PHYSICIANS AND health care professionals working at hospitals and in acute care facilities strive to prevent and treat organ failure on a daily basis. The skin is one organ system that is usually overlooked when considering organ failure. The concept of skin failure is not well circulated in the medical world but is an important topic that should be addressed. The potential for a severe prognosis and increased morbidity and mortality is a significant reason why skin failure needs to be addressed.

WHAT IS SKIN FAILURE?

Failure of any organ system occurs when its normal tasks and functions can no longer be performed. The same goes for the integument, which is the largest organ of the body. The skin plays many important roles. It acts as a physical barrier against trauma and aids in the prevention of foreign materials, including bacteria, from entering the body. Conversely, this barrier also prevents loss of body fluids and essential nutrients, such as protein and iron. Normally functioning skin also serves in temperature regulation, detection of sensation, toxin excretion, and vitamin D synthesis and as an immune modulator. When this organ loses the ability to maintain temperature control; when it can no longer retain the balance of fluids, electrolytes, and nutrition; and/or when it fails as a mechanical barrier, skin failure has occurred.