Supplement 8(2): The identification and management of moisture lesions

Share this article

Supplement 8(2): The identification and management of moisture lesions

31 May 2012

Moisture lesions, moisture ulcers, perineal dermatitis, diaper dermatitis and incontinence associated dermatitis (IAD) all refer to skin damage caused by excessive moisture.

Yet there is often confusion between pressure ulcers and this kind of lesion. Distinguishing between the two is of clinical importance since prevention and treatment are quite different for each (Defloor et al, 2005a).

Due to the location of moisture lesions, they are often mistaken for pressure ulcers (Defloor et al, 2005b), however, skin damage as a result of excessive moisture is defined as being associated with incontinence and not pressure or shear (Defloor et al, 2005a), although moisture can contribute to the formation of pressure ulcers (EPUAP and NPUAP, 2009).

Free for all healthcare professionals

Sign up to the Wounds Group journals





By clicking ‘Subscribe’, you are agreeing that the Wounds Group are able to email you periodic newsletters. You may unsubscribe from these at any time. Your info is safe with us and we will never sell or trade your details. For information please review our privacy policy.

Are you a healthcare professional? This website is for healthcare professionals only. To continue, please confirm that you are a healthcare professional below.

We use cookies responsibly to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your browser settings, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website. Read about how we use cookies.

I am not a healthcare professional.