Bed sores are produced when continuous pressure on the skin is excessive due friction, for example, in people who have to spend long periods of time in bed in the same position. A bed sore can occur in any part of the body, but because the patient is generally leaning on his or her back, glutes, shoulders and head, these are the part that are usually affected. Though sometimes it's hard to prevent them from appearing, bed sores can be cured with adequate treatment on the affected area, so we recommend you visit a doctor and follow his or her instructions and follow these recommendations on how to heal bed sores at home.
- Saline solution
- Fresh bandage that will not stick
- Cream or ointment for healing wounds
First of all, we should highlight that bed sores go through several stages, which start with a superficial wound but that usually imply a loss of tissue and can even go as far as the bone. This is why this type of open wound requires constant medical supervision and qualified personnel to take care of healing.
Therefore, what we should do to heal bed sores at home is to keep the area where the bed sore is forming clean to avoid proliferation of bacteria that can cause the infection. We must wash the area with water carefully and, if you wish, use pH neutral soap that you can easily purchase at Pharmacies; after this you need to thoroughly dry the area from the center of the wound to the borders with a sterilized gauze to get rid of humidity completely.
Once the skin is clean and dry, apply dressings on the bed sores to keep the area sterilized and help the wound to heal. It's necessary to replace these dressings frequently to prevent infections or make them worse.
If the bed sores worsen,which means the cellular death process has started and the lesions will get worse, you should visit a nurse or doctor immediately so that he or she can proceed to the necessary treatment. Under no circumstance should you apply any type of cream or antiseptic solution if it hasn't been prescribed by a professional.
If you want to prevent new bed sores from forming in people who spend a long time in bed or in the same position, it's important to read the following recommendations.
- Turn the patient's body several times throughout the day.
- Supervise the areas that are prone to bed sores frequently: back, elbows, shoulders, back of the head, knees, heels, ankles...
- Put cushions under these areas to reduce pressure.
- Keep skin clean and dry.
- Change bed linen frequently.
- Use appropriate clothing, not too loose or too tight.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Heal Bed Sores at Home, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
- Avoid using antiseptics and soaps for treating pressure sores, because these agents often damage the infected tissue.
- Use a large foam pad on top of the bed to rest the patient's body as this will relieve pressure and help avoid bed sores. They need to be at least 5 to 10 cm thick.