (and therefore preventing IAD complaints.

Skin Protection Strategies and Product Recommendations

My personal recommendations for minimising IAD include using breathable and super-absorbent continence aids, investing in barrier creams and alcohol-free ointments, and ensuring any aids you wear fit properly.

Breathable and absorbent continence aids help to prevent moisture build-up and therefore ward off threats of IAD. I personally recommend investing in Abena products, which are professionally manufactured to support incontinence sufferers of all shapes and sizes. For example, you may wish to invest in the hip-hugging, comfortable Fix Pant Super 6XI range.

Barrier creams and products such as 3M Cavilon help to keep your skin protected against a variety of damage caused by moisture, and again, it’s widely recommended by our shoppers.

However, regardless of the products you use and wear, you must try and use them as directed by the brand. For instance, always follow sizing and fitting instructions provided online and in the packaging provided with continence pads.

It’s also important to reach out to your local health professionals for confidential advice. Doctors and nurses specialising in incontinence care know that it is a condition that is hard to talk about. However, the best specialists will always be able to make skincare recommendations.

Tips and Best Practices for Preventing Skin Issues

I personally suggest taking further steps to adjust your lifestyle to protect your body against irritation and infection. For example, consider changing your aids frequently, ensuring you drink water and eat healthily, and always monitoring your skin for signs of IAD.

Changing your aids frequently is vital for fighting off IAD. Leaving used pads against your skin for long periods will lead to more bacteria and enzymes soaking into your skin, and will keep you moist for longer. Always change your aids as soon as the manufacturer recommends.

A healthy diet is important for skin health, too. Staying hydrated with fresh water is the best long-term hack for strong, healthy skin. Mayo Clinic, too, recommends a diet rich in lean protein and to avoid processed foods and refined carbohydrates. Their experts also recommend avoiding too much sun, and to start smoking cessation if relevant.

Above all, you must be vigilant for signs of IAD. Don’t wait for soreness, blisters, and warm skin to worsen before treating them. At the first sign of skin issues, make changes to your routine and take my tips above into account.

Final Thoughts

Continence Health Australia states that one in four adults across the country may be suffering from incontinence. And, for many, it’s a condition they feel they must suffer in silence with. However, self-medicating incontinence and failing to ask for help or diagnosis could lead to serious skin problems and infections in the long term.

I’ve supported hundreds of people over the years with incontinence-related problems, and I know that it is a condition that requires considerable lifestyle adjustments. I also suggest reading our guide on how to stop incontinence if you are just starting to notice symptoms.

In the meantime, make sure to invest in continence aids and barrier creams recommended by our team at Medshop, and by hundreds of people also suffering from incontinence and associated skin problems.

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Sources

3M Cavilon Durable Barrier Cream. (n.d.). Medshop Australia. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/products/3m-cavilon-durable-barrier-cream

5 tips for healthy, glowing skin. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/skin-care/art-20048237

Abena Fix Pant Super 6XL Plum 170–250 cm Hip. (n.d.). Medshop Australia. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/products/abena-fix-pant-super-6xl-plum-170-250cm-hip

How to stop incontinence: Solutions you can live with. (n.d.). Medshop Australia. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/blogs/news/how-to-stop-incontinence

Key statistics on incontinence. (n.d.). Continence Health Australia (formerly the Continence Foundation of Australia). Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.continence.org.au/about-us/our-work/key-statistics-incontinence

Moisturisers & barrier creams. (n.d.). Medshop Australia. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/moisturiser-barrier-cream

National Healthcare Group. (n.d.). A guide for patients and families: Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.wh.com.sg/ForPatientsVisitors/healthlibrary/Documents/NHG_Incontinence-Associated%20Dermatitis%20%28IAD%29.pdf

Shop continence aids online. (n.d.). Medshop Australia. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/continence-care

Urology & Continence Care Today. (n.d.). Moisture-associated skin damage caused by incontinence. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.ucc-today.com/journals/issue/launch-edition/article/moisture-associated-skin-damage-incontinence