Barrier Cream Cloths: A Practical Guide to Protecting Skin in Aged & Incontinence Care

Keeping skin intact is one of the quietest but most important jobs in aged and community care. When skin is repeatedly exposed to moisture — from incontinence, perspiration or wound exudate — it breaks down quickly, and once it does, healing is slow and painful. Barrier cream cloths have become a popular way to apply consistent skin protection without the mess and guesswork of a tube of cream.

This guide explains what they are, where they fit, and how to choose one.

What is a barrier cream cloth?

A barrier cream cloth is a pre-moistened, single-use wipe impregnated with a skin-protectant — commonly 3% dimethicone or a zinc-based formulation. In one step it cleans, moisturises and lays down a breathable barrier film that repels urine and faeces while still letting skin transpire.

Because the dose is built into the cloth, every application delivers the same even coverage — which is exactly what makes them attractive for busy teams.

Cloths vs. traditional barrier creams

Tubes of barrier cream still have their place, but cloths solve a few real problems:

• Consistency — no "too much / too little"; the protectant is metered into the cloth, so coverage is even every time.
• Speed and dignity — clean and protect in a single pass, with less rubbing on already-fragile skin.
• Infection control — single-use cloths avoid the cross-contamination risk of a shared tub or tube.
• Lower wastage — thick creams are easy to over-apply; a cloth uses a measured amount.

The trade-off is cost per application, so many services use cloths for routine prevention and reserve heavier ointments for already-broken skin.

When to use them

Barrier cloths are most useful for prevention and early-stage skin issues:

1. Routine continence care, at each change.
2. Early incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) — redness and irritation before the skin breaks.
3. Protecting skin around stomas, wounds or pressure areas exposed to moisture.

For broken or weeping skin, or a suspected pressure injury, follow your organisation's wound-care pathway and clinical advice rather than relying on a barrier product alone.

How to choose one

When you are comparing products, look at:

• Active ingredient and strength — e.g. 3% dimethicone for a durable, breathable film.
• Skin-friendliness — pH-balanced, fragrance-free and alcohol-free options are kinder to sensitive, ageing skin.
• Cloth size and durability — large, strong cloths cover more area without tearing.
• Evidence and listings — products with clinical backing and relevant healthcare listings make procurement and audits easier.

Where to start

If you are reviewing your skin-integrity products, browse the barrier cream cloths and skin-protection range on GoSupply, or explore the full aged-care and continence categories to compare options for your service.

Skin protection is cheaper than skin repair. A consistent barrier routine is one of the highest-leverage things a care team can do.