Barrier creams, ointments, sprays and wipes all work toward the same goal: a protective layer between skin and moisture. They differ in texture, in how they go on and in how easy they are to use when you are caring for someone else. This guide compares the formats so you can match one to the way you, or the person you care for, manage a change.
What a barrier product is, in label terms
A barrier product is applied to skin that spends time in contact with moisture, such as the area covered by a brief or pad. Labels describe it as a protective layer on the skin. What a particular product is meant for, which skin it can go on and how much to use are all written on its label, and the label is the final word.
It is not a cleanser, and it does not absorb anything. Cleaning comes first, with wipes, a washcloth or a cleanser, and many labels describe applying a barrier product to clean skin. Confirm that on the pack you have.
Creams and pastes
A cream is soft and spreadable and comes in a tube or a tub. It goes on with a gloved hand or clean fingers, in the amount the label describes. A paste is thicker than a cream, which gives it more body on the skin and takes more effort to spread. It can also take more effort to clean off, so check the label for how to remove it.
One cream option in the store is the TENA ProSkin Barrier Cream 100 mL Tube, Scent-free. Read the product page for its directions. A tube lets you dispense without putting a hand into the product. With a tub, take out what you need with a clean spoon or spatula rather than dipping in repeatedly.
Ointments
An ointment is oil-based, so it feels richer and greasier than a cream and tends to stay where it is put. The trade-off is clean-up: an ointment can mark underwear, sheets and the inside of a brief. Follow the amount on the label rather than guessing.
Ointments are also sold for babies. One example in the store is Aquaphor Baby Multi-Purpose Ointment, Fragrance Free, 85 g, and the Diaper Rash Creams & Ointments collection is the place to browse that category. Whether a baby product suits an adult is a question for the label and a pharmacist, not something to assume.
Sprays and no-touch formats
A spray or pump bottle puts product on the skin without your fingers touching it. That suits a gloved caregiver working quickly, and it can help someone who struggles to reach. On the label, look for how far to hold the nozzle, whether the product needs time to settle before a brief goes on, and which skin it can and cannot be used on.
Sprays have limits too. A trigger or pump needs a squeeze, which can be hard with weak or sore hands, and overspray can land on bedding and floors. Wipe any overspray off a hard floor so nobody slips on it.
Barrier wipes and all-in-one cloths
A wipe carries the product on the cloth, so there is nothing to squeeze, scoop or aim. A barrier wipe is not a cleansing wipe, though, so read the pack to see which one you are holding.
Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film Wipes (Box of 30) are listed as barrier film wipes, so check the pack for how the film is applied and whether it needs time to dry. Other cloths combine cleaning and skin-care ingredients in one step, and the ingredient list on the pack tells you what is in them. Browse the Adult Wipes & Skin Care collection to compare what is on offer.
Choosing a format for self-care or caregiving
Start with what the hands can do, then think about how the change actually happens.
| Format | Texture | How it goes on | Clean-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cream or paste | Soft to thick | Fingers or gloved hand | Leaves a film on hands and cloths |
| Ointment | Rich and oily | Gloved hand | May mark fabric |
| Spray or pump | Mist or liquid | Aimed as the label directs | Overspray on nearby surfaces |
| Wipe | Pre-moistened cloth | Drawn over the skin | Cloth goes in the garbage |
For self-care
Think about reach and grip. A tube you can squeeze with one hand is simpler than a tub that needs two. If reaching is hard, a spray or a wipe can do more of the work for you. Keep your chosen product where you change, not in another room.
For caregiving
Think about speed, light and the other person's comfort. At night, a format that works with one gloved hand in low light is easier to manage. Ask the person which texture and scent they prefer, since it goes on their skin and the choice is theirs. Keep the same format in the same place so everyone who helps knows where to reach.
Shop this guide
- Medline Ultrasoft Dry Cleansing Wipes, Fragrance-Free, 10 in x 13 in, 50 Count (ships via Amazon)
- ATTITUDE Diaper Cream, Zinc & Oatmeal, Unscented, 75 g (ships via Amazon)
- WhyWorry Extra Large Wet Wipes, Unscented, 8 in x 12 in, 660 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Burt's Bees Baby Diaper Rash Ointment, 40% Zinc Oxide, 85 g (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Adult Wipes & Skin Care
- See all: Diaper Rash Creams & Ointments
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Follow the label, and when to ask a nurse or pharmacist
Every format above comes with directions, and those directions override anything in a guide like this one. For diaper rash creams and ointments in particular, follow the label on the product you have.
If the skin under a brief or pad stays red, is broken, weeping, blistered, bleeding or sore, or is not improving, show it to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist rather than switching formats. For skin around an ostomy, ask an NSWOC, a nurse specialized in wound, ostomy and continence care. If a product seems to bother the skin, tell a pharmacist or nurse and ask what to do next.
Common questions
Can I use more than one format at the same time?
Check each label. Some say whether the product can be used with others and some do not. If you are unsure, ask a pharmacist before layering products.
Does a barrier product replace changing a brief?
No. A barrier product does not absorb anything, so it sits alongside regular changes rather than standing in for them. How often to change depends on the product and the person, and a nurse can help set a routine.
Should the product dry before the brief goes on?
That depends on the product. Some labels give a drying or settling time and some do not, so read yours.
Not sure which format fits your routine? Send us a note through the contact page and we will help you narrow it down. We reply within one business day.