What Is Wound Maceration?
Prolonged exposure to moisture can cause skin to soften and break down. This condition, called maceration, can be particularly troublesome when healing wounds.
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Identification
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Wound maceration occurs when the surrounding skin retains too much moisture, causing it to soften and turn white.
Causes
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Any prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to skin maceration. The moisture may come from the wound itself, from excessive sweating, from urinary incontinence or from a variety of external sources.
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Complications
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Wound maceration can increase the risk of infection and prolong healing.
Treatments
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The best way to prevent wound maceration is to keep the wound as clean and dry as possible, making frequent dressing changes with absorbent pads. Use dressings that won't adhere to the wound. Apply appropriate antibacterial creams and ointments to combat infection.
History
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French neurologist J.M. Charcot first described wound maceration in 1877.
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