by A. C. O'Brien

Created on: December 19, 2010   Last Updated: February 06, 2011

Pressure ulcers or bed sores are the result of skin being compressed for an extended period of time so that the circulation to the skin is impeded and the skin begins to break down. Pressure ulcers can also occur when the skin is exposed to moisture, either perspiration or urine leading to maceration, rough manipulation of the skin, resulting in possible skin break down. Bedsores occur when the patient is not kept dry or when he or she is not turned in bed or weight shifted in his/her wheel chair. Continuous pressure or wetness on the skin causes the skin damage, then you are on your way to deeper trouble. Shearing, the shifting of the skins layers and their separation, can occur when tension is put on the skin when it is already weakened or if the tension is continuous.

1. To prevent bed sores make sure your patient has a good diet with adaquate hydration as well as other nutrients.

2. The patient should be weight shifted, lifted or turned every two hours when awake. Do not drag the patient to move him or her as this can cause more problems then it prevents creating skin tears.

 3. The skin should be kept clean and dry.

4. A daily skin check will allow the caregiver to make note of any developing reddened areas and avoid returning the patient to a position that will put weight on that reddened spot until it regains it's healthy tones. If redness is noticed a good healing, moisturizing skin care cream should be gently massaged into the area to encourage the skin to regain it's healthy state. Check with your doctor to find out which skin care cream would be appropiate for your patient.

Kept clean and dry and turned, at the very least every two hours when awake, a patient with good nutritional status should not develop pressure ulcers. In other words; good patient care will prevent this disastrous and costly skin injury from occurring.

The best treatment that can be given for a bed sore is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Turn the bed ridden patient at least every hour when awake unless they can turn themselves and shift the patients weight in his or her wheel chair every hour. These weight shifts and position changes keep continuous pressure from breaking down the layers of skin. Our skin is our bodies primary defence from the outside world. Once the skin has broken down and the ulcer has opened, the need for repair becomes urgent and must be overseen by professional care givers to fully heal. After healing, the area must be monitored

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