Applying a barrier cream, also called a moisture barrier cream, directly to the skin’s surface helps maintain a physical barrier against infection and allergens.

The skin is a barrier, protecting the body from harm and limiting fluid loss. The protein keratin and dead skin cells are held together by a lipid intercellular matrix in the outermost layer of skin, termed the stratum corneum, which serves as your body’s natural skin barrier.

If the skin’s protective barrier is compromised, it will leak water through the epidermis, become more reactive to allergens and irritants, and inflame.

What Constitutes a Barrier Cream?

Occupational contact dermatitis can develop when skin is repeatedly exposed to irritating substances, such as those encountered during wet work. When protecting your hands, you can choose between barrier protection creams, barrier creams, and barrier repair creams. It is advisable to use a barrier cream before and throughout the workday to protect the skin from irritants that may be encountered on the job.

These are some of the conditions that barrier creams are beneficial in treating:

  • Dermatitis of the hands from prolonged exposure to wet environments, strong chemicals, or heavy labor.
  • Nappy rash, or eczema, is a common skin condition in infants and people with incontinence that develops when dry napkins come into touch with pee feces. 
  • Itchy, red skin around a stoma caused by secretions and the stoma device.
  • Pressure-sores-prone areas.
  • Severe skin dryness.

How Would You Describe the Barrier Cream’s Ingredients?

Typical barrier cream

Standard skin barrier cream ingredients are occlusives or humectants. In some of their formulations, the manufacturers have included both occlusive and humectant components.

  • A key characteristic of occlusive substances is their insolubility in water. This category contains zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, and silicone/dimethicone.
  • Humectants are substances that improve the skin’s capacity to retain water. Glycerine, sorbitol, urea, hyaluronic acid, and alpha hydroxy acids are some of the ingredients that fall under this category.

Products based on petroleum are superior in terms of their ability to prevent transepidermal water loss and maintain the skin’s moisture content. Barrier creams or ostomy wafers made with silicone and dimethicone tend to be less oily and may be more cosmetically pleasing. Due to the fact that even minute doses do not affect dressing adhesion, they are helpful in the treatment of stoma dermatitis.

Unique barrier cream

These new barrier creams have chemicals like ceramides and vitamin B3 that help the skin recover and restore its protective barrier.

  • There are several natural ceramides in the stratum corneum’s intercellular matrix. It is widely believed that synthetic ceramide-containing creams are helpful in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
  • Vitamin B3 helps prevent the skin from drying out by decreasing the amount of water lost through the skin’s outer layer. It enables the skin to produce more lipids so that the barrier can be repaired more quickly.

Barrier Cream for Bladder Leakage

Individuals with urine incontinence should always have a supply of barrier cream. Urine can irritate the skin and lead to skin breakdown or, at the least, very painful skin irritation and soreness if left on the skin for an extended period.

The use of barrier cream protects the skin and prevents the potentially damaging compounds in urine from coming into contact with the skin and causing irritation. Protecting the skin this way helps maintain its natural PH level, prevents irritation, and keeps the skin supple and hydrated.

It has been shown that using a barrier cream can help prevent the onset of skin disorders like incontinence-related dermatitis, which is a common problem in the NHS.

Do Barrier Creams Replace PPE Gloves?

Using barrier or pain relief creams is not recommended in place of personal protective equipment gloves. Due to the phrase “barrier,” some individuals believe that these devices replace personal protective equipment when they are not. Gloves can be dangerous in damp work because they reduce dexterity and increase the chance of becoming trapped in machinery.

Which Barrier Cream Is the Most Effective?

Several barrier creams are available, and they perform admirably in situations when the user is exposed to solvents, wet labor, or multi-component resins. Like choosing gloves or hand sanitizer wipes, you must choose a barrier cream with consideration for the task at hand and the potential dangers the worker may face.

Become More Familiar with Your Skin

As special as you are, so too is your situation. Nothing that’s happening to your skin is happening to anyone else. Similar to how your body and skin may react differently to the items your friends use, you may not see the same results from using the same goods; thus, a specialized skincare routine is essential. Upon receiving your inquiry, AvaCare Medical will evaluate your skin condition, consider your existing routine, and collaborate with you to determine the most appropriate solution for your needs. For a free consultation and sampling, call us now at 1.877.813.7799 and take the first step toward an improved lifestyle.