Barrier Preparations

NHSL Medicines Guidance
NHS Lanarkshire

General Notes

Barrier preparations are not a substitute for adequate nursing care or regular nappy changing in babies.

Barrier preparations are used where the skin is intact. Where the skin has broken down, barrier preparations have a limited role in protecting adjacent skin.

For Incontinence Related Dermatitis (IRD) please refer to the NHSL Moisture/Excoriation Guidance Tool [staff link only] or the Scottish Excoriation & Moisture Related Skin Damage Tool.  See ‘Excoriation and Moisture Related Skin Damage’ below for corresponding formulary options.

General Barrier Preparations

Preferred list (P)

CONOTRANE® cream

  • Contains benzalkonium chloride, dimeticone

 

Total list (T)

SUDOCREM® antiseptic healing cream

  • Contains benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate, wool fat hydrous, zinc oxide

YELLOW SOFT PARAFFIN

Prescribing Notes:

  • Not recommended for use with continence pads as can affect the absorbency of the pad.

Barrier Preparations Normally Initiated by Dermatology

Preferred list (P)

EPADERM® ointment

  • Prescribing note: NHSL Dermatologists recommended use is as a barrier preparation only.

 

Total list (T)

ICHTHAMMOL 1%, ZINC OXIDE 15% IN YELLOW SOFT PARAFFIN

Prescribing notes:

  • Not recommended for use with continence pads as can affect the absorbency of the pad.

Barrier Preparations for Excoriation and Moisture Related Skin Damage

Preferred list (P)

MEDI DERMA-S barrier cream

 

Total list (T)

MEDI DERMA-S barrier film

Prescribing notes:

NHSL Joint Adult Formulary Key

To indicate the category of a formulary medicine, updated sections adopt the following key:

Preferred list (P): First-line formulary choices.

Total list (T): Alternative choices when preferred list options not effective/not tolerated, or not indicated.

Specialist initiation (S1): Specialist initiation, or on the advice of a Consultant or Specialist Practitioner in this therapeutic area. Continuation in primary care is acceptable.

Specialist use only (S2): Supply via hospital, Homecare Service or a hospital based prescription (HBP) for dispensing by community pharmacy. Not prescribed in primary care setting.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 31/01/2022

Next review date: 31/01/2025

Author(s): NHSL.

Version: Please refer to the introduction section for an explanation of the review dates above.

Approved By: ADTC

Reviewer name(s): ADTC.