

Causes and types
- Stress incontinence
Urine leaks out when you cough or laugh - Urge incontinence
Urine leaks when you feel the urge to use the toilet - Mixed incontinence
Mixture of both stress and urge urinary incontinence - Overflow incontinence
Unable to fully empty your bladder, causing leaking - Total incontinence
Pass urine constantly with frequent leaking
Consequences of incontinence
Many people who have incontinence will experience incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). This is especially common in older adults.1 This condition is directly related to incontinence. The skin, when exposed to urine or faeces regularly, can become inflamed.1 IAD can cause pain, considerable discomfort and distress.3
IAD is also known as perineal dermatitis, diaper/nappy rash, irritant dermatitis, moisture lesions, or perineal rash.3
Incontinence-associated dermatitis

The barrier function of the skin breaks down
Who is at risk
Signs and symptoms
Principles of care
What you can do about it:
- Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol.
- Provide a structured skin-care regimen that protects the skin.5

What product can be used to help?
Using an absorbent product with curly fibre has the potential to prevent incontinence associated dermatitis, as well as reduce the severity and promote healing.
MoliCare® Premium is an absorbent range of products from slight to severe incontinence, that contains curly fibre and has active skin protection, used in combination with the MoliCare® Skin barrier cream & MoliCare® Skin Zinc Oxide cream with NUTRISKIN protection complex and skin balanced pH5.5. Protection Complex for
added moisture and protection and a pH of 5,5.
The importance of pH
Because skin is exposed to alkaline urine during incontinence, taking steps to acidify the skin will help.3,5
Ammonia in urine elevates the skin pH impairing its barrier function.3,6 Urine also overhydrates exposed skin increasing the risk of friction injury.3,5,6
Faecal enzymes also damage the skin, with liquid stool being particularly irritating to the skin.3
Treatment and lifestyle modifications
recommendations on how to effectively manage your condition.1
Using absorbent incontinence briefs with curly fibre is considered a strategy for combating incontinence dermatitits and maintaining skin health.
Protection begins immediately and lasts for over 5 hours – which is especially beneficial during sleep.
Medicine may be recommended if you’re still unable to manage your symptoms, or surgery may also be considered.2
Tips to improve symptoms
symptoms, these include:2
- Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol
- Pelvic floor exercises – where you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles by squeezing them
- Bladder training – where you learn to wait longer between needing to pass urine
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for appropriate choices to treat your symptoms.