Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is common in patients with incontinence and failure to diagnose it may result in complications. The authors aimed to review the definition and management of IAD and address the gap in practice. Five electronic databases were searched for publications referring to IAD published before October 2018 and their reference sections searched for relevant literature. All studies presenting a definition or classification of IAD were included. It was determined that, as a definition, IAD is a form of skin inflammation that may or may not be associated with infection and skin may or may not be intact. Evidence did not point to a preferred classification tool, therefore, a tool should be adapted/created based on expert consensus. A clear definition and simple classification tool will help nurses identify and treat IAD. There is no standardised management protocol, however, the Wounds International Global IAD Expert Panel document (Beeckman et al, 2015b) could act as a basis for this. A nursing minimum data set and core outcome measure should be developed to aid in the development and dissemination of evidence-based practice.
