I (75) took care of my demented wife (76) for more than twelve years. All this time I have been able to prevent blemishes by treating her with talc after washing, showering and drying. Never blemishes. Extensive blemishes were discovered three months after admission to the nursing home. The nurses treated them successfully with zinc ointment and told me that talc is bad for the skin. Have I mistreated my wife for twelve years?
Male (75)
Joris Bartstra, journalist with a medical diploma
No, you did fine. blemishes You prevent it in the first place by keeping the skin dry. A little talc can make the skin in the folds less sticky. The sweat in the skin fold can then evaporate and this prevents the skin from becoming irritated. The appearance of blemishes is a sign of lack of care. There is insufficient drying and blow-drying. Unfortunately, this happens quickly in the nursing home due to the high workload. A better care than by a loving husband – as long as you can sustain it – is hardly imaginable. Once blemishes have formed, talc is not a good idea: the talcum powder then forms a clumping mass with moisture and micro-organisms, which keeps the inflammation going. In that case, zinc ointment will help.
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