Pressure Sores - WatsonsHealth

PRESSURE SORES

A decubitus ulcer is also known as a stress ulcer, stress sore, or bedsore. It’s an open wound in the skin. Decubitus ulcers usually occur on the skin covering the bony areas. The most common sites for a decubitus ulcer are the following:

This condition is common among:

  • Older men and women
  • Individuals with decreased movement
  • Individuals who spend extended durations in mattress or a wheelchair
  • People who can’t move about without help
  • Persons with delicate skin

The condition is very treatable.

Pressure is one of the foremost factors of a decubitus ulcer. Lying on one side of your body for long periods may cause your skin to breakdown. Your skin is thinner in locations that are adjacent to bone or cartilage. The hips, heels, and backbone are prone to pressure sores.

Decubitus ulcers may ensue while you scrape or scour your skin towards a hard surface. Friction on the skin may harm the outermost layer of skin cells. This layer is known as the epidermis.

Wearing soiled garments or undergarments for long periods of time could create open sores on the skin. This will irritate the delicate external skin layer.

Poor nutrition or not getting adequate nutrients in your diet could affect the health of your skin, which will increase your risk. This includes not taking in adequate water to keep your skin hydrated and to avert dehydration.

Situations like diabetes may impair your blood circulation, which will cause tissue destruction in your skin and increase your risk.

Types

Stages

Decubitus ulcers arise in stages. There’s a staging approach to help your doctor diagnose pressure sores.

Stage 1

The skin isn’t damaged, but it’s discolored. The skin may appear pink if you have a fair complexion. The discoloration may differ from blue to red when you have a dark complexion. It may also show up white.

Stage 2

The skin is open and shows indicators of some tissue dying across the wound. The ulcer is shallow with a red-purple wound base. There may be a blister filled with fluid.

Stage 3

The ulcer is much deeper within the skin. It disrupts your fats layer and appears like a crater. There may be pus in the sore.

Stage 4

Many layers are affected on this stage, along with your muscle and bone. A dark substance referred to as eschar could also be within the sore.

Unstageable

The ulcer may be yellow or green. It can be smooth and have pus, or it can have a brown coating on top of it. If the damage to your tissue layers is vast, it will have to be eliminated. Nevertheless, if the covering of the ulcer is dry and firm, it shouldn’t be removed. It’s your body’s layer of protection

 

Symptoms

Each stage of a decubitus ulcer has different signs and symptoms. Depending on the stage, you’ll have any of the following:

  • Skin discoloration
  • Pain in the affected area
  • Infection
  • Open skin
  • Skin that’s softer or firmer than the encircling skin

Diagnosis

Your doctor may refer you to a wound care group of medical professionals, specialists, and nurses skilled in treating pressure sores. The team may assess your ulcer based on several things. These include:

  • The size and penetration of your ulcer
  • Type of tissue affected by your ulcer, like skin, muscle, or bone
  • The color of the skin
  • The amount of tissue death in your ulcer
  • Presence of infection, bleeding and foul smell

Your doctor may take samples of the fluids and tissue from your ulcer. In addition, he or she will look for signs of infection and cancer.

 

Medications/Treatment

Your treatment relies on the stage of your ulcer. Treatment can comprise drugs, dressings, or surgical procedures.

Antibacterial drugs may deal with the infection. You can take remedies to relieve or minimize any discomfort.

A method to eliminate damaged tissue referred to as debridement is a choice for cleansing your wound.

Preserving the site free of dirt is essential to promote treatment. Your doctor may recommend dressings for your wound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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