Prevail Conversations Blog

This is the first in a three-part series about Skin Health and Incontinence.

The Integumentary system or better known as the skin is the largest organ in the body. The hair, nails, glands (sweat) and specialized nerve receptors for stimuli (touch, cold, heat, pain and pressure) are accessories of the Integumentary system. The skin protects the internal organs from the environment. It also protects our immune system by protecting us from disease. To understand better to protect your skin you must understand how it works.

Subcutaneous, dermis and epidermis make up the 3 layers of the skin. The subcutaneous is the home of blood vessels and nerves, meaning it is the deepest layer. This area regulates the body’s temperature and also is a shock absorber for our bodies.

Dermis is the middle layer of the skin; it’s composed of collagen, elastic tissue, and reticular fibers. The dermis thickness varies on the location of the body, meaning thin on eyelids and thicker on your back. Tiny blood vessels, hair follicles, lymph vessels, and nerve endings that detect pain make up the dermis.

Epidermis is the outer most layer of skin which we see. There are 3 parts to the epidermis: Stratum Corneum, Keratinocytes (squamous cells), Basal layer. The epidermis protects from foreign objects entering into the body. This layer of the skin also
contains keratin which keeps skin elastic and protects underlying from drying out. Maintaining and protecting the Epidermis is important for everyone, but with an incontent person it needs to be a priority. If we neglect to take care of the out part of

the skin it will breakdown, causing damage to the dermis and subcutaneous level of the skin. Completing proper peri care with every incontinence episode maintains healthy skin. Using proper peri cleansers, creams and incontinence products are pertinent to maintaining health skin.

Next month Types of Peri-area Dermitis.