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Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. Relieving and spreading out pressure is the most important part of both preventing and treating pressure injuries. Putting pressure on one spot for long periods of time damages the skin and underlying tissues. Pressure can be relieved and spread in several ways. Often a combination of these is best. If you or someone you care for is not able to move much, it's important to prevent pressure injuries and to check the skin every day. If you think that a pressure injury is forming, take steps to treat it. Talk to your doctor or nurse about what more you can do. If a pressure injury forms, use prevention steps to relieve pressure and protect the skin. It's also important to keep the sore clean, covered, and slightly moist. Used together, these steps can help keep the sore from getting worse and help your skin heal. Clean the pressure injury every time the bandage (dressing) is changed. Saline is often used for cleaning. This is a saltwater solution that you can buy at a drugstore. But there are many cleansing products for wounds. Your doctor will recommend a cleansing solution for you. In some cases, it may be okay to use tap water to clean the wound. Your doctor will recommend a bandage for the pressure injury. There are many types of bandages. Over time, your doctor may have you use several different kinds of bandage as the pressure injury heals. The general idea is to keep the wound a little moist and not let it dry out between bandage changes. Pain may or may not be a problem with pressure injuries. Some people who have pressure injuries don't need any pain medicine. Some need it just when the sore is being treated. And some need it on a regular schedule. If you have pain, talk to your doctor. Treatment focuses on preventing a pressure injury from getting worse and on making the skin healthy again. It may include: Negative-pressure wound therapy, also called vacuum-assisted closure, may be used to help with healing. Researchers continue to study these and other treatments for wounds, including electrical stimulation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, platelet-derived growth factor, and ultrasound therapy. As you treat a pressure injury, you will know that it's healing correctly if: After a pressure injury is healed, the skin is still very fragile. It's easy for the skin to break down again, especially in the first month after the sore is healed. To decrease the risk that the pressure injury will come back, slowly return to the positions that put pressure on the area where the sore was. For example, apply pressure for no more than 15 to 30 minutes at first. Then check to see if the redness fades within 15 minutes after you take the pressure off. Talk to your doctor or nurse about a plan for returning to your normal positions and activities after a pressure injury is healed. Open wounds, such as pressure injuries, are easy places for infections to start. Your doctor will watch for signs of infection, and you can help. Tell your doctor if you notice: To treat an infection, you may use medicine, such as antibiotics, along with special care of the wound. You and the people around you will also be taught to take steps to keep germs from spreading to other parts of your body or to other people. These steps include keeping the sore covered at all times except during treatment, good hand-washing before and after caring for the pressure injury, and properly wrapping and throwing away used bandages. How well a pressure injury heals depends in part on its stage. Current as of: November 16, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Current as of: November 16, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org. © 1995-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.Topic Contents
Pressure Injuries: Prevention and Treatment
Overview
How can pressure injuries be prevented?
What can you do to treat a pressure injury?
What other treatments may be used to treat pressure injuries?
How can you tell if a pressure injury is healing as it should?
How do you know if a pressure injury is infected?
How well do pressure injuries heal?
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Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.