General description of the disease
These are areas of dead skin that form in people with reduced mobility. They appear due to impaired blood circulation in the tissues during prolonged contact of a certain part of the body with a hard surface. As a rule, bedsores appear in the buttocks, thighs, and heels. With proper care, the risk of pressure ulcers can be minimized. For this, it is important to change the position of the immobilized person regularly – approximately every two hours, to keep the linen clean and dry, to use special pillows that reduce the surface pressure on the body [1].
Causes of bedsores
Bedsores are damage to the tissue under the top layers of the skin. Typically at risk are older people who lead an immobile lifestyle, as well as patients with serious injuries or paralysis who are confined to a bed or wheelchair.
As a rule, they occur with improper care. The most common places where pressure sores appear are:
- hips;
- buttocks;
- small of the back;
- coccyx area;
- heels.
Such wounds, areas with dying skin appear when a person lies motionless, without changing posture, or when the wounded, very delicate skin is rubbed against the surface (for example, when the patient is transferred on a stretcher or he is transplanted into a chair).
Excessive moisture, which softens the skin and can make it less dense, is another cause of pressure sores. This can occur with excessive sweating or urinary, fecal incontinence.
Diseases, as a consequence of which bedsores may develop:
- anemia;
- diabetes;
- stroke;
- paralysis;
- fractures;
- malignant tumors;
- dementia;
- alcoholism[2].
So, there are two main factors that affect the formation of pressure ulcers:
- 1 Pressure. Constant pressure on any part of the body can reduce blood flow to tissues. It is essential for the supply of oxygen and other nutrients. Without them, the skin and tissues that adjoin it are damaged and may eventually die off.
- 2 Friction. It occurs when the skin rubs against clothing or bedding. This makes delicate skin even more vulnerable to injury, especially if it is damp.
Types of bedsores
Doctors distinguish four stages of pressure ulcers. Each of them is characterized by its own symptoms and approach to treatment.
- 1 The first stage – the skin is not damaged, but it has changed its color. It can acquire a reddish tint with a light color type or blue, purple in people with dark skin. Sometimes the area may turn white.
- 2 The second stage – signs of necrosis appear on the skin around the wound. A small ulcer appears with a red or pink moist area. A liquid-filled bubble may also form.
- 3 The third stage is characterized by the appearance of a deeper ulcer. It damages the fat layer, and therefore looks like a depression, a crater. A substance similar to pus may appear in it.
- 4 In the fourth stage, many layers of tissue are affected, including muscles and bones. A black substance may appear deep in the wound[4].
It should be noted that the first three stages of the disease are reversible and treatable. But on the fourth, irreversible processes can begin, very dangerous for human life. Complications that cause pressure ulcers can be fatal. So you definitely need to contact a doctor for treatment.[5].
Symptoms of bedsores
At different stages of the development of the disease, bedsores can have different symptoms. Depending on the stage, the following manifestations can be observed:
- discoloration, whiteness of the skin and other unusual changes in skin color, swelling;
- pain in the area where blood circulation is difficult and necrotic process begins[3];
- the appearance of open wounds, infectious processes, suppuration;
- the appearance of areas of skin that are warmer or cooler to the touch than the rest of the body.
The severity of pressure ulcers can vary by stage, ranging from discoloration to a deep wound with festering and visible bone[4].
Complications of bedsores
Complications that cause pressure ulcers include:
- diseases of the bones and joints, such as osteomyelitis, which can reduce the functionality of the joints and limbs;
- purulent arthritis;
- prolonged painful sensations that provoke wounds from pressure sores;
- sepsis;
- cellulite;
- meningitis;
- skin cancer.
Bedsore prevention
By following simple patient care measures, pressure ulcers can be avoided. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
- 1 Every day, you need to carefully examine the patient, in particular those areas that are most exposed to pressure – the bulging parts of the body.
- 2 The position of a person needs to be changed every two hours, gently turn it over so that blood circulation in all areas is streamlined.
- 3 Maintaining hygiene is important. It is best to use plain soap. Antibacterial can eliminate not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria. Important: the skin should not be rubbed, but carefully dipped with a soft sponge. It is necessary to maintain balance: the skin should not soften from moisture, but excessive dryness is also harmful to it. For her nutrition, you can use a simple hypoallergenic baby cream.
- 4 If possible, the patient needs to purchase a special mattress or pillows that will prevent bedsores.
- 5 A simple, light massage and gentle stroking movements help to improve blood circulation.
- 6 The patient’s nutrition plays an important role – all the necessary vitamins, elements, and minerals must be supplied to the human body.
Useful foods for bedsores
The appearance of pressure ulcers is directly related to the fact that the body is losing protein. That is why you should definitely include foods that contain it in the patient’s diet. At the same time, it is desirable that they are dietary, low-fat. It can be dairy products, eggs, boiled chicken, steamed cutlets, fish, beef (but not veal), turkey.
It is also important to include in the diet foods that contain a large amount of vitamins of groups A, B, C, in particular, vitamin B2, which is found in large quantities in the heart and liver of animals, nuts, mushrooms, some cereals – rice, buckwheat, and in dairy products. Missing vitamins can be replenished from complexes in the form of tablets.
It is worth noting that the diet for a bedridden patient must be carefully planned. The number of meals per day should be about 4-6, approximately at the same time interval. It is imperative to adjust the diet to the medication regimen.
Treatment of pressure ulcers in mainstream medicine
Treatment for pressure ulcers depends on the severity of the wound. Depending on the level of damage, doctors use different approaches to healing. These include hydrocolloid dressings, compresses, thermal dressings, and various antibiotics, as pressure sores are particularly prone to infection. For heavier, open wounds, surgery may be required to remove areas of dead skin. The most important step in the treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers is to relieve pressure through frequent repeated changes in a person’s posture, changes in pressure.
Protein-rich diets can improve wound healing, which is why doctors may prescribe additional nutritional supplements to the diet.[5].
Traditional medicine for bedsores
- It is recommended to lubricate bedsores with sea buckthorn or rosehip oil, which can be purchased at the pharmacy.
- You can prepare an ointment based on butter (7 parts), oak bark (2 parts), black poplar buds (1 part). These components must be mixed and allowed to brew overnight in a warm place. Then boil it, strain, cool and lubricate the bedsores[3].
- Onion ointment for bedsores is a very simple recipe. You need to chop two onions and cook over low heat with the addition of two tablespoons of sunflower or olive oil for 20 minutes. When the onion turns golden, you need to carefully select it from the pan, and in the remaining mixture, melt a quarter of the church candle. This composition must be stored in the refrigerator in a closed jar, lubricate the bedsores with ointment twice a day.
- A remedy for bedsores can be simple millet. It is desirable that the size of the grains be as large as possible. A handful of millet must be steamed, put in a bag made of natural fabric, and then warm under the bedsore. After 4 hours, when it has completely cooled down, you can remove it. This procedure must be performed daily to effectively combat pressure ulcers.
- For weeping wounds, it is recommended to use plain potato starch instead of powders. It gently dries the skin, allows it to breathe and does not form a dense crust on the wounds.
- A special bed sore pillow can be made from flax or millet seeds. They need to fill a small pillowcase, and put them under the areas where bedsores are most often formed. This is a good way to prevent them.
- Places where pressure sores are just beginning to form can be treated with an ointment based on refined oil and beeswax. They need to be heated in a water bath, stirred until a homogeneous consistency, allowed to cool slightly and lubricate the affected skin.
Dangerous and harmful foods for bedsores
With bedsores, patients are strictly prohibited from drinking alcohol, as well as food that can provoke allergic reactions. It is also necessary to give up heavy foods, for example, fatty, smoked, spicy, sour foods.
It is important that food is as healthy as possible, balanced, but at the same time does not overload the body. If the chewing process is difficult for a lying patient, the food should be served very crushed or in the form of mashed potatoes.
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!