Bedsores: Heal and Prevent

According to the Mayo Clinic, “bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are injuries to skin and underlying tissues that result from prolonged pressure on the skin. Bedsores most often develop on skin that covers bony areas of the body, such as the heel, ankles, hips or buttocks.”

The first stage of a bedsore is when the skin is still intact; it may or may not be discolored and the abrasion site will be painful.  The second stage of a bedsore is when part of the skin is missing or damaged.  The skin may be pink or red in color and have a broken or unbroken blister.  When a bedsore has entered stage 3, the site of skin loss reveals fat, looks sunken in, and may reveal yellow, dead tissue.  By stage 4, muscle, bone, and tendons may be exposed and the revealed tissue may be yellow or dark.

How to Care for a Bedsore

Bedsores are best cared for by a physician.  However, those that are not severe can be cared for by the following process:

First and foremost, you must investigate what caused the bedsore so as to ensure that further damage does not occur.  Bedsores are caused by too much pressure, friction, and/or “shear” (i.e. friction that occurs when two surfaces move in opposite directions).

If the bedsore is a stage one, water and a mild soap can be used to gently clean it.  If the bedsore is in stage 2, it can be cleaned with a saline solution.  You should never scrub or put a lot of pressure on the bedsore.  Cleaning the bedsore is a very important step because it keeps the wound from contracting further infections.

Next, all of the dead tissue and scabs should be removed; removing these tissues is necessary for the wound to begin the healing process.  The wound should then be gently patted dry.

Afterwards, the wound should be dressed, to guarantee it stays moist, and bandaged; dressings and bandages protect the wound from infection.

Finally, direct pressure on the wound should be avoided.  Your loved one should be repositioned frequently to avoid both pressure on the wound and future wounds.  If he/she is bedbound, this should be done every two hours.  If he/she is bound to a wheelchair, this should be done every hour.

Cleaning, dressing, and bandaging the wound should be done very frequently.

To prevent bedsores in the future, your loved one should:

• Be bathed frequently.
• Be inspected for sites of pressure habitually.
• Be properly elevated in bed.
• Engage in regular exercise (for those not completely disabled).
• Be repositioned frequently.
• Place cushioning devices in bony areas; this should be done with caution as these devices can also become a source for a bedsore.
• Protect skin areas prone to moisture.
• Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.
• Be sufficiently hydrated.