[1] Healthy periwound is an immediate barrier surrounding the wound bed[2] that can perform all the regular functions of skin – the body's largest organ – such as absorption, excretion, protection, secretion, thermoregulation, pigment production, sensory perception and immunity.
[3] Healthy periwound maintains all the physical characteristics of skin: elasticity, surface integrity, color and texture.
Exudate from heavily draining wounds causes irritation of the periwound that may lead to maceration, excoriation, and otherwise compromise skin integrity.
[1] The shared objective of treatment and prevention is maintenance and/or restoration of the integrity and healthy functionality of skin surrounding the wound.
Local treatment may include wound care products that protect periwound and help maintain its healthy functionality, for example, moisture barriers (ointments, salves and films), topical corticosteroids, antiseptics and antifungal agents,[14][15][7][5] as well as moisture balancing dressings, such as self-adaptive wound dressing.