Could your skin be telling you something?
For people living with incontinence or reduced mobility, knowing the early signs of a pressure injury - and how to prevent one - can make a real difference to your comfort, independence and quality of life.
Your skin is your body's largest organ - and one of the first things to show signs of stress when it is under prolonged pressure. If you or someone you care for spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, or manages incontinence day to day, understanding pressure injuries is an important part of staying comfortable and well.
What is a pressure injury - and what is a skin tear?
These two terms come up often in continence and aged care settings, and it helps to understand what they actually mean.
Pressure Injury
Localised damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure, friction or shear forces that cut off blood flow to the area. Also commonly called a pressure ulcer, bedsore or pressure sore. They most often occur over bony areas such as the tailbone, hips, heels and ankles.
Skin Tear
A wound caused by shear, friction or blunt force that results in the separation of skin layers. Skin tears are common in older adults and people with fragile skin. They can happen during routine care, transfers or even from clothing rubbing against the skin.
What are the early warning signs of a pressure injury?
The sooner you spot a forming pressure injury, the easier it is to prevent it from getting worse. The earliest signs are often subtle - and easy to miss if you do not know what you are looking for.
Skin discoloration that does not turn white when pressed
One of the very first signs of a forming pressure injury is an area of persistent skin discoloration - red on lighter skin, or red, blue or purple on darker skin - that does not turn white (blanch) when you gently press it. If you press the area and it stays discoloured, take note and act on it promptly.
Other early warning signs to look out for:
Skin temperature changes
The area may feel noticeably warmer or cooler than the surrounding skin - a sign that blood flow is being affected.
Texture changes
The patch of skin might feel firmer, spongy or boggy compared to surrounding areas.
New sensation
Pain, tenderness, burning or itchiness in a pressure area - particularly over a bony part of the body - is worth taking seriously.
Persistent redness or marking
Skin that stays red or marked for more than 30 minutes after pressure is relieved needs attention. Do not wait to see if it clears on its own.
Living with incontinence increases your skin's vulnerability.
Moisture from incontinence - whether bladder or bowel - softens the skin and makes it more susceptible to pressure damage and skin tears. When moisture combines with prolonged sitting or lying in one position, the risk of a pressure injury forming increases significantly.
If you use continence products every day, or care for someone who does, protecting the skin under and around those products is just as important as the product itself.
A simple routine can make a big difference.
A large Australian study looked at whether a simple twice-daily barrier wipe routine could reduce pressure injuries. The results were striking.
Clinell recently conducted a study involving 858 participants across 20 aged care facilities. Those following a twice-daily barrier wipe routine saw a 50% reduction in pressure injury incidents compared to those who did not.
"Barrier wipes could be a cost-effective and sustainable intervention for pressure injury prevention - with twice-daily application delivering a clinically significant reduction in incidence."Hayley Ryan - Clinell Contiplan RCT, Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial, 2026
The protocol is simple: apply Clinell Contiplan barrier wipes twice daily - morning and evening - to the sacrum, buttocks, perineal area and heels. That is it. A two-minute routine that the research shows can cut pressure injury risk in half.
Practical steps to protect your skin every day.
Preventing pressure injuries does not have to be complicated. These simple habits make a real difference - especially if you or someone you care for is living with incontinence or has limited mobility.
Clinell Contiplan - Barrier Wipes
The barrier wipe used in the study above. This product is pH 5.5, alcohol free and suitable for daily use. It contains a deodoriser (not a fragrance) to assist with odour control. Maintains skin integrity by combining humectants, emollients and occlusives in a single wipe application.
Alongside a barrier wipe routine, other practical steps include changing continence products regularly to reduce moisture contact time, keeping skin clean and dry between changes, repositioning regularly if you spend long periods sitting or lying down, and speaking with your GP or community nurse if you notice any early warning signs.
If you spot a warning sign, act early.
If you notice any of the early warning signs above - persistent discoloration, unusual temperature, skin texture changes or new pain or tenderness - do not wait to see if it resolves on its own. Contact your GP, community nurse, NDIS support coordinator or a continence health professional. Caught early, pressure injuries are far easier to manage.
If you are an NDIS participant, wound care and skin care products may be fundable under your plan. IncontinenceProducts.com.au is a registered NDIS provider and our team can help you navigate what is available to you.
Shop skin care and wound care at IncontinenceProducts.com.au
Barrier wipes, moisturisers, wound dressings and more - all NDIS fundable and available with fast Australia-wide delivery. Questions? Call our team on (02) 9531 2011.
Shop Wound Care Shop All ProductsReferences
- Department of Health Victoria. (2024). Pressure injuries and skin tears. health.vic.gov.au
- Quality Insights. Stage one pressure ulcers - early identification. qualityinsights.org
- Ryan H. (2026). Clinell Contiplan RCT - Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial. Pressure injury prevention with twice-daily barrier wipe application across 20 aged care facilities.
This content is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have concerns about your skin or a forming pressure injury, please speak with your GP, community nurse or continence health professional.