SECURA FOAM

Skin that is regularly exposed to urine or faeces faces a particular challenge. The moisture and chemical irritants in these bodily fluids break down the natural skin barrier, raising the skin pH and making the surface vulnerable to breakdown, inflammation, and secondary infection. Cleansing the skin after each episode of incontinence while keeping the skin barrier intact requires a cleanser that removes soiling effectively without stripping the skin surface or requiring vigorous rinsing that can further disturb the barrier. Secura Foam is a no rinse skin cleanser foam from Smith & Nephew for perineal and body care. Two sizes: 1ml and 3ml. Gentle. No rinsing required. No prescription needed.

Secura Foam is a skin care product from Smith & Nephew. It is a no rinse cleansing foam formulated for use on the perineal area and body skin, particularly in the context of incontinence care and the management of skin that is at risk from or affected by incontinence associated dermatitis. The foam format allows a controlled amount of cleanser to be applied to the skin surface with minimal friction, which is important for skin that is already fragile or irritated.

The no rinse format is a practical and clinical advantage over traditional soap and water cleansing for incontinence care. Soap and water cleansing raises skin surface pH and can strip the skin's natural lipid barrier. Rinsing requires water contact, towelling, and friction, all of which can further irritate already compromised skin. A no rinse cleanser is applied, worked gently into the soiled area, and either wiped away or left to dry without the need for water rinsing. This reduces handling time, friction on the skin, and disruption to the skin barrier during each cleansing episode.

Secura Foam is supplied in two unit dose sizes: 1ml and 3ml. The unit dose format supports infection control practice by ensuring each dose is dispensed from a fresh, sealed container rather than a shared multi-use bottle. In clinical settings where incontinence care is provided for multiple patients, unit dose formats reduce the cross-contamination risk associated with shared skin care products.

Secura Foam is a skin cleansing product. It is not an antifungal treatment. A separate Smith & Nephew product is available for skin affected by fungal infection. If the skin being cared for shows signs of fungal infection such as a satellite lesion rash, seek clinical assessment for appropriate treatment.

Secura Foam is for external skin use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Do not use inside body cavities. For use on the perineal area, external genitalia, and perianal skin. If significant skin breakdown, open wounds, or signs of infection are present alongside incontinence associated dermatitis, seek clinical assessment. Secura Foam cleanses but does not treat infection or broken skin.

Gentle Cleansing Without Rinsing

The foam formulation of Secura Foam delivers a cleansing action through its surfactant components, which lift soiling from the skin surface. The foam can be applied with minimal friction, spread gently over the soiled area, and removed with a soft cloth or left to absorb into the skin depending on the application method used. The no rinse formulation means that water contact is not required to complete the cleansing process. This reduces the total handling, friction, and moisture exposure that the skin experiences during each cleansing episode.

Skin Barrier Support

Traditional soap has an alkaline pH that temporarily raises the skin surface pH above the normal slightly acidic level of healthy skin. An elevated skin pH weakens the activity of the skin's natural antimicrobial defence peptides and increases susceptibility to bacterial and fungal colonisation. No rinse skin cleansers formulated for incontinence care are typically pH balanced to be closer to the normal skin pH than soap, reducing the disruption to the skin's acid mantle during cleansing. Secura Foam supports cleansing while being less disruptive to the skin barrier than alkaline soap.

Incontinence Associated Dermatitis Prevention

Incontinence-associated dermatitis is a form of irritant contact dermatitis caused by repeated or prolonged exposure of skin to urine and faeces. Regular gentle cleansing after each incontinence episode removes the irritant substances from the skin surface before they can cause further damage. Using a gentle no rinse cleanser like Secura Foam as part of a structured skin care routine for incontinent patients reduces the cumulative chemical exposure of the skin and supports the maintenance of skin integrity.

Foam Format and Application

The foam format delivers the cleanser in a light, spreadable form that covers the skin surface with minimal pressure. This is gentler than applying a liquid cleanser that may run away from the target area, or a cream that requires rubbing into the skin. The foam can be dispensed onto a cloth or directly onto the skin and spread with light strokes. The 1ml and 3ml unit dose sizes provide a measured amount of foam appropriate for each cleansing occasion.

Application

• Dispense the appropriate unit dose of Secura Foam onto a soft cloth, pad, or directly onto the skin surface.
• Spread the foam gently over the soiled area using light strokes.
• Gently wipe to remove soiling and foam together.
• No rinsing with water is required.
• Pat the skin dry if needed rather than rubbing.

After Cleansing

• Allow the skin to dry fully before applying any barrier cream or moisture barrier product.
• Apply a skin barrier product after cleansing if this is part of the skin care protocol for the patient.
• Dispose of the used unit dose container and any soiled cloths appropriately.

Use a fresh unit dose for each cleansing episode. Do not attempt to reuse or refill a used unit dose container. The unit dose format is intended to support hygiene standards by providing a single-use sealed container for each application.

Secura Foam 1ml

A 1ml unit dose for a single cleansing application. Suited to targeted cleansing of smaller areas or for use as part of a routine cleanse where a smaller foam volume is appropriate. The 1ml unit dose is compact and suited to individual use or clinical settings where a minimal volume per application meets the cleansing need.

Secura Foam 3ml

A 3ml unit dose providing a greater foam volume for more thorough perineal and body cleansing. Suited to situations where a larger area requires cleansing or where a single application needs more foam to address the level of soiling present. The 3ml unit dose is suited to clinical care settings where incontinence care involves more extensive cleansing at each episode.

Both sizes contain the same Secura Foam formulation. Size selection is based on the area to be cleansed and the volume of foam needed per application.

When Not to Use Secura Foam

• Eyes and mucous membranes.
• Inside body cavities.
• Open wounds or broken skin where a wound cleanser or saline is more appropriate.
• Known sensitivity to any component of the formulation.

Precautions

• For external skin use only.
• Use a fresh unit dose for each application.
• If skin signs suggest fungal infection alongside incontinence associated dermatitis, seek clinical assessment. Secura Foam does not treat fungal infection.
• If skin shows signs of significant breakdown or secondary infection, seek clinical assessment.

Adverse Effects

• Skin irritation or sensitivity reaction to formulation components in susceptible individuals.
• If irritation develops, discontinue use and seek advice.

Who Benefits from Secura Foam

• Adults and children who are incontinent of urine, faeces, or both, and who require regular gentle perineal cleansing as part of incontinence care
• Patients with or at risk of incontinence associated dermatitis where gentle no rinse cleansing is part of the skin management protocol
• Clinical settings including care homes, hospital wards, and community nursing where structured incontinence skin care routines are in place
• Carers managing incontinence care at home where a practical no rinse cleanser simplifies the cleansing routine

Secura Foam in an Incontinence Skin Care Routine

Clinical guidance on incontinence associated dermatitis recommends a structured skin care routine consisting of cleanse, moisturise, and protect. Secura Foam addresses the cleansing step. After cleansing with Secura Foam, applying a moisturiser supports skin hydration, and then applying a skin barrier product creates a protective layer between the skin and subsequent incontinence episodes. Secura Foam alone does not moisturise or create a barrier. For complete incontinence skin care, all three steps in the routine should be considered.

Secura Foam does not require a prescription. Both the 1ml and 3ml unit dose sizes are available from Pharmacy Planet without a clinical consultation.

Our pharmacists can advise on Secura Foam and on other skin care products for incontinence management and the prevention of incontinence associated dermatitis.

For patients with significant skin breakdown, suspected infection, or complex incontinence associated dermatitis, seek clinical assessment alongside product purchase.

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat and sunlight.
• Do not store above 25 degrees C.
• Keep in original sealed packaging until use.
• Check expiry date before use.
• Keep out of reach of children.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy. Both Secura Foam unit dose sizes are genuine Smith & Nephew products stocked through regulated UK supply chains.

Our pharmacists can advise on Secura Foam and on the full range of incontinence skin care products for perineal care and incontinence associated dermatitis management.

References

1. Smith & Nephew. Secura Foam — Product Information. Smith & Nephew. https://www.smith-nephew.com. Accessed June 2026.
2. NHS. Incontinence-associated dermatitis: guidance for skin care. NHS England. https://www.england.nhs.uk. Accessed June 2026.
3. Wounds UK. Best Practice Statement: Maintaining skin integrity. https://www.wounds-uk.com. Accessed June 2026.
4. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Urinary incontinence in adults: management. https://www.nice.org.uk. Accessed June 2026.