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With the modern focus on wounds and their management, the integrity of the skin has assumed a reducedlower level of attention. However, this is not to ascribe the assessment of the skin and maintenance of skin integrity a lower priority. To do so would be quite inappropriate. Throughout the spectrum of age it is clear that skin integrity and normal function is central to health: from the neonate with fragile skin through the period of infancy with attendant use of nappies to the elderly skin where chronic, exuding wounds present problems of maceration and exposure to noxious materials from incontinence it is essential to forestall damage.
To achieve this requires the adoption of rigorous assessment procedures and the implementation of measures to avoid skin problems for this is surley one area of care where prevention is better than treatment. In the event of presenting skin damage there is now evidence supporting specific interventions. This collection of chapters from recognised experts consolidates our knowledge in this key area of healthcare.
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Skin Care in Wound Management: Assessment, Prevention and Treatment