disclosed are a fluid absorber , a method for preparing a fluid absorber , and a method for absorbing fluid from the skin . the disclosed method for preparing a fluid absorber generally comprises the steps of selecting a starch and an enzyme for hydrolysis of the starch , determining a fluid absorption optimum hydrolysis level for the starch , and ezymatically hydrolyzing the starch to approximately the optimum level thus determined . the starch alternatively may be hydrolyzed with acid hydrolysis without the use of an enzyme catalyst . the disclosed method for absorbing fluid from the skin includes the step of applying a fluid absorbing effective amount of a fluid absorber thus prepared . absorption properties of the fluid absorber of the invention are comparable to or exceed those of commercially available skin fluid absorbers , such as talc and unmodified corn starch .