A quantitative study of hydration level of the skin surface and erythema on conventional and microclimate management capable mattresses and hospital beds.

Background: In addition to pressure itself, microclimate factors are gaining more attention in the understanding of the development of pressure ulcers. While there are already various products to reduce pressure on sore-prone areas to prevent pressure ulcers, there are only a few mattresses/hospital beds that actively influence skin microclimate. In this study, we investigated if microclimate management capable mattresses/hospital beds can influence skin hydration and skin redness/erythema.

A quantitative study of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) on conventional and microclimate management capable mattresses and hospital beds.

Background: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is regarded as one of the most important parameters characterizing skin barrier integrity and has found to be higher in impaired skin barrier function. Reduced or low TEWL instead indicates skin barrier integrity or improvement. We evaluated if different mattresses/hospital beds can influence this skin barrier function by measuring TEWL before and after subjects lying in conventional and microclimate management capable mattresses/hospital beds.