Skin Assessment and Monitoring: Key Steps in Preventing Pressure Sores

The Importance of Pressure Sore Risk Assessment in Patient Care

Pressure ulcers—also known as bedsores or pressure sores—pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of individuals who are bedridden, have limited mobility, or are living with chronic health conditions. A thorough pressure sore risk assessment is a vital first step in identifying patients at risk of pressure sores and preventing these painful and potentially life-threatening injuries. This article explores the causes of bedsores, those most at risk, and why regular skin assessments are an important element of care. We’ll also discuss effective pressure sore prevention strategies and products to help manage and mitigate risks of pressure sores.

What Causes Bedsores

Understanding the causes of bedsores is key to preventing them. These wounds develop when prolonged pressure on the skin and underlying tissues restricts blood flow to those areas, leading to tissue damage, sores, and infection. These are the three primary causes:

1. Pressure: Constant pressure, especially over bony spots like the hips, heels, elbows, and tailbone, reduces circulation and leads to skin and tissue breakdown.
2. Friction: Repeated rubbing of the skin against bedding or clothing, combined with limited mobility, can wear away the outer layers of skin, making it more vulnerable to soreness and serious injury.
3. Moisture: Excessive exposure to sweat, urine, or wound liquids softens the skin and increases the likelihood of soreness.

Symptoms of pressure ulcers typically progress through these stages:

• Stage 1: Red or discolored skin that doesn’t disappear when pressed; skin may feel warmer or firmer than the surrounding areas.
• Stage 2: Partial loss of outer skin layer; appears as a shallow, open sore or blister.
• Stage 3: Complete loss of the outer skin layer with visible tissue damage; stage three wounds may resemble a well or crater.
• Stage 4: Deep tissue loss exposing muscle, bone, or tendons; high risk of infection and further serious health issues.

Key Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers

Some people face a significantly higher risk of developing pressure ulcers than others. Risk factors include:

• Being Bedridden and/or Immobile: Those confined to a bed or wheelchair are unable to shift their weight frequently, causing constant pressure pain points and making relief difficult. This highlights the critical need for frequent repositioning and specialized support devices.
• Older Age: As people age, their skin becomes thinner and loses elasticity, making it more prone to damage and slower to heal.
• Patients with Existing or Chronic Conditions: Diabetes, vascular disease, and spinal cord injuries can reduce blood circulation and sensation to various areas of the body, leading to slower healing time.

The Importance of Regular Pressure Sore Skin Assessments

Frequent and thorough skin assessments are necessary for the prevention of bed sores in bedridden patients. A routine risk assessment guides caregivers in detecting the early signs of skin damage and adapting care strategies to suit individual needs.

Key steps in a skin assessment include:

• Visual Inspection: Look for changes in skin color, temperature, or texture, particularly over pressure points.
• Palpation: Gently feel the skin for signs of heat, firmness, or pain, which may indicate early tissue damage not visible to the eye.
• Documentation: Record findings in a detailed and systematic way to monitor trends and guide your care decisions.

For high-risk patients, assessments should happen daily. For those with lower risk, weekly or monthly assessments may be enough.

Prevention of Pressure Ulcers in Bedridden Patients

How to prevent pressure ulcers is the million dollar question and it requires a proactive and multi-pronged approach, including physical interventions, equipment and devices, environmental adjustments, and supportive care. Start with these basic tips:

Repositioning Techniques
Frequent repositioning is paramount. Patients should be turned every two hours when lying in bed or shifted every 15 minutes when sitting in a chair or on a couch. Use safe handling techniques to minimize potential friction and damage to skin surfaces during movements.

Cushions and Mattresses
There are some bedsore prevention products with specialized support surfaces like the alternating pressure mattress (available for recliners too) for bedsores help redistribute pressure and improve circulation. These mattresses inflate and deflate in a cyclic pattern to alleviate pressure points. Other options include bedsore cushions, foam overlays, and air-fluidized beds.

Nutrition, Hydration, and Hygiene

• Nutritional Support: A balanced diet rich in protein, vitamin C, zinc, and iron supports skin repair and boosts the immune system, decreasing the chances of bedsores and speeding up the healing process.
• Hydration: Adequate water intake keeps skin supple and less prone to breakdown. It’s also important not to over hydrate.
• Hygiene and Skin Care: Clean all areas of the skin regularly using balanced and mild cleansers. Keep the skin dry and inspect vulnerable areas daily.

These holistic care tips, combined with Lunderg’s bed sore prevention products, provide you with a comprehensive defence against pressure sores.

Pressure Ulcer Relief Techniques

When pressure ulcers do occur, the effective pressure ulcer relief strategies listed below significantly accelerate healing and reduce health complications.
Relief and Treatment Strategies:

• Frequent Repositioning: Continue shifting the patient’s position to offload pressure from the affected area.
• Support Surfaces: Use alternating pressure mattresses and cushions to promote healing.
• Routine Skincare: Keep the skin moisturized to reduce dryness and cracking. It’s important to be aware of any skin sensitivities that may require specialized moisturizers.
• Wound Care: Cleanse and dress existing ulcers (pressure sores) with sterile, absorbent dressings that promote healing and reduce infection.
• Pain Management: Use analgesics, anti-inflammatory medications or other pain relievers as prescribed to ease discomfort.
• Caregiver Education: Caregivers need to learn how to prevent pressure sores and treat existing ones effectively. Consistency in care promotes ongoing patient health and wellness.

Conclusion: The Significance of Risk Assessments in Preventing Bedsores

Pressure ulcers are not inevitable—even in high-risk populations. A proactive approach that includes consistent pressure sore risk assessments, regular skin monitoring, and the use of bed sore prevention products can dramatically reduce the risk of pressure sores forming and becoming infected.

Caregivers and healthcare professionals must recognize the early warning signs, implement preventive strategies, and make sure that patients receive the attention they need to maintain healthy skin. Investing in high-quality alternating pressure pads and bed sore pillows is essential.

These products are more than just tools; they are integral parts of your holistic care plan, which can provide comfort, and dignity to patients and loved ones. Check and purchase Lunderg’s pressure sore prevention and relief products below, and if you want to share your techniques or your experience with how to treat bedsores, please leave us a comment below!