The 2026 update of Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis: Moving prevention forward was published by Wounds International in April this year.
The core purpose of the update was to synthesize a decade of new evidence since the original 2004/2015 guidance, standardize clinical terminology, and reduce the persistent misclassification of IAD as pressure injuries. Multidisciplinary consensus was achieved and the update developed following an international expert meeting held in October 2025.
The document emphasizes structured skin care regimens (gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and barrier protection) and highlights advanced barrier options such as polymer-based and cyanoacrylate tetrapolymer formulations.
The update incorporates tools like the GLOBIAD framework to improve assessment, documentation, risk identification, and structured pathways across acute, community, and long-term care settings.
