How do I keep my loved one's skin dry under the folds?

Nystatin powder prescription until redness cleared up, then cornstarch powder. Twice a day, make sure skin in clean and dry first. This works for Mom under breasts, belly fold, and groin area. Good luck.

Gold bond body powder

After her bath/shower, pat dry with a towel. Try good old A&D ointment on DRY SKIN as a moisture barrier.

I tried all the creams and RX's given by the drs for my parent. None seemed to work and, in my mind, because they were keeping the area damp or greasy and clumped with meds that seemed nasty to me. It seemed to me that if dampness was causing the issue, drying the area would be more effective.

I used a hair dryer and bathtowel to make sure the skins under folds was completely dry after a bath. (Not to mention the warm air felt so good). I mixed together (half and half) two skin powders: Zeasorb and Desenex and applied them to all areas where dampness collected with a powder puff. You may have to apply several times a day at first to keep the area dry.

I had trouble finding a large powder puff (like the ones from years ago), but finally located some of the old gift styled boxes of bath powder at Walmart. (You might have to ask for them because they were in a locked cabinet). Dump out the perfumed bath powder and mix your Zeasorb/Desenex in the powder box. Seven blessed years of no more skin issues.

Cornstarch for powder--talcum and scented powders are irritating. Keep areas clean and dry.

Klem242: I see by your profile that your sister, Barb is an elder at 74 years of age. That said, as she is an elder, perhaps you'd want to seek the assistance of a dermatologist. Even though she is obese, the skin of most elders is sensitive.

Tending to it daily with powders and applying hydro cortizone 1% creme if it should become irritated sure works for us.

Here is what we do in the hospital: wash with soap and water, dry thoroughly, lots of cornstarch or talcum powder in areas the skin is intact, and barrier cream with antifungal medications on reddened areas. If she has open wounds, those will need to be cleaned separately, covered with a medicated cream from the doctor or wound care nurse, and covered with foam bandages. Old-fashioned methods include keeping folded dry washcloths or folded lightweight terrycloth towels in the skin folds to increase air circulation.

I took care of a man who was a quadriplegic, weighed nearly 400 pounds, and had very susceptible skin along with torso and groin folds. And in the groin folds, there would be sweat and drainage build-up from either being in bed all night or from being in his chair all day.

I would blot-dry his skin and folds after washing, then carefully blow the skin and folds dry with a hair dryer on low (from a distance and while keeping the dryer moving). I also used an anti-fungal powder (he responded better to powder than to creams--except if drainage in the groin worsened; then I'd use a thickish, protective cream in those folds to act as a barrier). I can't remember the name of the powder...you could only use a little and a little went a long way. Good stuff.

Just a word of advice to all those using cornstarch. Make sure the person is not allergic to corn. Both of my children had allergies and my youngest was very allergic to corn and corn products. It seems that this is a common allergy. If my mother used cornstarch on her little bottom she would have awful blisters and degraded skin.

I use Corn starch liberally. Nothing in it to cause issues like talcum powder. If it is red and irritated use a foot fungus cream like Lotrimin. Works great for me. If actual wounds or sores, see doctor.

I used OTC anti fungus cream, foot powder and a doc prescribed 2% cortisone cream for irritated areas under breasts, tummy fold, crease between pubic area and top of thigh where underwear elastic rides. Wash hands with antiseptic body wash, and use several plastic gloves or finger cots to apply to separate areas. Instead of powder puff, used fresh cotton, flat cosmetic rounds to apply powder to each area & discard after use. Treat it like it was contagious.

TUMMY LINERS 36"L Size XX-Large (Set of 3) $15.99
from Amazon will kept her dry.

Try drying products like antiperspirant and anti chafe products. There’s Carpe and many others…just Goggle them. Is is just sweating or is it rubbing raw?

Im obese and have “folds” and I use antiperspirant under breasts and between thighs. Of course I’m not bedridden or anything. First make sure there are no open/raw wounds in the areas and skin is clean and dry, then try antiperspirant. For me, Aarid x dry works best. If there’s ope/raw wounds let Dr see them so they don’t get infected.

Yes, if your sister is diabetic wounds that don't heal need to be brought to a Dr. attention. My nephew is obese and having trouble with his legs. We had an ER visit and Woundcare for a couple of weeks. He had infections under the skin which could have led to sepsis. With a diabetic circulation to the legs and feet are usually a big problem. Sores do not heal well and lead to gangrene.

Keep it wet with Baby oil !!!

Wash area with your preferred anti-bacterial soapy water, with a little bit of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to cleanse the skin. Use the peroxide only once in a while because it irritates the newly-exposed clean new skin. Dry carefully and gently. Air dry completely.
Use only baby oil liberally, and luxuriate in the softness of the skin. Keep it oiled! It will not allow new sore-causing bacteria or crotch-itch fungus to take hold, besides you’ll smell wonderful, your skin will absorb and stay as soft as when you were born.
Personally, myself, I had crotch itch fungus for many years, very slimy, smelly, stinky uncontrollable bleeding, raw flesh exposed deep in the gap between upper thigh and scrotum (balls bag) of my manhood. It’s the same fungus as large breast crease in women and Athlete’s Foot Fungus.
I went through many tubes of commercial anti-fungal creams, but nope, didn’t work. Itching and wound pain and the stink was persistent over the years. The area was always tender, sore, sticky; couldn’t deal with the way everything stuck together, so I, of course, washed it carefully and poured baby oil onto it. Well, it immediately took a new turn. Now nothing stuck together, the air could flow through there, the healing started immediately. I stopped wearing underwear. Everything hangs free. I use baby wipes to clean my butt, and when I shower, there’s no soreness. I run my very soapy hand up and down through the gap without any discomfort. After showering, I lie down on my bed with my legs spread wide, to make sure I’m dry, then apply baby oil liberally. Try it. Cost is minimal. I buy the 20oz bottle.

Drying is an important first step. Use your hair dryer on cool!

Being blessed with a lovely bit of "dunlap" (my belly done lapped over) I blow dry all the areas where the sun don't shine with my blow dryer on cool, then apply a powder mix of baby powder and Gold Bond medicated powder to the dunlap. I do wash daily so the powder doesn't have a chance to cake.

My mother 85 has rashes and often yeast. We swear by this product and use it twice daily. It works so well keeping skin dry and healthy. I get it from Amazon.

My aunt prefers maximum strength destin as a skin barrier and this works for her.

Be sure to wash gently under these folds daily with maybe a baby wipe or bath wipe for adults. No wash cloths.
Pat the skin dry. Never any rubbing.

Monistat Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel, Anti Protection, 1.5

If the skin opens her doctor will have to be notified.

This may help in part. I am not obese but had extremely bad yeast infection under both breasts. It took almost a year to get rid of it, and I had to keep the folds of my breast area skin separate. I bought mens cotton hankies and put one on each side in the fold of my breast, and they were long enough to tuck the ends into the center part between my two breasts, all of which I held in place with a cotton bra.
God bless you for caring for your sister.

First if she has any open wounds talk to her doctor of course but it sounds like you have already been through that at least once and have that program set up. Without open wounds you might look into that new body deodorant that is made for all parts of the body and might be perfect for this. I thinks it’s called Lume and comes in various forms including a cream or lotion for spreading easily. I have not used it myself but sounds like it’s worth checking into, especially for this.

You may want to ask her doctor for a referral to a wound care nurse. She may need to be evaluated and her care customized for the level of wounds she has. Our geriatrician ordered a one time home visit to give me instructions for my husband when he had issues after being hospitalized. Depending on her needs, you may get more than one visit or go into the office.

I am a firm believer in using Calmoseptine Oimtment. It contains zinc oxide which protects skin from moisture. It can be bought on Amazon for about $20.00 for 3 tubes. When the tubes have been squeezed empty, either cut them open or squeeze them on a flat surface with a flat utinsil because there still a lot left.

Look into Monkey Butt powder. Made for anti chafe and to keep you dry. The pink container is Lady Monkey Butt.https://www.antimonkeybutt.com/

When an obese person gets wounds, they can easily turn into cellulitis which can be fatal, especially if she's diabetic. I would seek guidance about this issue from your sister's doctor and get explicit directions about what to do, step by step, to ensure she's safe from infection. This is a big job you've taken on with her care, are you sure you're up for it?

Best of luck.

Hospice ordered Nystatin for my Husband for some redness
I also mixed And D with a heavier zinc based ointment (like Desitin)
Pat it on do not rub it on. A heavy coating is difficult to remove and can irritate the skin as it is being applied. Patting it on in gentle "pats" is kinder to the skin than rubbing.

It might be worth it to have the area cultured to determine if it is fungal, yeast or other.
Clean and dry is the best thing but not always easy.

Do not use baby powder. It gets hard and irritates. My Mom used cornstarch. She put in a used round body powder container and used a powder puff.

I used Desitin when Mom was showing signs of redness. An Aide friend says Almay stick deoderant frangrance free. Make sure when she showers that you wash the area well with maybe a deoderant soap. Dry the area very well then apply the corn starch. If redness occurs then try the other suggestions.

Mix nystatin with hydrocortisone cream. Apply.

The NP told me dad to put a cotton cloth under the folds.

He refused, so I kept him well stocked with Gold Bond powder.

Making sure that it is cleaned and dried well is the most important thing.

Witch hazel sprayed on after a bath can help keep her skin healthy.

We used a LOT of cornstarch baby powder on my mom, but it's important to dry it very well after bathing.

Also, you need to keep the fungus and yeast infections at bay. Her nursing home had particular medication they used (ask your sister's doctor), but before she was in a nursing home we actually used athlete's foot spray with pretty good results. DON'T use it on open wounds, though -- it stings like nothing else.