Abstract
BACKGROUND: Barrier films have been used for many years to protect skin from the damaging effects of excessive moisture and mechanical injury. The performance characteristics important for these protective effects are mainly product durability and its ability to reduce the force of adhesive removal. Additionally, the moisture vapor transmission rate through the film needs to be high enough that maceration is prevented. The current study was undertaken to investigate various physical performance characteristics of six commercially available barrier films. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several bench tests were used to simulate performance features of the barriers on skin including barrier durability, breathability (moisture vapor permeability), and the effect on adhesive dressing force of removal. RESULTS: Results indicated that barrier films did not perform equivalently. However, Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film (NSB) was shown to have significantly greater durability in the barrier integrity test than all other barriers tested and was tied for highest breathability and highest reduction in peel force from steel. No other tested barrier film performed as consistently across the different tests. CONCLUSION: These results may provide mechanistic understanding of how barriers such as NSB may clinically assist with the prevention of adhesive- and moisture-related skin damage.