Bedsores are ulcers that occur in areas of the skin, that have been stressed by lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, or wearing a cast for long periods of time.

It can extend to muscles and bones, and if left untreated for a long period of time, it can be life-threatening if it develops into stage 2 bedsores or more severe conditions. It is important to choose an appropriate bedsore dressing in combination, with other bedsore treatments.

First of all, we first understand the relevant knowledge of bedsore. We have listed the following points:

–What are bedsores?

–What causes bedsores?

–Bedsores stages.  

–Where do bedsores often occur?

–Who are the high-risk groups of bedsores?

–How to cure bedsores?

–Choose the Best Dressing for Bedsores stage.

What are bedsores? 

“Bedsores” also known as pressure ulcers, decubitus ulcers. It refers to tissue ulceration, and necrosis caused by long-term compression of local tissues, blood circulation disorders, continuous ischemia and hypoxia, and malnutrition, which may be accompanied by pain. Bedsores are categorized into 4 stages ranging from stage 1, which is the least severe, to stage 4, which is the most severe. 

What causes bedsores?

Bedsores occur when the blood supply to the skin, and It’s cut off for more than 2 to 3 hours. A bedsore starts as a red, painful area that eventually turns purple. This is a potential problem with any disease that is difficult to move.

Bedsores stage:

Stage 1 – The area looks red and feels warm to the touch. For darker skin, the area may have a bluish or purple tint. Burning, pain, or itching. Stage 1 bedsores are usually mild, as the earliest and least severe stage, and can often be healed with simple remedies and changes to everyday habits. After bedsores treatment, these sores can be prevented from returning, by regular skin checks and changes in position.

Stage 2 – Stage 1 bedsores have not yet destroyed the skin. Bedsores that have reached stage 2 have turned into blisters or open sores. Compared to stages 3 and 4, bedsores in stage 2 have not yet reached the deeper layers of skin or fat. The area looks more damaged and significant pain, and the skin around the wound may be discolored. It’s can be identified as full blisters or shallow mouth ulcers. These sores are usually red or pink, and are surrounded by red and irritated skin. These sores may also be moist if pus or fluid is present.

Signs of a stage 2 bedsore include: Intact or ruptured blister, Irritated skin, Pus or fluid, Redness or discoloration.

Stage 3 – Damage below the surface of the skin, causing the area to have a crater-like appearance.

Stage 4 – There is a large wound and severe damage to the area. Muscles, tendons, bones, and joints may be involved. Infection is a significant risk at this stage. 

The wound surface is not staged, and with full-thickness tissue defects, slough at the base of the ulcer, or eschar on the wound surface. Carrion may be tan, gray, green, brown or yellow in color. Eschar is usually tan, brown or black.

Where do bedsores often occur?

Buttocks area (on the tailbone or hips) , Heels of the feet, Shoulder blades, back of head, back and sides of knees.

Who are the high-risk groups of bedsores?

Paralyzed, paraplegic or cerebral palsy patients, comatose patients, incontinent patients, patients using braces or casts, frail patients, patients who dare not move to avoid pain, the elderly, obese patients.

How to cure bed sores?

1. Move and change your posture regularly.

2. Use specially designed static foam or dynamic mattresses, protect your bedsores mattress with Conkote underpads, to prevent incontinence leaks from contaminating your mattress.

3. Keeping the area clean and dry.

4. Nutritionally balanced diet and healthy habits

5. Removal of damaged tissue

6. Severe pressure ulcers may not heal on their own, and may require surgery to close the wound, speed healing, and min imize the risk of infection.

 7. Special dressings can accelerate the healing of bedsores.

From the stage 2 bedsore you need to start choosing special dressings:

For the treatment of bedsores, in addition to actively treating the underlying disease (such as diabetic foot), and it also depends on the location of the bedsore, the severity of the bedsore, and the degree of skin and tissue damage.Choose the appropriate bedsores dressing according to your wound condition. We recommend starting a special dressing. recommended after stage 2 bedsores.

Silicone Border Foam Dressings

Silicone layer foam dressing made of foam, silicone layer, PU film, isolation film. The soft and flexible foam absorbs large amount exudates, reduces risk of maceration, silicone adhesive border provided gentle and safe fixation, makes the dressing to remove easily with no pain. Conkote Sacrum Silicone Bordered Foam Dressing Self-adhesive, conforms to the body contour, and can be easily used in those difficult to wear areas.

Hydrocolloid Wound Dressing

The hydrocolloid dressing absorbs wound exudate and forms a cohesive gel, which provides a moist healing environment for the wound, improves the regeneration capacity of wound granulation tissue, promotes the division and migration of epithelial cells, accelerates wound healing. Conkote Hydrocolloid Wound Dressing has good performance on liquid absorption, compliance and stickiness.

Calcium Alginate Wound Dressing

The natural seaweed fiber can effectively absorb and lock the exudate. After the dressing absorbs the exudate, it can form a gel to protect the wound and promote wound healing. It can absorb 20 times its own weight of exudate, does not stick to the wound during replacement and removal, relieves pain, and is easy to peel off. Don’t know how to choose the right dressing? Check Conkote® Wound Dressing Selection: Types and Usage

Reference materials:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores

https://www.hcd.com/need-medical-supplies/what-are-the-best-wound-dressings-for-pressure-ulcers/

https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-injuries/bedsores/stages/stage-2/