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Any patient with limited mobility may be more prone to getting pressure sores. Bedsores or pressure sores are ulcers that occur on areas of the skin that are under extended periods of pressure. The pressure may be a result of lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, and/or wearing a cast for a prolonged period of time.

Bedsores are commonly found on the tailbone area, hips, back, elbows, heels and ankles. They can become deep, extending into the muscle and in severe cases to the bone.

Any sores on the skin need to be avoided at all costs. It is far easier to prevent sores from happening in the first place than to treat them once the skin has broken. Once the skin is broken you now have an area open to infection.

Chemo-therapy is known to cause the skin to become thinner, which would make it more prone to irritation and possible bed sores.  Please become very vigilant with any patient who is immune-compromised and more susceptible to skin complications.

Prevention

Drink plenty of water daily as this helps to keep the skin hydrated.

Change physical position every two hours.

Do not allow wrinkles or crumbs to enter the bed as these can irritate the skin.

Ingest healthy oils such as Omega 3,6,9, Coconut oil, or Organic Flax oil for healthy skin. Otherwise the skin becomes dry and more prone to cracking.

Never allow the patient to sit or lay in any moisture for any length of time.

Use pillows so that the hips and heals of the feet are not pressed into any surface. This applies to any area that gets pressure spots, use lots of pillows to take away the pressure. My friend would get pressure sores on her heels. We would place pillows under her calves so that her heels were in the air.

Check the skin frequently.

We use white vinegar in our laundry rinse cycle so that there is no remaining detergent in our clothing and sheets. Detergent residue can be a source of irritation for the skin.

Plain white sheets can be bleached and cleaned in very hot water. The cleaner the better for prolonged contact with a patient’s body.

 Use lots of cream to keep the skin moisturized.

 

Websites

http://www.ehow.com/how_2179273_sores-helpless-patient-loved-one.html

http://www.carepathways.com/cto14.cfm

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/bedsores.jsp

http://www.mamashealth.com/skin/bed.asp

Note: some alternative sites recommend using tea tree oil. Warning – some of these oils are very caustic and could cause serious harm if used incorrectly. My personal opinion would be to use vitamin E oil, or another oil that you know is safe on the skin.

Skin Cream Recipe

A friend gave me this recipe when Kayla was a baby and it worked great for diaper rash. Many years later I used this on my elderly step-mom who was prone to skin irritations because she was handicapped and immobile. This recipe took the redness and pain out of her skin immediately.

1/3rd A & D ointment with zinc

1/3rd Maalox (neutralizes the acid). Maalox is no longer made. Instead look for any liquid antacid that is taken orally.  The antacid breaks down the acid in urine or just the skin so that it is no longer penetrating and breaking the skin.

1/3rd Hydrocortisone 10 cream (stops pain)

Mix all three, in equal parts. Place into  a container and mix until smooth. Apply to any irritated or red skin as needed. Never use on an open wound!

All of these items are available through your local drug store.

This cream works very well to prevent red patches from further degradation, thereby halting the progress of a bed sore.  This is the best recipe ever found for this problem.