Extended wear barriers have which limitation?

• A. They are not good for moisture absorption on skin
• B. They have excellent moisture absorption on skin
• C. They can only be used for formed stool
• D. They require daily replacement

Answer: (A)

Extended wear barriers are designed to stay in place for longer periods, reducing how often you need to change the barrier and protecting the skin from output. The key limitation is how they handle moisture. These barriers are more occlusive and less absorbent, so they don’t wick away moisture from the skin or absorb stoma output as well as standard barriers. When there’s moisture from sweat, leakage, or watery effluent, extended wear barriers can trap it against the skin, increasing the risk of skin irritation or maceration and potentially causing the barrier to loosen. Because of this moisture-management limitation, they aren’t ideal for skin that requires active moisture absorption. They aren’t restricted to formed stool, and they are intended to last longer than daily changes, so they do not require daily replacement.