Resources

Coalition for At-Risk Skin (CARS)

CARS Resource Library

CARS Consensus Statement

From the Consensus Document:

Our Board has depth and breadth from Burn Care, Dermatology, Gerontology, Internal Medicine, Home Health, Hospice, Medical Coding, Nutrition, Podiatry,  Wound and Ostomy Management. These experts, each with no less than 15 years of experience, practice across the continuum in acute care, long-term care, home health, and outpatient wound centers and have expertise in various subspecialties, including education, expert witness testimony, research, and quality management.

About the Consensus Document:

Here we report the findings of the working panel of skin health experts who developed and approved the consensus statements regarding at-risk skin. We believe that these consensus statements will help to provide clarity and direction for those who treat at-risk skin conditions and for individuals who have at-risk skin.

CONCLUSION from the Consensus Document:

Skin health is important for everyone and especially critical for individuals with at-risk skin. Maintaining skin health for at-risk skin can help repair the damaged skin barrier, reduce TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss), and improve skin integrity to prevent further damage. The findings from the expert skin health panel provide 21 comprehensive consensus statements within 7 categories.

CONCLUSION from the Consensus Document:

Summary of Recommendations from the Consensus Document:

Persons with at-risk skin will have improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life when individualized skin care strategies with moisturizers and/or skin barriers are used in appropriate quantities.

    • The CARS Panel recommends moisturizing with one ounce of quality moisturizer (creams preferred) twice daily.
    • Special attention to populations vulnerable for at-risk skin (population health) is a patient/resident safety issue.
    • Everyone should be empowered to perform or receive care to promote optimal skin health.

 

Download

Who These Resources Support

    • Individuals, patients, and family caregivers

    • Educators and policy advocates

Moisturization & Barrier Toolkit (Coming Soon)

Access recordings and slides from expert-led sessions on at-risk skin management, policy implications, and caregiver education.

Webinar Archive (Coming Soon)

Access recordings and slides from expert-led sessions on at-risk skin management, policy implications, and caregiver education.