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In the elderly, especially those who have to lie down most of the time, the skin is exposed to a number of unpleasant ailments. How to prevent them from occurring and what to do when they do occur?
The material in cooperation with the Seni brand
Burns and abrasions
They arise in places where the body rubs against clothing or where skin folds touch each other. Chafes and abrasions occur mainly in the groin, between the buttocks and under the breasts. The body is then very red, there is swelling, the skin starts to itch, the patient also feels pain. The lack of a quick response to burns and abrasions in the elderly leads to the deterioration of the skin condition – purulent exudate from wounds appears, and a bacterial or fungal infection may also occur.
Dry skin and moisture contribute to the appearance of chafes and edema. In order to avoid them, the person lying down should be regularly nurtured. It is very important to use products dedicated to seniors, e.g. the Seni Care line. The body of a lying person should be regularly washed with cosmetics that are easy to rinse off. Cleaning products without the use of water can also help here, as they allow the patient to be washed in bed without having to be moved to the bathroom. An inseparable element of skin care is also protection of the skin after it has been washed and dried. Special protective creams, e.g. with arginine, are used for this.
Bedsores
It is a serious skin problem that can lead to serious complications, infections, necrosis and even death of the patient. Pressure ulcers develop in areas of prolonged pressure. Most often, bedsores occur in the sacral part of the spine, on the shoulder blades, heels, knees, and in people lying on their side, also on the hip bones. In the first phase, the skin becomes oversensitive, the patient may complain of pain, redness or bruising, which turns pale under pressure. At this stage, the patient can be helped by changing the position of his body regularly and applying a cream with zinc oxide to the skin. If we do not intervene in the first phase, the skin will crack and ooze serous fluid. At this stage, a doctor’s intervention is already necessary.
In the case of pressure ulcers, prophylaxis is of key importance because it is much easier to prevent their appearance than to treat existing lesions. The key is to change the position of the sick person on a regular basis. In the case of a lying senior, this should be done at least once every two hours. When caring for a wheelchair user, we have to change their position every 15 minutes. It is very important to check the patient’s skin regularly and check that it does not develop reddening and thickening. His underwear should be airy and the bed linen clean. It is also recommended to use an anti-bedsore mattress. It is also very important to take care of the patient’s hygiene, change diapers regularly, wash the skin with preparations intended for the care of the skin of seniors, dry it thoroughly and lubricate it with a protective cream intended for the care of the elderly. For massage and back patting, it is worth reaching for the guarana activating gel, which stimulates blood microcirculation.
People lying down have a difficult opportunity to visit the facility in order to perform diagnostic tests. Home blood donation will be an ideal solution for them. A professional nurse will come to the patient’s home and collect the necessary sample for various diagnostic tests. Check the offer of such tests with the possibility of home download.
What cosmetics to use?
First of all, it is adapted to the needs of mature skin, such as, for example, Seni Care products. These types of products have a composition specially selected for the needs of the sensitive and delicate skin of the elderly and bedridden people. In addition to good-quality cosmetics intended for seniors, regularity is important. Regular care treatments performed with due care will reduce the risk of pressure ulcers, chafing and abrasions.
More information on caring for chronically ill and dependent people can be found on the website of the We will advise project.
The material in cooperation with the Seni brand