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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

Protecting your skin
Problems with urine leakage may require you to take extra care to prevent skin irritation. Some things you can do to protect your skin include:

  • Use a washcloth to clean yourself.
  • Allow your skin to air dry.
  • Avoid frequent washing and douching because these can overwhelm your body's natural defenses against bladder infections.
  • Consider using a barrier cream, such as petroleum jelly or cocoa butter, to protect your skin from urine.

Making the toilet more convenient
If you have urge incontinence or nighttime incontinence:

  • Move any rugs or furniture you might trip over or collide with on the way to the toilet.
  • Use a night light to illuminate your path and reduce your risk of falling.

If you have functional incontinence, possible changes may include:

  • Keeping a bedpan in your bedroom
  • Installing an elevated toilet seat
  • Adding a bathroom in a more convenient location
  • Widening an existing bathroom doorway
Alternative medicine Treatments and drugs
References
  1. Urinary incontinence. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/sec17/ch228/ch228b.html. Accessed April 28, 2011.
  2. Urinary incontinence in women. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pdf/UI-Women.pdf. Accessed April 28, 2011.
  3. DuBeau CE. Epidemiology, risk factors, and pathogenesis of urinary incontinence. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 28, 2011.
  4. DuBeau CE. Treatment of urinary incontinence. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 28, 2011.
  5. Quentin Clemins J. Urinary incontinence in men. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 28, 2011.
  6. Deng DY. Urinary incontinence in women. Medical Clinics of North America. 2011; 95:101.
  7. Fong E. Urinary incontinence. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2010;37:599.
  8. Incontinence. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed April 28, 2011.
  9. Hartmann KE, et al. Treatment of Overactive Bladder in Women. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK32542/. Accessed April 28, 2011.
  10. Nygaard A. Idiopathic urgency urinary incontinence. New England Journal of Medicine. 2010;363:1156.
  11. Urgent PC. Uroplasty Inc. http://www.uroplasty.com/patients/urgentpc. Accessed May 11, 2011.
  12. Clinician training & resources FAQ. FemSoft insert: Instructions for women. http://www.femsofttraining.com. Accessed June 17, 2011.
DS00404 June 25, 2011

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