Bedsores--sometimes called pressure sores or pressure ulcers--are areas of skin that have been deprived of blood flow as a result of sitting or lying in the same position for an extended period of time. While in their early stages, bedsores may respond to non-surgical remedies that relieve pressure and keep the skin clean, more advanced pressure sores may require surgical intervention and antibiotics.
Relieving Pressure
According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, stage 1 bedsores--the least severe type that are red, warm to the touch and cause itching or burning--often heal by themselves once pressure is relieved. One way to relieve pressure on the skin is to make sure you rotate your position every 15 minutes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Supportive cushions filled with foam, air or water can also be placed in strategic positions to take pressure off of existing sores.
Cleaning the Sores
Keeping bedsores clean is vital both to prevent infection and to encourage healing. According to the Mayo Clinic, stage 1 sores should be washed regularly with a mixture of water and mild soap, while more severe sores that are larger in size and penetrate more deeply into the skin should be cleaned using a saltwater solution.
Non-surgical debridement, or removal of skin tissue, using high-pressure irrigation or topical enzymes that eat away at the dead tissue may also keep the wound clean. FamilyDoctor.org also suggests that wrapping the sores with wet gauze and pulling off the gauze once it is dry is another way to remove dead tissue. Whirlpool baths or hydrotherapy offer a less painful way to clean bedsores and get rid of dead skin.
Nutrition
Patients with bedsores who are malnourished and lacking in the right kind of calories, vitamins and minerals may not be healthy enough to heal. According to FamilyDoctor.org, a diet rich in protein, vitamin C and zinc can help to treat pressure sores and speed their healing.
Surgery
Some bedsores are so deep and severe that they require reconstructive surgery. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors surgically debride the skin with a scalpel or other instrument to remove the dead skin prior to surgery. Then, healthy skin and muscle tissue is taken from other parts of your body and placed in the area of the sore in an effort to reconstruct the area.
Antibiotics
Deep bedsores can sometimes be difficult to clean and are therefore susceptible to infection. Infected pressure sores may be treated with antibiotics. According to Merck Manuals, infection can spread to the bone or bloodstream, resulting in a life-threatening condition that may require long-term antibiotic treatment.
