Is Twice-Daily Skin Moisturizing More Effective Than Routine Care in the Prevention of Skin Tears in the Elderly Population?

BACKGROUND: Skin-moisturizing routines are part of a bundle of interventions designed to prevent skin tears. OBJECTIVE: This Evidence-Based Report Card reviews the effect of twice-daily moisturization of the skin on skin tear occurrence versus occurrence rates using routine skin care. SEARCH STRATEGY: The literature was systematically reviewed for studies that evaluated the use of standardized skin moisturizers on the rate of skin tears in the older adults (>60 years of age). A professional librarian performed the literature search, which yielded 446 articles. Following title and abstract reviews, we identified and retrieved 3 studies that met inclusion criteria. FINDINGS: Evidence concerning the effectiveness of routine twice-daily skin moisturizing reducing the rate of skin tears is mixed. Routine twice-daily skin moisturizing did not significantly result in a lower incidence of skin tears in long-term care residents compared to usual care in one study. However, the occurrence of skin tears per 1000 occupied beds was 50% lower when a moisturizer applied twice daily was compared to usual care. CONCLUSION: Routine skin moisturizing is recommended as one component of a prevention program for skin tears among aged adults residing in long-term care facilities.