Frank Jerrel Akin

Effects of Breathable Disposable Diapers: Reduced Prevalence of Candida and Common Diaper Dermatitis

Infants wearing breathable disposable diapers experienced significantly less diaper dermatitis (DD) compared to infants wearing standard, nonbreathable disposable diapers in a series of double‐blind clinical trials. Severe DD, including confirmed infection with Candida albicans, was reduced by 38–50% among infants wearing highly breathable (HB) diapers. The prevalence of DD was inversely related to the breathability of the garments. The inhibitory effect of breathable diapers on the survival of Candida was further confirmed in controlled experiments with adult volunteers. A suspension of C. albicans cells was applied to delineated sites on the volar forearm. Each site was then covered by a full‐thickness patch from either an HB or a standard diaper. Survival of Candida colonies was reduced by almost two‐thirds in the breathable diaper‐covered sites compared to the control sites.

Comparison of closed chamber and open chamber evaporimetry

Background: Recently it has been asserted that a closed chamber evaporimeter, the VapoMeter, offers advantages over standard open chamber devices in measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Purported improvements include the ability to take measurements at any angle, short reading times and insensitivity to external air currents. These claims are compelling, considering that measuring TEWL at diverse skin sites can be tedious, especially with children. The primary aim of this study was to compare the performance of closed and open chamber instruments when they were held at various angles and, secondly to evaluate the ability of the devices to discriminate between test conditions.

A refined method to evaluate diapers for effectiveness in reducing skin hydration using the adult forearm

Excessive skin hydration resulting from wet undergarments is a major cause of diaper rash in children and contributes to severe dermatitis in incontinent adults. Advancements in absorbent technology have led to diapers and incontinent garments that not only absorb urine, but also transfer it to different regions, and lock it away from the skin. The purpose of the present study was to develop a reliable method to assess the effectiveness of absorbent articles in mitigating skin hydration.