Removing tape from the skin strips the epidermal surface and makes the skin susceptible to invasion by skin bacteria. The skin is naturally acidic, which keeps bacteria from becoming overgrown; alkaline soap neutralizes this protection and increases the patient’s risk for infection. Oral moisturizers, emollients on bony prominences, and barrier cream to the buttocks and perineum help to prevent skin breakdown and maintain the body’s first line of defense against infection.