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

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.

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.

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.

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/

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.