The Effects of Skin Temperature Changes on the Integrity of Skin Tissue: A Systematic Review.
Tiziana Mifsud, Chiara Modestini, Anabelle Mizzi and 3 others
PMID 35819955WHAT IT FOUND
Elevated skin temperature consistently worsened skin barrier function and increased water loss during loading.
In patients with impaired thermoregulation, delayed temperature recovery after offloading predicted ulcer formation, suggesting monitoring may aid early detection.
Key findings
01All studies assessing transepidermal water loss found it increased as skin temperature rose, indicating barrier disruption.
02Patients who developed ulcers showed significantly delayed blood flow and temperature recovery responses after cold stimulus or loading compared to those who did not.
03Elevated skin temperature was an independent risk factor for pressure injury development in patients undergoing prolonged surgery.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The included studies were highly heterogeneous in design, population, and outcome measures, preventing meta-analysis and limiting definitive conclusions. Sample sizes in individual studies were small, reducing the generalizability of the findings. Many studies were observational or non-randomized, which introduces potential bias and limits causal inference. Confounding factors such as ambient humidity, patient sweat, and air convection were often not reported or controlled for. The review excluded studies on already ulcerated skin, so findings apply primarily to prevention in intact skin rather than management of existing wounds.
Declared interests
No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret elevated skin temperature as a standalone diagnostic tool for pressure injury. The relationship is complex; some studies found no significant temperature difference between patients who developed ulcers and those who did not, and delayed recovery time may be a more reliable indicator of impaired thermoregulation than absolute temperature.