What is a pressure sore?
How does the skin get damaged?
How can you spot one?
Where do they usually appear?
Who gets Pressure sores?
Quick test – how at risk are you?
A pressure sore (sometimes called a bedsore or pressure ulcer) is when your skin and underlying tissue gets damaged causing a painful sore.
For more information visit the government’s NICE guidelines at http://www.nice.org.uk
How does the skin get damaged?
The damage is usually caused by one of 3 main things:
- Pressure the weight of the body pressing down on the skin
- Shear when layers of skin are forced to slide over one another, for example when you slide down or are pulled up a bed or chair
- Friction rubbing of the skin
How can you spot one?
The first sign that a pressure sore might be forming is a change in the colour of the skin. This can then get progressively worse and can lead to an open wound. (Click here to see photographs of pressure sores. Please note these are real medical photos which some people may find upsetting)
back to topWhere do they usually appear?
The most common places for pressure sores are over bones that are close to the skin like the bottom, heal, elbow, ankle, shoulder, back and back of the ear.
Who gets Pressure sores?
Anyone can get a pressure sore whether they are aged 10 or aged 80. But the people who are most at risk are:
- people who have trouble moving and cannot change position themselves
- people who cannot feel pain over part or all of their body
- people who are incontinent
- people who are seriously ill, or have had surgery
- people who have a poor diet and dont drink enough water
- people who are very young or very old
- people who have damaged their spinal cord and can neither move nor feel their bottom and legs
- older people who are ill or have suffered an injury like a broken hip
Sarah aged 9 got a pressure sore on her heal after having an operation on her broken leg.
Josie aged 28 had a pressure sore after giving birth to her first child and having an epidural.
James, aged 35 suffered a pressure sore on the back of his leg after changing to a new wheelchair.
Stan, age 73 got a pressure sore on his bottom after a bad chest infection kept him housebound for 2 months.
Quick test how at risk are you?
Tick the following boxes that apply to you:
If you answer yes to 3 or more, you MAY be at risk. For a complete test refer to http://www.judy-waterlow.co.uk/ or consult a health care professional.