The effect of washing and drying practices on skin barrier function

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Nursing Care

Background:

• Standard washing and drying protocols are common in nursing.
• The impact of these routine practices on skin integrity is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of common nursing washing and drying techniques on skin damage.
• To assess the contribution of these methods to compromised skin barrier function.

Main Methods:

• Experimental cohort study with 15 healthy volunteers.
• Six different washing (soap vs. water alone) and drying (towel rubbing, patting, evaporation) techniques applied to the forearm.
• Skin integrity assessed via transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, skin pH, and erythema measurements.

Main Results:

• All washing and drying methods increased TEWL and skin pH, with soap exacerbating the effect.
• Repeated washing led to increased TEWL, skin pH, and erythema.
• Patting with a towel resulted in higher TEWL, similar to wet skin, and offered no benefit over rubbing.
• No significant changes in skin hydration were observed.

Conclusions:

• Washing with soap and water followed by towel drying significantly impairs the skin's barrier function.
• Cumulative skin damage may occur with increased washing frequency.
• Towel drying, whether patting or rubbing, leaves skin vulnerable and does not improve hydration.