What is Occlusion?

To put simply, occlusion is the obstruction of a passage. In prosthetic usage, occlusion occurs when moisture and heat get trapped under a prosthetic liner, leading to excessive skin moisture. Prolonged moisture can cause swelling, disrupt biochemical processes and contribute to infections, dryness, and irritation.

Occlusion also affects skin structures, reducing the production of moisturizing oils and inhibiting the synthesis of skin-integrity proteins. When the prosthetic is removed, the skin experiences rapid moisture loss due to decreased barrier lipids. Ultimately the loss of barrier lipids can disrupt biochemical pathways, affecting the skin softness and appearance.

Occluded skin can become more vulnerable to external damage and microbial growth. The warm, moist environment often created by prosthetic contact areas is the perfect environment for microbial proliferation. Swollen skin caused by this environment is permeable to foreign substances and prone to pressure-related damage and infection.

Stump or Residual Dermatoses

Amputation stump dermatoses are skin diseases primarily affecting the stump following the amputation of a limb or thereafter. Stump dermatoses is reported to affect between 34-74% of amputees.

Residual dermatoses can range from dryness and dermatitis to severe complications like ulcer and infections. It is crucial to emphasize the importance of proper skin care, particularly for prosthetic users with underlying health conditions such as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease.

Please seek advise of a doctor or physician with any questions regarding any specific issues that arise from amputation or the after care.

Comprehensive mitigation strategies, including the control of underlying conditions, can help prevent serious complications and improve long-term outcomes.

For prosthetic users, understanding the underlying issues and skin care routines can be beneficial to increasing the overall quality of life and use of their prosthetic.

Lanicare™ and Prosthetics

Lanicare™ moisturizers and emollients are specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of prosthetic users and other challenging skin care applications. The Lanicare™ family of products offers a unique combination of extreme moisturization, hypoallergenicity, and a range of textures.

Lanicare™ contains medical grade (USP) lanolin. This lanolin closely mimics the skin's natural barrier lipids, helping seal in moisture, soften the skin's protein structures, and improve water concentrations. To understand a bit more about lanolin, visit our What is Lanolin? page.

For prosthetic users, we suggest our Hypo-Lan™ product.Hypo-Lan™ is typically best suited for smaller skin features, such as lactation needs, and small dry spots. We suggest this blend for prosthetics due to its thick consistency and concentration.

If you prefer something less thick and more spreadable, we provide a variety of products that range in consistency and texture to ensure a more pleasurable experience. Please click here to see our full catalog.