Smith & Nephew Secura Extra Protective Cream — 3.25 oz

SKU: 59432400  |  UPC: 036974032400  |  By Smith & Nephew

30% Zinc Oxide Barrier  |  Karaya Powder — Adheres to Wet & Denuded Skin  |  Will Not Wash Away with Urine or Feces  |  For IAD, Diaper Dermatitis & Severe Diarrhea  |  Non-Sensitizing & Latex-Free  |  Pediatrician Tested  |  Removable with Secura Cleanser

Smith & Nephew Secura Extra Protective Cream (EPC) is the maximum-barrier tier in the Secura incontinence skin care line — formulated for patients whose skin is already compromised by moisture, maceration, or breakdown rather than just at risk. At 30% zinc oxide combined with karaya powder, the EPC provides protection and adherence that standard zinc oxide creams cannot match on wet or denuded surfaces: the karaya absorbs moisture from the wound bed and surrounding skin and helps the cream adhere tenaciously to macerated, weepy, or damaged skin even after repeated exposure to urine and feces. The EPC protects and promotes healing of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD), diaper dermatitis, and perineal skin breakdown in patients with severe or frequent diarrhea. It is also used as part of a comprehensive pressure injury prevention protocol to protect periwound and perineal skin from moisture damage. Vitamin E, glycerin, and mineral oil condition and soothe the skin within the barrier. Non-sensitizing. Latex-free. Pediatrician tested. Removable with Secura Cleanser. 3.25 oz tube. SKU 59432400. By Smith & Nephew.

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Do not apply over deep or puncture wounds, active infections, or lacerations. If condition worsens or does not improve within 7 days, consult a physician.

Specifications

Key Features

• 30% zinc oxide — maximum-tier barrier protection — zinc oxide is the established active ingredient for skin barrier creams; at 30%, the EPC sits at the highest concentration available in OTC barrier products; zinc oxide functions both as a physical barrier (forming an occlusive layer that blocks moisture, urine, and fecal acids from contacting the skin surface) and as a mild astringent and anti-inflammatory agent that reduces redness and irritation in already-damaged skin; the EPC's concentration is appropriate for active skin breakdown, existing dermatitis, and high-risk perineal environments rather than routine low-risk prophylactic use
• Karaya powder — adheres to wet and denuded skin — the clinical differentiator of the Secura EPC is karaya, a natural plant gum added to the zinc oxide base; karaya has a strong affinity for moisture: it absorbs water from the wound surface and surrounding macerated tissue, swells slightly as it does so, and creates a sticky, adherent interface between the cream and the wet skin surface; this adherence keeps the barrier in place on the macerated, weepy, or denuded skin where standard zinc oxide creams — which require a dry application surface to adhere — simply do not stay applied after the first voiding event; on a patient with severe diarrhea or frequent urinary incontinence who is being repositioned and cleaned repeatedly, the karaya in the EPC makes the difference between a barrier that provides continuous protection and one that is washed away with each cleaning
• Will not wash away after repeated exposure to urine and feces — the EPC is specifically formulated to resist displacement by repeated urine and fecal contact; this is distinct from standard barrier creams that thin and displace with each incontinence episode; resistant barrier formulation reduces the total amount of cream needed per shift and reduces the number of full reapplication events required, which in turn reduces friction to the skin surface during reapplication — a secondary factor in skin breakdown in high-risk patients
• Safe for use on denuded skin — the EPC can be applied to skin that has already broken down to the dermis (denuded skin), unlike some barrier formulations that are indicated only for intact skin; on denuded skin, the karaya-zinc oxide combination provides barrier protection while the zinc oxide's mild astringent properties support a healing environment
• Vitamin E, Glycerin, and Mineral Oil — the conditioning and soothing components of the formulation; glycerin is a humectant that draws moisture into the skin layers; mineral oil provides occlusive moisturization; vitamin E is an antioxidant that supports skin repair and reduces oxidative stress in irritated tissue
• Removable with Secura Cleanser — the Secura EPC is designed to be removed cleanly with Smith & Nephew's Secura Cleanser rather than requiring vigorous wiping or multiple cleansing steps; the compatibility with Secura Cleanser simplifies perineal care protocol, reduces friction trauma to the skin during removal, and supports a one-system approach to incontinence skin care
• Non-sensitizing | Latex-free | Pediatrician tested

Clinical FAQs

What makes the Secura EPC different from a standard zinc oxide barrier cream, and who specifically needs the "Extra Protective" formulation?

Standard zinc oxide barrier creams — typically at 10% to 20% zinc oxide — are appropriate for prophylactic use on intact skin at moderate risk of incontinence-associated irritation. They apply cleanly and adhere adequately to dry or minimally moist skin between voiding events. The Secura EPC is the correct choice when the skin is already compromised or when the frequency and severity of moisture exposure exceeds what a standard barrier cream can manage. Three patient profiles specifically benefit from the EPC over a standard formulation. First, patients with established incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) — visible skin erythema, denudation, or breakdown in the perineal or buttock region from chronic exposure to urine and feces — where the skin surface is wet, inflamed, and macerated; the karaya in the EPC adheres where standard creams do not, providing continuous barrier function on compromised skin. Second, patients with severe or frequent liquid diarrhea — acute infectious diarrhea, Clostridioides difficile infection, post-surgical bowel changes, or radiation-related diarrhea — where the volume and frequency of fecal exposure rapidly overwhelms standard barrier protection; the EPC's higher zinc oxide concentration and karaya adhesion resist this level of exposure more effectively. Third, patients being managed under a comprehensive pressure injury prevention protocol who need perineal skin protection as part of an IAD prevention bundle — the EPC provides the maximum available barrier in a single tube without the application complexity of paste formulations.

What is karaya and why is it clinically meaningful in a barrier cream?

Karaya is a polysaccharide gum derived from the Sterculia urens tree, used in wound care and ostomy management for decades before its application in barrier creams. In wound care, karaya is best known for its use in ostomy skin barriers and wound contact layers, where its moisture-absorbing and adherence properties protect peristomal skin and keep barriers in place under continuous moisture exposure. In barrier cream formulations, karaya serves two functions: moisture absorption (it draws liquid away from the skin surface and into the karaya gum matrix, reducing maceration of the surrounding tissue) and mechanical adhesion to wet surfaces (the swollen karaya creates a sticky interface that anchors the zinc oxide cream to tissue that would otherwise repel an oil-in-water emulsion). This is clinically significant because the standard challenge with barrier cream application on IAD-affected skin is that the skin surface is saturated with moisture — it is macerated, possibly weeping, and too wet for a standard cream to adhere effectively. The karaya in the EPC reverses this: the wetter the surface, the more the karaya absorbs moisture and the more firmly it adheres. For nursing and care staff managing high-risk incontinence patients, the practical result is a barrier that stays on the skin and provides protection throughout the period between cleanings, rather than one that must be constantly reapplied because it has been displaced.

Can the Secura EPC be used as part of a pressure injury prevention protocol?

Yes — Smith & Nephew specifically includes pressure injury prevention as an indication for the Secura EPC, used as a component of a comprehensive prevention regimen. Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD), including IAD, is a recognized risk factor and contributor to pressure injury development in at-risk patients: macerated, inflamed, or denuded perineal skin is structurally weaker and more susceptible to the shear and friction forces that generate pressure injuries. Protecting perineal and perianal skin from moisture damage — through consistent barrier cream application — is one component of multimodal pressure injury prevention bundles used in long-term care, acute care, and home care settings. The EPC's ability to adhere to already-compromised skin and resist repeated moisture exposure makes it appropriate for patients who are both at risk for IAD and for pressure injury, where the highest level of available barrier protection is warranted. For patients with intact skin at moderate moisture risk, the standard Secura Skin Protectant or Secura Dimethicone Protectant may be more appropriate starting points, with escalation to the EPC when skin status changes. Consult the treating clinician or wound care specialist to determine the appropriate product tier for each patient's specific skin assessment findings.

Questions about Secura Extra Protective Cream, the Secura product line, or incontinence skin care supplies? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902  |  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–3pm EST