Which characteristic is associated with moisture-associated skin damage (MASD)?

Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) primarily affects the outer layers of the skin and is associated with identifiable characteristics, one of which is the presence of partial thickness lesions in skin folds. These lesions occur due to prolonged exposure to moisture from urine, feces, sweat, or wound exudate, leading to skin irritation and damage.

Partial thickness refers to the damage being confined to the epidermis and possibly extending into the dermis, but not through it entirely. This aligns well with MASD, as it typically does not involve the deeper structures of the skin, which is why full thickness skin loss is not characteristic of this type of damage.

The lesions also often appear as red or inflamed areas that may or may not have weeping or crusting, but do not feature the irregular wound borders commonly seen in deeper injuries, nor do they usually present with vascular congestion around the wound, which suggests more severe or chronic conditions rather than a moisture-related issue.