75% of lower-limb prosthetic users develop skin conditions from their liners

Prosthetic liners -- the silicone or gel sleeves worn between the residual limb and the socket -- trap heat and moisture against the skin for 12-16 hours a day. This creates a warm, humid, occluded microenvironment that causes contact dermatitis, folliculitis, fungal infections, maceration, and pressure ulcers. Approximately 75% of lower-extremity amputees who use prostheses experience dermatologic problems. These skin conditions force amputees to stop wearing their prosthesis for days or weeks while wounds heal, which means they lose mobility, miss work, and regress physically. The problem persists because liner materials are designed for mechanical cushioning and suspension, not for skin health. There is almost no collaboration between prosthetists and dermatologists: skin problems are treated reactively after breakdown occurs rather than prevented through material science or monitoring. No commercial liner currently provides real-time moisture sensing, active ventilation, or antimicrobial surface properties at scale.