mation on how to properly perform a seal check is available through the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).10 Repetitive application and removal of these adhesive products can result in worsening erythema and irritation of the skin. Cushing adhesive tape and/or dressing should be left in place for as long as possible. Ideally, it would only be applied once daily.
Treatment Recommendations
Once the lesions appear, treatment will be necessary to slow the process and also reverse the damage. An adequate routine that entails cleaning, moisturizing and improving the skin's barrier function is imperative in the initial stages of the lesions. The use of a healing ointment of any type applied twice daily to the open sores and/or antibacterial ointment two times per day should be the intervention if any signs of infection are noted. For ulcers, consider using duoderm thin application daily. The best time to use the treatments recommended is at the end of the shift to make sure there is no effect on the seal of the masks. Treatment recommendations are described in Table 2.
