Protecting the skin and preventing breakdown

Nurses spend considerable time protecting the skin and preventing its deterioration.

The intricately designed structure and function of the skin protects the body from a range of external physical and biological threats. Although barrier function is localised to the stratum corneum, protection is one of the primary functions of the skin as an organ. This includes defence against exposure to chemicals, irradiation, traumatic insult and microbiological threats such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Biology of the skin has outlined the details of the skin’s protective structural features and protective biological features. This section considers the processes involved in vulnerable skin and outlines the key factors associated with disruption of the skin barrier due to disease, biology and the impact of external physical factors, including treatment effects. It also highlights specific interventions for promoting skin barrier function, maintaining its integrity and preventing barrier disruption and breakdown.