THERA Antimicrobial Body Cleanser

By THERA / McKesson  |  SKU: 53-AC4 (4 fl oz Pump)  |  SKU: 53-AC8 (8 fl oz Spray)

Benzalkonium Chloride 0.13% — Antimicrobial Protection  |  Rinse-Free / No-Rinse Formula  |  SAFFLEX Vitamin & Botanical Complex  |  Hyaluronic Acid  |  pH-Balanced  |  Scented (Lavender Ylang)  |  Latex-Free & Non-Allergenic  |  4 oz Pump or 8 oz Spray

THERA Antimicrobial Body Cleanser is a clinical no-rinse skin cleanser that combines antimicrobial action with active skin conditioning — killing germs with Benzalkonium Chloride (0.13%) while delivering vitamins, botanical extracts, and hyaluronic acid through the SAFFLEX conditioning complex. Designed for incontinence care, perineal hygiene, bed bathing, and daily body cleansing without soap or rinsing, the THERA Antimicrobial Cleanser is safe for full-body use including the face, gentle enough for sensitive skin (eczema, psoriasis, skin fragility), and effective enough to serve as a deodorant replacement by addressing the bacterial source of body odor rather than masking it. pH-balanced to preserve the skin's acid mantle. Latex-free, non-allergenic, scented with lavender ylang. Two formats: 4 fl oz pump bottle (53-AC4) and 8 fl oz spray bottle (53-AC8). By THERA / McKesson.

Formats Available

Ingredients

How to Use

1. Spray or apply to soiled and/or odorous body or perineal areas.
2. Gently wipe clean with a soft cloth or wipe.
3. Repeat as necessary until the area is clean.
4. Pat dry — do not rub.
5. No rinsing necessary.
6. Apply a barrier protectant cream or paste as directed (see Secura Extra Protective Cream for high-risk skin).

Key Features

• Benzalkonium Chloride 0.13% — kills bacteria, not just removes them — BZK is a quaternary ammonium compound antiseptic that disrupts bacterial cell membranes, killing bacteria on the skin surface rather than simply rinsing them away as soap does; at 0.13% BZK is effective against a broad spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria including organisms associated with skin infection and odor; the antimicrobial action is particularly relevant in incontinence care, where repeated fecal contamination of perineal skin introduces bacteria that standard cleansers only mechanically remove — BZK provides a residual reduction in bacterial load that soap does not
• Rinse-free formula — no water required — the no-rinse formulation eliminates the need for water access, rinsing equipment, and the patient repositioning or physical effort that water-based cleansing requires; critical for bed-bound patients, patients with severe mobility limitations, patients in areas without immediate water access, and high-frequency incontinence care where repeated water rinsing would further compromise the skin's moisture balance and increase care burden
• SAFFLEX complex — clinical skin conditioning alongside cleansing — rather than a simple soap-and-surfactant formula, THERA incorporates a structured conditioning system: five vitamins (B3, B5, B6, C, E) with roles in skin barrier function, healing, and antioxidant protection; hyaluronic acid for deep tissue hydration; aloe vera and bisabolol for soothing and anti-inflammatory action; safflower oleosomes to replenish barrier lipids; ginger extract as an antioxidant; the multi-ingredient approach addresses the primary failure of standard cleansers in incontinence skin care, which is the progressive stripping of the skin's natural lipids, moisture, and protective flora with each cleaning event
• Hyaluronic acid — deep hydration in a clinical cleanser — sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) is a humectant capable of binding up to 1,000 times its weight in water; its inclusion in a no-rinse cleanser delivers active hydration to the skin surface during each cleaning event, counteracting the desiccation that repeated cleansing otherwise causes; particularly valuable for elderly patients whose skin produces less natural moisturizing factor and is prone to xerosis
• pH-balanced — preserves the skin's acid mantle — healthy skin maintains a surface pH of approximately 4.5 to 5.5, which inhibits bacterial colonization and supports barrier integrity; many soaps and standard cleansers have alkaline pH values that disrupt this acid mantle, temporarily raising skin pH and making it more susceptible to bacterial growth and irritation; the THERA cleanser is formulated to a pH compatible with the skin's natural range
• Full-body use including face — safe for use on all skin surfaces; useful as a full bed bath substitute or as a supplement to partial hygiene for patients who cannot perform complete personal hygiene independently
• Deodorant replacement — by reducing bacteria on the skin surface (the source of body odor), rather than masking odor with fragrance alone, the BZK antimicrobial action provides meaningful odor control for patients who cannot shower daily
• Scented (lavender ylang) | Latex-free | Non-allergenic | By THERA / McKesson

Clinical FAQs

Why use an antimicrobial cleanser rather than standard soap for incontinence-associated skin care?

Standard soap and water cleansing physically removes fecal and urinary soiling from the skin surface through surfactant action and rinsing — it does not meaningfully reduce the bacterial population remaining on the skin after cleansing. The skin surface retains a bacterial load after soap cleansing that can continue to degrade urine and fecal material, contributing to ammonia and enzyme production that further damages the skin. Benzalkonium Chloride at 0.13% actively kills bacteria present on the skin surface, providing a meaningful reduction in the bacterial load that remains after cleaning. In patients with chronic heavy fecal soiling — from liquid fecal incontinence, severe diarrhea, or frequent loose stools — the cumulative bacterial exposure is sufficient that the additional antimicrobial action of BZK provides clinically meaningful protection beyond soap. Additionally, the no-rinse formula eliminates the repeated water contact and mechanical wiping that soap-and-water cleansing requires, reducing the friction trauma and moisture loading that are primary contributors to incontinence-associated dermatitis progression. The SAFFLEX complex then actively conditions the skin during the cleaning event rather than leaving it stripped and dry. The combination — antimicrobial action, no rinsing, and active conditioning — makes THERA Antimicrobial Cleanser a more complete skin care tool for high-risk incontinence patients than soap alone.

How does the THERA Antimicrobial Cleanser fit into a complete perineal skin care protocol with a barrier cream?

A complete perineal skin care protocol for incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) management typically involves three steps at each cleansing event: cleanse, moisturize if needed, and protect. The THERA Antimicrobial Cleanser serves as the cleanse step — removing soiling, reducing bacterial load, and conditioning the skin through the SAFFLEX complex. Because THERA includes hyaluronic acid, aloe, and vitamin-based skin conditioning alongside the cleanser, a separate moisturizer step may not be necessary for all patients; the conditioning ingredients partially fulfill the moisturize step within the cleaning event itself. The protect step — applying a barrier cream or paste to seal the skin from subsequent moisture exposure — is performed after cleansing and drying, using a product like Secura Extra Protective Cream (30% zinc oxide with karaya) for patients with active IAD or at high risk of skin breakdown. The THERA Cleanser is compatible with and specifically recommended for use before barrier cream application; the usage instructions include "Apply a protectant cream or paste as necessary" as the final step after cleansing and drying. The two products together form a practical, effective IAD prevention and treatment protocol for incontinence skin care.

Is the THERA Antimicrobial Cleanser appropriate for patients with sensitive skin, eczema, or psoriasis?

Yes — THERA Antimicrobial Cleanser is specifically noted as appropriate for individuals with eczema, psoriasis, and other skin sensitivities. Several formula characteristics support use on sensitive or compromised skin. The non-allergenic, latex-free designation indicates testing and formulation to minimize allergenic potential. The pH-balanced formula avoids the alkaline disruption to the skin's acid mantle that triggers or worsens many eczema and psoriasis flares. The BZK concentration at 0.13% is the minimum effective antimicrobial concentration — low enough to provide antimicrobial action without the tissue-level irritation that higher-concentration antiseptics can cause. The SAFFLEX ingredients — particularly bisabolol (anti-irritant from chamomile), aloe vera, niacinamide (Vitamin B3, with documented barrier-repair action in eczema), and hyaluronic acid — are all established tolerable skin-conditioning ingredients used in sensitive skin formulations. The mild surfactant system is designed not to strip skin of natural lipids or moisture. However, any patient with known sensitivity to specific ingredients in the formula (fragrance, a specific botanical, or BZK) should confirm compatibility with their dermatologist or wound care clinician before regular use. The lavender ylang fragrance is present and may be an irritant for a subset of patients with fragrance sensitivity — this is the one ingredient to note specifically for sensitive skin patients.

Questions about THERA Antimicrobial Cleanser, incontinence skin care, or building a complete perineal care protocol? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902  |  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–3pm EST