Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are a term to describe injuries to the skin that happen from prolonged pressure. Bedsores most commonly happen to individuals who are bedridden and once they develop they can be very hard to treat. This is why understanding how to prevent bedsores is so important.
What Are Bedsores?
As the name suggests, bedsores are a type of sore that forms on the skin after an individual has been in bed for extended periods of time. Bedsores are a type of ulcer that occur on areas of the skin that are under pressure from lying in the bed or sitting in a wheelchair for a prolonged period. They can also happen when wearing a cast for a long time. This excess pressure eventually causes a wound to form.
Typically, these sores occur in the elderly or in those who are partially or entirely bedridden. Individuals who are unconscious, immobile or unable to sense pain are also more likely to develop these sores and they may not recognize their development until they have a significant wound.
This is why it is so important to understand the factors that can cause bedsores.
What Causes Bedsores?
A bedsore forms when the blood supply to the skin is cut off for more than 2 to 3 hours. As the skin dies, the bedsore starts to form. These sores first start as red painful areas that eventually turn purple. There are three primary contributing factors that can lead to this and cause bedsores to develop.
- Pressure. This is the most common contributing factor for bedsores. Constant pressure on one part of the body, such as pressure from lying all day can inhibit blood flow to the skin in a certain area and ultimately kill off or damage the skin tissue. This commonly happens in individuals with limited mobility.
- Friction. When the skin rubs against clothing or bedding, it is often more vulnerable to injury. If the skin also happens to be damp or moist, it increases the chances of this type of injury happening.
- Shear. This is a term used to describe two surfaces moving in opposite directions. For example, if a bed-ridden individual has the head of their hospital bed elevated, you can slightly slide down the bed over time. The sliding process can actually wear at the skin over the tailbone and cause a bedsore.
Once you notice a bedsore, it is essential that you start treatment right away before the wound gets worse.
What Happens to Untreated Bedsores?
If left untreated, bedsores can turn into a very significant health issue. The skin can break open and the entire area can become infected. When left for prolonged periods of time, the sore can actually extend into the muscle and bone. In these serious situations, patients will need medication and possibly even need surgery to repair the impacted area.
If an individual is hospitalized or immobile from another condition, the stress and infection from bedsores can lead to even more complications and serious health repercussions. This is why bedsores should never be left untreated, and why you should always call a doctor at the first sign of a bedsore.
How Long Does it Take to Heal Bed Sores?
Once a bedsore develops, it can be very slow to heal. This is what makes bedsores so difficult and so serious. It all depends on the severity of the bedsore, the person’s physical condition and the presence of other diseases. For example, it often takes individuals with diabetes much longer to get over a bedsore than someone without one.
Bedsores can take days, months or even years to heal, and are particularly slow among bedridden individuals who cannot get up and give the skin the chance to recover. Some more serious bedsores may require surgery to help with the healing process.
This is why medical experts recommend that a CDPAP caregiver always checks the most common places for bedsores to look for signs of warm or red skin—indicators that a bedsore could form. Of course, it is also important that caregivers know what these common places for bedsores are.
Common Places For Bedsores
Bedsores can technically occur anywhere on the body, but they are most common in locations where the skin is under pressure from lack of movement. Here are the most common areas for bedsores to form:
- Buttocks area on the tailbone or hips
- Heels of the feet
- Shoulder blades
- Back of the head
- Backs and sides of the knees
These, of course, are all areas where the body can sustain pressure for sedentary lifestyles, and should be checked regularly. This is the best way to treat bedsores in their early stages before they become more serious. Catching bedsores early is essential, which is why it is important to know what the common signs and symptoms of bedsores are in the first place.
What Are the Symptoms of Bedsores?
Bedsores are typically divided into four stages ranging from least severe to most severe. Each stage comes with their own unique symptoms as well.
Stage 1: The impacted area will look red and feel warm to the touch. For individuals with darker skin tones, the area may have a blue or purple tint.
Stage 2: The inflicted area may look more damaged than in stage 1 and may also have a scrape, blister or an open sore. The individual will likely complain of significant pain in the area as well. The skin surrounding the wound may be discolored.
Stage 3: The wound area may develop a crater-like appearance due to damage right below the skin’s surface.
Stage 4: The impact area has been severely damaged and has a large wound. Muscles, tendons, bones and joints can also be impacted in stage 4. This stage also carries a significant risk for infection.
Each stage of bedsore development has their own unique signs and symptoms. Even if you are noticing the signs of Stage 1, you should still call your doctor right away so you can stay on top of treatment.
Bedsore Treatment
Bedsores are a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. Based on the condition of the bedsore, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan to help the body heal. Typically, these treatment plans include:
- Removing pressure on the affected area
- Protecting the wound with medicated gauze or other special dressings
- Keeping the wound clean
- Ensuring that you maintain good nutrition
- Removing the infected, damaged or dead tissue around the bedsore (also known as debridement)
- Transplanting healthy skin to the wound area using skin grafts
- Negative pressure wound therapy to allow for healing
- Medications such as antibiotics to treat accompanying infections
It is important to remember that these treatments may take a long time to work as bedsores are notoriously difficult to treat.
How a CDPAP Caregiver Can Prevent Bed Sores
The good news about bedsores is that they are preventable, particularly if the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) caregiver is on top of the issue. The most effective way to prevent bedsores from happening is for the caregiver to make sure that they are turning and repositioning the patient every two hours.
There are other things that caregivers can do to help prevent bedsores as well, including:
- Making sure the patient sits upright and straight in a wheelchair and that they are changing their position every 15 minutes.
- Providing soft padding in wheelchairs and beds for immobile patients—this will reduce pressure on the skin
- Making sure the patient takes care of their skin and that it stays clean and dry—an important step in preventing wounds from forming.
- Ensuring that the patient maintains good nutrition and enough calories, vitamins, minerals, fluids and proteins. Without proper nutrition the wound will never be able to heal properly.
Any CDPAP caregiver should be aware of proper bedsore prevention, as taking preventative steps is the best way to keep issues with bedsores at bay. There are also products caregivers can try to help with bedsores as well.
Products That Can Help With Bedsores
While prevention is of the utmost importance when it comes to bedsores, there are also other products out there that can help people who have and who are prone to bedsores.
Pressure Mattress Pad
A pressure mattress pad such as this provides alternating pressure spots throughout the mattress so that pressure sores are less likely to form. This inflatable bed mattress is designed specifically to relieve bed sores once you’ve started treatment, and can also be used for bedsore-prone individuals to prevent these wounds from happening in the first place.
Aquaphor
Aquaphor is a powerful healing ointment that can be used on all types of skin wounds. It is one of the few over-the-counter topical products that is safe and recommended for bedsores.
Foot Elevator
Foot elevators are heel protectors designed to prevent bedsores in the heels and feet. These comfortable elevators are padded and designed with pressure sores in mind—making them a great option for individuals who are completely bed-ridden and may be prone to sores in this area.
Bedsores are an unfortunately common issue that impact many people who are already dealing with health and mobility issues. The more you know about bedsores and how to prevent them, the better. These sores are very serious and not a condition that should be taken lightly.
Luckily, with a little more information and an emphasis on prevention, you can make sure that bedsores don’t become a problem for you or any individual you may be caring for.