International journal of older people nursing
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Int J Older People Nurs · Sep 2017
Skin cleansing and emolliating for older people: A quasi-experimental pilot study.
The aims of this study were to (i) assess the effect of low-cost hygiene and emollient regimens on the skin barrier function (SBF) of people aged >65 year with xerosis (dry skin) on their lower legs; (ii) to assess the utility of portable measures of skin barrier function in terms of stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in community settings; and iii) to provide evidence for a randomised controlled trial on the treatment of adults in a resource-poor country with dry skin on their lower legs which causes and exacerbates the skin disease podoconiosis (non-filarial elephantiasis). ⋯ Skin barrier function in older people can be improved using a regimen of washing, soaking in 2% glycerine and applying Vaseline™ .