Effects of disposable bath and towel bath on the transition of resident skin bacteria, water content of the stratum corneum, and relaxation.

Background: Bed bath in daily nursing care is crucial for cleaning and moisturizing patients' skin. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cleaning and level of comfort of towel and disposable baths. The 2 methods were evaluated based on measurements of the transition of resident skin bacteria, stratum corneum water content, transepidermal water loss, and perceived relaxation levels.