The patient's skin is thin and tight. Which approach should the nurse implement to maintain skin integrity?
a. Increase bathing to three times daily.
b. Use very mild soap or a prepackaged bath.
c. Avoid lotions to help retain skin moisture.
d. Massage the skin briskly to increase cir-culation.
B
The skin needs to be moist and supple for strength and elasticity. A lack of moisture is causing the patient's tight skin, so the nurse plans care to retain surface oils and moisture. Very mild soap or a prepackaged bath product is less likely to remove surface oils vital to retaining skin moisture and is part of a skin care program that includes providing adequate internal hydration, nutrition, and hygiene using products and techniques to enhance the patient's moisture retention. Bathing three times daily is excessive for a patient with thin, tight skin and potentially increases the risk of skin breakdown by stripping the skin of surface oils and moisture. Hydrating the surface of the skin is less effective than providing adequate hydration to the patient internally for moisture retention, but it is part of a total skin care program. Brisk massaging is contraindicated for thin, tight skin.
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