How To Avoid And Treat Bedsores

It is important to change the position of patients who are susceptible to developing bedsores, often as a result of having been in the same position for a long time.

Bed sores usually form when someone spends a lot of time lying down due to illness or old age.

The skin is put under a lot of pressure, and in some areas the skin may first blush, then develop blisters and eventually form a wound.

To prevent this, we recommend that you read the article below.

What are bedsores?

Patients who need to rest for long periods of time tend to suffer from what are also called “pressure ulcers.” These wounds can be very painful and can further increase the person’s inability to move.

Bed sores occur as a result of the pressure exerted by the bones against the mattress or pillow.

The skin is between the two elements and ends without a blood supply, causing necrosis. It can also be a result of moisture in an area if the person suffers from urinary incontinence.

Grinding from the sacrum along with the pressure of lying down is not a good combination.

These wounds are classified according to the amount of layers of skin affected. They go from simple redness to affecting the bones.

Bed sores can cause infection and a lot of ailments as they get worse if the person does not change position.

The risk factors that increase the formation of bedsores include:

Old age
Total immobility
Urinary incontinence or lack of bladder control
Malnutrition or dehydration
Diseases that take a long time to heal
Mental disorders (dementia, confusion, Alzheimer’s)
Use of sedatives

How to prevent bedsores

This problem is very common in elderly patients, and both nurses and carers as well as relatives should be careful to prevent them from emerging and developing.

Here are some tips to prevent bedsores:

1. Change position every 2-3 hours

Depending on the patient’s abilities, it is necessary to rotate them so that the blood can circulate so that the skin is not always under pressure in the same place.

For example, pillows can be used to tilt the back to the left or right.

Examine vulnerable areas

There are areas of the body where bedsores are more common: ankles, hips, sacrum, knees, ears and shoulders.

If there is redness, it is important to treat it immediately to prevent a sore from occurring.

3. Maintain body hygiene

Even if someone always lies down, they sweat and get dirty. A daily complete wash or shower is essential to reduce the risk of the occurrence of bedsores.

Always use unscented soap and do not rub.
Drying is also important because moisture accelerates the process of redness.

4. Reduce pressure points

By using pillows or special items found in rehabilitation and care stores, it is possible to prevent certain areas of the body from exerting pressure on the mattress, sofa or wheelchair.

For example, when the legs press against each other, a pillow can be placed between the knees.
There are small pillows and other things that can help with this feature.

5. Food and hydrate the patient

A balanced diet based on the person’s needs is essential to improve their health and provide them with all the nutrients they need.

In addition to water, tea and soup, jello is recommended to help increase fluid intake.

6. Avoid pressure on the ankles

A pillow can be placed under the calves so that the feet are left hanging, and always make sure that the bedding and blankets do not press the toes together.

Therefore, leave the linen as loose as possible.

7. Massage

Massage two or three times a day is very important to increase circulation and prevent the muscles from becoming numb.

It is recommended to use special lotions or creams.

Never massage bone protrusions as this can put more pressure on the fine layer of skin that covers them.

8. Change clothes and sheets

Check that the clothing that the patient needs is appropriate.

It should not be very tight or very loose because in the former case it does not allow the skin to breathe and in the latter case it may curl up and put pressure on certain areas.
The clothes should not have buttons, zippers or thick seams.
When it comes to bedding, it is very important to change it regularly, above all to prevent moisture and dirt.

9. Motion

If the patient is unable to move themselves, the caregiver should help them move their legs, arms, neck, etc.

These movements improve blood circulation and reduce the time spent putting pressure on the bed.

Natural remedies for treating mild bedsores

. Some who can help include:

1. Aloe vera

You can buy it as a cream or directly cut the stem horizontally (and extract the inner gel).

Aloe vera cools the skin, increases blood flow, prevents infection and provides immediate relief.

2. Magnesium milk

This can be found in natural health stores and helps reduce redness and swelling. It should be used with application via a cotton ball three times a day.

3. Honey

Thanks to its antibacterial properties, honey helps when the wound is newly formed. It also hydrates the skin.

Apply a little honey and cover with bandage.