Identifying, managing and preventing skin maceration: a rapid review of the clinical evidence

Maceration causes patients' discomfort and pain as well as prolonging healing time and deserves more focused research. This rapid review highlights how limited the clinical empirical research is on identifying and managing skin maceration from an early stage so that health professionals may be better equipped to prevent it. Further clinical research is also needed to determine when levels of hydration in the skin become damaging. The small number of studies within this review show that skin maceration can be avoided, but clearer guidance is needed.