Q&A: The Benefits of DermaTherapy Bed Sheets for Burns

Thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us a bit more about the DermaTherapy products and history?

DermaTherapy® is a bedding fabric technology that we developed in 2008. Our company, Precision Fabrics Group (PFG), is the former Performance Fabrics division of Burlington Industries, which at its apex largest textile company in the world. In 1988, PFG became a privately held company based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Precision Fabrics Group (PFG) manufactures the DermaTherapy fabric today in both Greensboro, NC, and Vinton, VA.

PFG specializes in highly engineered fabrics for aerospace, healthcare, military, industrial, and home applications. We produce high-performance fabrics used in ‘mission-critical environments.

Incorporating PFG’s research and manufacturing capabilities, PFG developed this therapeutic healthcare linen system to prevent pressure injuries and improve the healing environment. From 2008 to 2011, DermaTherapy was clinically trialed, commercialized in 2011, and since 2012, the therapeutic linen system has been installed in healthcare systems worldwide.

Can you tell us more about who is a great fit for DermaTherapy sheets?

Regardless of the stage of their recovery journey, each individual can benefit from DermaTherapy. The DermaTherapy Therapeutic Linen system includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, pillowcase, under pad (absorbent positioning device or incontinence pad), and a gown. The linens have excellent properties for skin care, comfort, and rest. Anyone who has issues with skin damage, wounds, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, or Eczema can benefit from using DermaTherapy, throughout their healing journey, and beyond.

What is unique about DermaTherapy from other specialized bed sheets that burn survivors can purchase?

DermaTherapy linens have a patented technology that delivers specific therapeutic value. Our competitors’ do not have the same testing, FDA clearance, product longevity, documentation, or clinical evidence.

DermaTherapy is the only linen system in the world that has received FDA 510K clearance for the following:

1. Prevention of pressure injuries

2. Reduction and prevention of the most common forms of skin issues such as Atopic Dermatitis (also known as Eczema) and Psoriasis

In addition, the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) and the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) agree on the evidence that controlling the microclimate is a significant key to keeping skin healthy and improving clinical outcomes in all venues of care. DermaTherapy is designed to specifically manage the microclimate.

DermaTherapy has been tested in 14 clinical trials. The clinical trials indicated a 66% reduction in pressure injuries and a reduction of ¼ days of a patient's stay in acute care in the hospital setting. In the long-term care setting, the study indicated a 90% reduction in pressure injuries and a 67% reduction overall.

From these studies and the over 8 million patient days+ in acute care alone, we also learned that there are many other uses and opportunities to enhance the environment for healing and comfort with the DermaTherapy linen system.

What are some other ways you see your customers using DermaTherapy sheets?

There are many uses other than the traditional methods to utilize DermaTherapy products – some examples of applications for the flat sheet and pillowcase can be found also in the Journey Forward Kit. Check out some of the different ways survivors are using the linens:

What benefits can burn survivors expect at home when purchasing your sheets?

Burn survivors can expect to anticipate the following benefits of a cleaner, drier, smoother environment from using DermaTherapy:

• Improves Temperature Regulation

• Reduces Itching via Smooth, Low-Friction Surface

• Improves Mobility

• Moisture Control via Wicking technology

• Controls Bio-Burden (Bacteria on the fabric)

• Machine Washable, Quick-Drying Fabric

• Resists Stains

• Long Wear Life

Unless there is an acute event with fluid, urine, wound drainage, or other forms of soiling, DermaTherapy is self-sanitizing which supports a clean environment with odor reduction for more extended periods, requiring less frequent laundering.

We've talked a bit about this, but can you dive into why your linens are better than a standard cotton sheet?

This therapeutic system manages the microclimate of a patient or individual's environment. The microclimate is defined as the area between a person's skin and the surface close to them, such as the surface of a chair or bed linens. Managing this critical area; moisture, friction, heat, and shear helps prevent injuries.

DermaTherapy linens use strong, smooth continuous filament yarns that are woven into a silk-like fabric, and then finished with durable surgical grade antimicrobial, soil release, and wicking compounds that create sheets that deliver a cleaner, drier, smoother linen. Dermatherapy dramatically reduces bacteria on the surface of the linen, and does not lint.

Cotton is organic, with shorter-staple fiber that is always in a state of breaking down from the minute you use it. It has pores, retains moisture, and creates a highly supportive environment for the growth of bacteria. When the fibers break down and "lint," they transfer the bacteria onto the skin, a wound, or the air you breathe.

Wet cotton sheets can stick to the skin. DermaTherapy, even when wet, does not adhere to skin and dries faster. All of this is combined to deliver a cleaner, drier and smoother environment.

We're interested to learn more about the technology and the microclimate. Can you share more with us about that?

The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel defines the "microclimate" as the area between the surface of the skin and the surface of whatever the patient is wearing or lying on.

Wound care clinicians say, "wet skin is weak skin." Skin is more likely to become compromised when it is damp and friction or shear occurs. For example, consider what happens if you stay too long in the bathtub and your hands or feet begin to soften. The same happens when your skin is wet for a more extended period.

DermaTherapy is the same type of fabric technology found in performance or exercise clothing. These micro-climate control fabrics essentially control the body temperature by wicking away moisture from skin, and promoting evaporation from the fabric. This process keeps you drier, regulates temperature, and inhibits the growth of bacteria and odor.

What might you share with healthcare systems that are considering using DermaTherapy?

Their current bedding has changed very little in the past 75 years; patients usually are on poly/cotton or 100% cotton sheets. Those incumbent fabrics have no special unique properties to support healthcare needs, especially burn care. The bedding may be negatively affecting care. With billions of dollars invested in preventing skin and tissue injuries, little attention has been paid to the items with which patients have the most intimate contact – the bedding and gowns.

DermaTherapy is the next generation of healthcare linen products engineered to provide therapeutic properties to optimize the microclimate, prevent skin breakdown and promote healing. DermaTherapy is smoother, drier, and cleaner than current hospital linens. After twelve years of use in healthcare venues including acute, post-acute, and homecare, DermaTherapy has delivered striking and consistent improvements of clinical outcomes for patients, and extraordinary savings for healthcare systems.

DermaTherapy is the first and only FDA-cleared linen system and is clinically proven, helping people heal faster in a more comfortable, safer environment.

How does your linen work in terms of burn care recovery specifically?

The challenge in managing the healing process for burn injuries is that they are the most acute and damaging to skin and tissue. DermaTherapy, deployed in several burn units in the country, has proven to accelerate the healing process by providing a cleaner, drier, low friction, silk-like surface beneficial for supporting skin grafts and wound dressings. DermaTherapy reduces stress on burn survivors and providers related to linen changes, and patient repositioning, by reducing overall levels of friction and shear and eliminating lint, which is a potential vector of infection.

Survivors have told us that the linens help with itching, ease of movement, minimize sticking, improve temperature regulation, and are softer and more comfortable.

The DermaTherapy sheets are one of the products currently a part of Phoenix Society's Journey Forward Program that is in pilot in seven hospitals across the country. What does it mean to have this product a part of this program?

We are honored to be a part of this program. DermaTherapy is a world-class technology, and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors is the leading organization supporting burn survivors and their families worldwide. Based on the evidence from its use for the past 12 years, we know that DermaTherapy can be a foundational element of the burn survivor's healing journey both in the hospital and at home for a long road to recovery. We share the same values, and together we can make the journey from hospital to home better and the road to recovery less stressful.

How can a survivor or other healthcare team purchase or contact your team to learn more?

DermaTherapy sheets are available online with a special discount here, in all bedding sizes. Healthcare Providers can email James Barry, Business Manager Healthcare Products at james.barry@precisionfabrics.com or call him directly at 336-215-1105.

James Barry 

Business Manager Healthcare Products – DermaTherapy® Therapeutic Linen System 

Precision Fabrics Group Inc. (PFG) 

James Barry joined Precision Fabrics Group, Inc. in 2010 to lead the effort to introduce the DermaTherapy Linen System to healthcare systems in the US and worldwide. Working closely with Textile Consultant and Clinical Products Support Team at Standard Textile Co., PFG’s partner and face to the acute healthcare marketplace and Lifeloom.com been directly engaged in all aspects from product design, clinical trials, installation, education and training of providers, and hospital staff. The objective always to dramatically improve clinical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs for patients, families and healthcare systems. 

James has been directly involved over the past nine years in application of DermaTherapy in Burn Units across the nation. He and PFG are deeply committed to working with Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors to expand the use of DermaTherapy for Burn Survivors in the acute care setting and at home optimizing the healing environment for burn survivors, caregivers and their families. Please contact him directly for further information at james.barry@precisionfabrics.com 

Annette Neal Osborne, DNP, RN, WTA-C, NEA-BC 

Chief Clinical Executive 

Precision Fabrics Group Inc. (PFG)   

Annette Neal Osborne, DNP, RN, WTA-C, NEA-BC, has devoted herself to creating better clinical outcomes and patient experiences for more than 30 years. From her earliest days as a staff nurse at Cone Health hospital in Greensboro, NC, to her current role as the Senior Nurse Executive for Precision Fabrics Groups (PFG), she has remained passionate about the “art of nursing.”  Dr. Osborne has spent her career developing meaningful relationships to bring about impactful care and foster the highest levels of wellness.   

As the Vice President of Nursing and Patient Services at Cone Health, Dr. Osborne oversaw more than 3,500 employees across all levels of care, including critical care, medical and surgical departments, general surgery, and other ancillary services.  

In her current role, Dr. Osborne has had a laser focus on changing the standard of care for our most vulnerable and critical patients, by exploring new ways to advocate for patients across every venue of care, particularly through evidence-based practices and methods. She has been involved with burn research using DermaTherapy since 2017.  Equipped with the revolutionary, FDA-cleared technology of DermaTherapy’ s therapeutic bedding and the partnership with Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, she is confident we can make a difference in countless lives across the country and the world.