Incontinence-associated dermatitis increases which risks?

• A. Skin breakdown only
• B. Infection risk only
• C. Skin breakdown and other skin changes
• D. Skin breakdown and infection risk

Answer: (D)

Incontinence-associated dermatitis weakens the skin’s protective barrier because moisture, irritants, and friction from urine or stool disrupt the outer layer. That barrier disruption doesn’t just cause visible breakdown; it also creates a pathway for microorganisms to invade, so infection risk rises alongside skin breakdown. So the situation involves both skin breakdown and infection risk. The other options miss one of these important aspects: focusing only on breakdown omits infection risk, focusing only on infection risk omits the actual tissue damage, and mentioning only “other skin changes” doesn’t capture the infection danger that comes with a compromised barrier.