What Pressure and Moisture Can Mean for Skin Health

Pressure and moisture are two of the most common contributors to skin breakdown for people living with Spina Bifida. Pressure on insensate or weight-bearing areas can damage skin over time, and when moisture is present at the same time, skin becomes more vulnerable to injury and breakdown.

This combination matters because skin that is under pressure and exposed to moisture has less protection and may break down more easily without pain or early warning signs.

The Spina Bifida Association’s Integument Guideline highlights this relationship and the importance of awareness of factors that affect skin integrity, including:
• Changes in skin color, texture, or temperature
• Moisture from bowel or bladder incontinence
• Ongoing pressure on insensate or weight-bearing areas
• Skin exposure to heat and environmental factors that can affect integrity

Understanding how pressure and moisture interact helps explain why skin breakdown can occur and why it may develop without immediate symptoms.

Learn more in the Spina Bifida Association’s Integument (Skin) Guideline: https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/resource/integument-skin-guideline/