What Is Skin Maceration?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributor, Felicia Wilson
Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on August 27, 2025
5 min read

Have you ever come out of a pool or bath and noticed your fingertips were whitish and shriveled? That’s a mild version of skin maceration.

Skin maceration happens when the skin is exposed to moisture for a long period, and it can have a serious impact on your health.

Showering and keeping yourself clean using water are part of everyday life. But what if your skin is exposed to moisture 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

If your skin feels soft, soggy, water-logged, and wrinkled in appearance, your skin may be macerated.

Too much exposure to moisture can cause maceration, a serious problem for your skin.

Skin maceration happens when your skin is broken down by moisture on a cellular level. Once this damage occurs, your skin is much more vulnerable to other types of problems and complications.

Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) is an umbrella term for four types of skin problems caused by prolonged exposure to moisture: 

  • Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD)
  • Intertriginous dermatitis (ITD)
  • Periwound skin damage
  • Peristomal MASD‌

MASD often happens to people who sweat a lot or come into contact with urine or feces for a long time due to incontinence. It can also happen to people who have larger wounds that expel fluid, or exudate, when the wound isn’t kept clean and dry.

Cases of skin maceration are becoming more common in the world of health care, mainly due to an increase in the aging population. People who experience moisture-related skin damage can have the following symptoms: 

People who have skin maceration are also prone to getting other complications around the area. Bacterial or fungal infections can develop in macerated skin because these microbes flourish in a dark, damp environment. 

Painful pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, can happen on macerated skin. Dermatitis is a painful, irritating skin condition that can also be caused or promoted by macerated skin.

Other factors that can cause or worsen MASD are: 

  • Incontinence
  • Poor hygiene
  • Too much stress on the skin, such as friction or pressure
  • The presence of yeast or fungus
  • Humidity
  • Chemical or biological skin irritants 

Urinary and fecal incontinence can be a sensitive topic. It’s not known exactly how many people experience it because it can be difficult or embarrassing to talk about.

From what we do know, urinary incontinence can affect about 19% of women aged 45 and younger and 29% of women aged 80 and up. It’s not as well-studied in men, but we know it affects 5%-15% of men who live in retirement communities. 

Incontinence is strongly associated with skin maceration. Because incontinence can cause an environment full of moisture, the skin can become macerated if it’s left for a long period.

When the skin is macerated, its protective barriers are broken down. This leaves the door open for bacterial and other infections to take hold.

Urine and feces can irritate the skin, and feces especially can contain bacteria that worsen cases of skin maceration. Incontinence-related maceration can develop in as little as four days.

It usually shows up in the skin folds, inner thighs, and buttocks.

Since skin maceration comes from constant moisture, keeping skin clean and dry can help speed up the recovery process. 

When dealing with skin maceration, the first step is to clean the skin thoroughly to remove bacteria. In incontinence-related cases, consider using a no-rinse, pH-balanced cleanser.

Next, an ointment should be applied to the skin to act as a protective barrier. Keep skin clean and dry, and if maceration is incontinence-related, change soiled clothes immediately.

Other ways you can help skin maceration heal are by reducing friction and pressure. That might mean repositioning yourself or your loved one every one to two hours to relieve pressure on the area. You might consider supportive cushioning to help heal tender areas.

Proper changing of bandages isn’t the only way to promote healing. Getting proper nutrition, especially protein, will give your body the nutrients it needs to start repairing itself. Drinking the recommended amount of water will also help speed healing. 

‌You’ll need proper circulation of the blood to heal fully. Avoid smoking tobacco. Smoking hinders your blood circulation and makes the healing process slower.

If you think you have skin maceration, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. If left alone, it can fester and get worse.

If you delay taking care of skin maceration, you could face more serious problems. Some possible skin maceration risks include: 

  • Pain or swelling
  • Possible infection
  • Tissue damage or more serious wound problems, such as bedsores 
  • Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD), like that caused by incontinence, atopic dermatitis (eczema)

Skin maceration happens when your skin is exposed to moisture for too long, causing it to break down. This makes your skin more vulnerable to infections and other complications.

Incontinence is one way you can get skin maceration. If your skin is in contact with pee or poop for too long, it can damage your skin, especially in your thighs and butt areas.

Treatment for skin maceration focuses on keeping your skin dry, able to breathe, and clean.

What is the best dressing for maceration?

It is best to have your doctor choose the right kind of dressing for skin maceration. Generally, the best dressing is breathable and absorbent. You will also want to change the dressing often. Along with the dressing, make sure you are using petroleum or silicone-based products for extra protection from moisture.

What happens during maceration? 

When your skin is macerated, your tissue softens and starts to break down from moisture. That can happen with water, urine, sweat, or liquid from an open wound. If you do nothing about it, it may lead to an infection, a larger wound, pain, and itching. 

Does skin maceration mean infection? 

Not necessarily. If your skin appears whitish or grayish and wrinkled up, your skin may only be overly saturated. But if you have any pain, swelling, redness, pus, or cloudy fluid, you may have an infection and should go to your doctor. 

How long does it take macerated skin to heal?

Minor skin maceration can heal in just a few days if you allow the area to air-dry. You can also use absorbent, breathable dressings, or silicone- or petroleum-based products to help keep the area dry. If it is more severe or you think you have an infection, go see your doctor.