How to get rid of pressure sores at home

Severely ill people who have to lie down for a long time often suffer from pressure sores. Pressure ulcers are damage to the skin tissue in places where the human body is constantly in contact with the bed. Why is this happening? The blood vessels that are located on the skin of a person are very elastic. And if they are squeezed for a long time, do not change their position, they do not get enough blood. From this they go hungry and gradually die. The skin loses its sensitivity and bedsores are formed. The patient's condition is aggravated by the fact that bedsores can not only hurt, but also itch. There are several stages of the development of this disease.

1. The first stage is the beginning of the development of bedsores. At this stage, the skin changes its color - it may become red or bluish, swelling appears. In some places, the destruction of the skin’s integrity can begin.If you put pressure on the bedsores, the blood drains from the place of pressure, and then does not return to its former state or it takes a very long time. Disrupted healthy blood circulation in the affected areas.
2. In the second stage of the development of bedsores, sores, blisters, worn spots, ulcers, open wounds appear. The bedsores can ooze blood or sukrovitsy.
3. The third stage is very dangerous, because at this stage the tissues completely die off - they are no longer able to recover. In the third stage, the ulcers become very deep, the wounds do not heal. Sometimes not only skin but also muscle tissue is destroyed. Beds can turn black and dark blue.
4. The fourth and last stage is characterized by severe destruction of the skin, muscle and bone tissue.

Care for the bed patient

To get rid of bedsores and prevent their reappearance, you need to properly care for bed patients. On this depends 90% of success in the fight against pressure sores. Indeed, sometimes bedsores are called unclean patients. So, for the hygiene of the patient to observe the following rules.

1. To avoid bedsores, you need to change the position of the patient several times a day, if for him it does not amount to discomfort. Put the patient on his stomach, then on each of the sides. Let him lie in this position for several minutes. Change the position of the patient at least every couple of hours.
2. Rub from time to time the places that are most susceptible to the appearance of pressure sores - the back of the head, elbows, coccyx, buttocks, back, heels. So you will improve blood circulation in designated areas.
3. If the condition of the patient allows, regularly perform imitation of movement - raise his arms and legs, doing light gymnastics.
4. Change bedding as often as possible - at least once in 5 days. If there are open ulcers on the body, the laundry should be changed daily to prevent infection of the wound. Every day, you need to shake the sheets so that there are no crumbs or other small garbage on it. When you make a bed, it should not have folds and hillocks, buttons. Hard and coarse seams are not allowed on bedding.
5. Preventing bedsores is the daily taking of air baths. Expose those areas where bedsores may appear and leave them open for half an hour. And if you put them in the sun, it will be even better.After all, ultraviolet improves blood circulation.
6. If the bedsores are already there, they cannot be massaged. It is better to stretch the skin around the lesion so that the bedsores do not spread.
7. To date, there are special anti-decubitus mattresses on sale that take on the anatomical shape of a person and do not press on the skin.
8. If a seriously ill person cannot move and cannot be turned over, from time to time he must put an inflatable rubber wheel under his buttocks. It must lie in such a way that the tailbone and the butt are in the hole of the circle. So that the skin does not break away from the rubber structure of the circle, you just need to put it in a pillowcase or pre-cover it with cotton cloth.
9. Quartz treatment of the affected areas of skin tissue with a special lamp helps very well. On how to properly use a quartz lamp, we wrote in this article.
10. The hygiene of the whole body is very important. Every day, wipe the patient's skin with soapy water and wipe it thoroughly with clean water. After that, you need to wipe the patient with an alcohol-containing composition. Pay attention to all the folds - under the arms, in the groin, under the knees, in the neck, in women - under the breast.Careful and regular treatment will help prevent diaper rash.
11. If the pressure sores become red and inflamed, if there are pain and detachable pieces of skin tissue, if you feel an unpleasant smell, most likely an infection has entered the wound. In this case, it is necessary to treat ulcers with antiseptic drugs, drink antibiotics.
12. It is impossible to smear bedsores with fatty heavy ointments or bandage with a thick cloth. This blocks the flow of air to the wound and leads to the progression of the disease.
13. The skin of the patient should not be wet. It does not need much rubbing, movement with a sponge should be soft and careful. Water should not wipe and promakivat. In addition, make sure that the skin of the patient was not overdried. In time soften it with baby cream.
14. If skin is prone to moisture, use baby powder or talc.
15. The risk of bedsores increases if the patient has diabetes or obesity. By the way, men have pressure sores more often.
16. The situation is exacerbated if the patient has an incontinence of feces or urine. In this case, you need to often change the adult diaper, regular crotch toilet is required.

Medical treatment of pressure sores

Modern treatment of pressure sores is to stop the progress of the disease and heal existing wounds. When bedsores, in the first place, you need to wipe the affected areas with antiseptic solutions. This may be hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. Camphor alcohol helps very well. It disinfects the surface and improves blood circulation.

Dead tissue can no longer be restored, so you need to get rid of them in a less painful way. In advanced cases, they resort to a surgical method, with small areas of lesion using Iruksol ointment. It contributes to the rejection of necrotic tissue and wound healing.

Along with this, the patient is prescribed drugs that improve the local blood flow, for example, Actovegin. Also, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs to help avoid the development of microorganisms in the wound. Solcoseryl Gel helps to heal open ulcers. It is also very effective against bedsores Xeroform. Physiological methods are also used for treatment - electrophoresis and Darsonval perfectly improve blood circulation.

You can also use special fabric dressings.They are impregnated with antibacterial composition and allow air to pass through the wound.

Folk remedies against bedsores

It should be noted that the treatment of pressure sores at home is permissible in the first stage and as a preventive measure. Running cases are best treated under the supervision of a physician.

1. Calendula is an effective and safe antibacterial agent. Two tablespoons of dry or green plants need to fill with a liter of boiling water. Leave the broth to infuse for several hours. Strain and use while washing the ulcers.
2. You can treat bedsores and alcohol tinctures. A tablespoon of birch buds should be poured with a glass of alcohol or vodka, let stand for several days in a dark cool place. Then strain and dilute in half with water. Wipe affected bedsores twice a day.
3. If every day during the hygiene procedures to wipe the patient mouthwash for the mouth, you can protect the person from the appearance of diaper rash on the body and pressure sores.
4. Rosehip oil - disinfects the surface, improves bleeding, softens the skin.
5. From the bedsores good wheat poultice.A glass of wheat should be poured with a liter of boiling water, cover the pan with a towel and leave the millet to swell. When the croup softens and absorbs the water, the mixture should be drained. Slurry put in a linen bag and put it under the bedsore. Hold it for about 20 minutes until the mass cools down.
6. Elderberry leaves have a pronounced antibacterial effect. Dried leaves should be evaporated on milk and applied to the affected skin.
7. The recipe for folk ointment from bedsores. Put a few pieces of butter in the pan. Fry onion finely chopped onions. In a separate bowl, melt the candle. Mix onion, oil and wax. This ointment is necessary to lubricate the bedsores several times a day. Store the prepared medium in the refrigerator.
8. In the villages of bedsores helped a special mattress, filled with straw. It took the form of a human body, did not crush and was not rigid. In addition, the straw perfectly passes oxygen. It is best to use oatmeal straw.
9. Mix vodka with shampoo in equal proportions and wipe them with pressure sores. This is a very good and effective tool.
10. Lunaria leaves are an excellent preventive measure against bedsores. Several times a day, lubricate the skin with fresh juice of these leaves.
11. A few Kalanchoe leaves should be cut lengthwise so that the area of ​​the cut surface is maximum. Attach the sheet to the bed sore with a cut off area and leave overnight. The plant well disinfects and heals the wound.
12. Raw potatoes should be grated and mixed in equal quantities with fresh natural honey. Apply this mass to the wound for several hours. Honey is a natural antiseptic, and potatoes, thanks to starch, dry wounds well.

That is why pressure sores need to be treated on time, and even better to engage in prevention. A person who cannot move, who is tied to a hospital bed, may have pressure sores within a couple of weeks.Therefore, it is very important to monitor its hygiene, carefully care for the patient’s skin and toilet. In addition to hygiene, you need to follow the drinking regime so that the skin is sufficiently elastic. Thoroughness and perseverance in the care, compliance with all the rules and instructions of the doctor can save a person from pressure sores and lift him on his feet.

Video: prevention of pressure sores in a patient with a stroke