Summary Background There is a high incidence of pressure ulcers in high‐risk settings such as intensive care. There is emerging evidence that the application of dressings to pressure ulcer predilection areas (sacrum and heels) improves prevention strategies. Objectives To determine whether preventive dressings, applied to the sacrum and heels of high‐risk patients in intensive care units, in addition to standard prevention, reduces the incidence of pressure ulcers. Methods Between June 2015 and July 2018, a randomized, controlled, two‐arm, superiority pragmatic study was performed with a concealed 1 : 1 allocation to the intervention and control group. Patients assigned to the intervention group had dressings applied to the sacrum and heels. Results In total, 7575 patients were screened for eligibility and 475 patients were included and allocated to both groups. Finally, 212 patients in the intervention group and 210 in the control group were analysed. The mean age was 63·5 years and the majority of patients were male (65·4%). The cumulative pressure ulcer incidence category II and above was 2·8% in the intervention, and 10·5% in the control group (P = 0·001). Compared with the control group, the relative risk in the intervention group was 0·26 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·11–0·62] and the absolute risk reduction was 0·08 (95% CI 0·03–0·13). Conclusions The results indicate that the application of dressings, in addition to standard prevention, in high‐risk intensive care unit patients is effective in preventing pressure ulcers at the heels and sacrum. What's already known about this topic? Pressure ulcers are severe soft tissue injuries and wounds, which occur worldwide in all healthcare settings. Despite preventive interventions, pressure ulcers still develop. There is emerging evidence that dressings help to prevent pressure ulcers. What does this study add? The incidence of pressure ulcers in intensive care units among high‐risk patients remains high. The application of dressings to the sacrum and heels, in addition to standard preventive measures, reduces the relative and absolute risks for the development of pressure ulcers. The application of preventive dressings at the heels and sacrum seems to be feasible in intensive care settings. Linked Comment: Nixon. Br J Dermatol 2020; 183:200–201.

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Patients in acute and long-term care settings receive daily routine skin care, including washing, bathing, and showering, often followed by application of lotions, creams, and/or ointments. These personal hygiene and skin care activities are integral parts of nursing practice, but little is known about their benefits or clinical efficacy. The aim of this article was to summarize the empirical evidence supporting basic skin care procedures and interventions and to develop a clinical algorithm for basic skin care. Electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched and afterward a forward search was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science. In order to evaluate a broad range of basic skin care interventions systematic reviews, intervention studies, and guidelines, consensus statements and best practice standards also were included in the analysis. One hundred twenty-one articles were read in full text; 41documents were included in this report about skin care for prevention of dry skin, prevention of incontinence-associated dermatitis and prevention of skin injuries. The methodological quality of the included publications was variable. Review results and expert input were used to create a clinical algorithm for basic skin care. A 2-step approach is proposed including general and special skin care. Interventions focus primarily on skin that is either too dry or too moist. The target groups for the algorithm are adult patients or residents with intact or preclinical damaged skin in care settings. The goal of the skin care algorithm is a first attempt to provide guidance for practitioners to improve basic skin care in clinical settings in order to maintain or increase skin health.