CARE OF AGING SKIN AND MUCOUS MEMBRANES: PRESSURE ULCERS

 Pressure ulcers are a type of injury that break down the skin and underlying tissue. They are caused when an area of skin is placed under pressure.

HOW PRESSURE ULCERS DEVELOP?

Pressure ulcers can develop when a large amount of pressure is applied to an area of skin.

The extra pressure disrupts the flow of blood through the skin. Without a blood supply, the affected skin becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients and begins to break down, leading to an ulcer forming.

WHO IS AFFECTED?

Pressure ulcers tend to affect people with health conditions that make it difficult to move, especially the bend – bound patients or  people who spend a lot of time  sitting because they have movility disorders.

Conditions that affect the flow of blood through the body, such as type 2 diabetes increase the risk.

 

WHERE IT COULD DEVELOP?

The parts of the body most at risk of developing pressure ulcers are those that are not covered by a large amount of body fat and are in direct contact with a supporting surface:

The bed bound patients have the risk to develop it in:

·         shoulders or shoulder blades

·         elbows

·         back of head

·         rims of ears

·         knees, ankles, heels or toes

·         spine

·         tail bone

People who use the wheelchair could develop pressure ulcers in:

·         buttocks

·         the back of arms and legs

·         the back of  hip bone

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT ?

Treatment for pressure ulcers includes the use of dressings, creams and gels designed to speed up the healing process and relieve pressure. For the most serious cases, surgery is sometimes recommended.

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Pressure ulcers can be unpleasant, and challenging to treat. Therefore, there are techniques to prevent pressure ulcers developing in the first place. These include:

·         regularly position changes

·         using equipment, such as specially designed mattresses and cushions, to protect vulnerable parts of the body

Unfortunately it is not always possible to prevent pressure ulcers in particularly vulnerable people, but it’s the first stage of the treatment and nursing have a very hight responsibility with this.

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