The use of Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) amongst the workers has increased drastically to ensure protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, prolonged use of PPE can cause friction and shear injuries to the skin, like skin tear, blisters, ulcers, and hives. Skin injury occurs as a result of shear force that is applied to the skin at lower pressures, which affects the integrity of the skin. Major tissue deformation and cellular degradation can result from the combination of high shear stress and weakened skin structure (Figure 1).
In this regard, researchers analysed the products which could potentially act as barriers between the skin and PPE kits. The aim was to protect the workers in healthcare and other sectors from injuries, discomfort, or deformities related to PPEs. Figure 1. PPE-related skin problem and solution Tribometer In order to identify the best type of…
