Dermatology

Common Skin Disorders

Bed Sores

What are bed sores?

Bed sores can occur when a person is bedridden, unconscious, unable to sense pain, or immobile. Bed sores are ulcers that occur on areas ofthe skin that are under pressure from lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, and/or wearing a cast for a prolonged period of time.

Why does a bed sore develop?

A bed sore develops when blood supply to the skin is cut off for more than two to three hours. As the skin dies, the bed sore first starts as a red, painful area, which eventually turns purple. Left untreated, the skin can break open and become infected. A bed sore can become deep, extending into the muscle. Once a bed sore develops, it is often very slow to heal. Bed sores often occur in the buttocks area (on the sacrum or iliac crest), or on the heels of the feet.

Preventing bed sores:
Bed sores can be prevented by inspecting the skin for areas of redness (the first sign of skin breakdown). Other methods of preventing bed sores and preventing progression of existing bed sores include:

frequent turning and repositioning
providing soft padding in wheelchairs and beds to reduce pressure
providing good skin care by keeping the skin clean and dry

Treatment for bed sores:
Specific treatment of a bed sore is determined by your physician and based on the severity of the condition. Treatment may be more difficult once the skin is broken, and may include:

removing pressure on the affected area
protecting the wound with medicated gauze or other special dressings
keeping the wound clean
transplanting healthy skin to the wound area
medication (i.e., antibiotics to treat infections)

This page was last updated on: January 30, 2008.

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