Pressure sores, known also as bedsores, are the result of impeded circulation to an area of skin subjected to continual pressure by the weight of the body against a surface beneath. When this occurs, restricted blood flow cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells; small vessels clot; a sore red patch of skin appears; and death of cells follows. The most common sites for pressure sores are where skin overlies a bony projection: hip, ankle, heel, shoulder, elbow, coccyx or tailbone, and the ischium, which is the bone we sit on.
Staging Pressure Sores
Pressure sores are assessed using the Shea system of four stages to describe the depth of the sore. Stages are I through IV. A stage II pressure sore features partial-thickness loss of skin. It may look like an abrasion, blister or superficial ulceration.
Who Is At Risk?
People who are confined to bed for any reason and elderly people who are unable to move about freely are at risk for pressure sores. Also at risk are people who spend their days in wheelchairs. Impaired wound healing may affect those with diabetes and the elderly. People who have decreased sensation also may be at risk because they do not know that pressure is present until a pressure sore appears.
Nutrients
People with pressure sores often are deficient in certain nutrients such as zinc and vitamins A, B, C and E. Zinc and vitamins A and B are necessary for healing of skin tissue wounds. Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory agent that aids in healing, improves circulation and enhances immune function. Vitamin E is important to improve circulation. Patients can obtain these nutrients through a diet that includes many raw fruits and vegetables or a vitamin/mineral supplement.
Topical Treatments
Tea tree oil has been shown to be an effective antimicrobial and disinfectant agent. It can be used to wash a pressure sore in a solution of one to two of drops to a cup of water. Aloe vera with a drop of tea tree oil can be applied directly to the affected area. It is known to heal existing sores as well as to prevent new ones from forming.
Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing," recommends the use of colloidal silver -- a natural antibiotic and disinfectant -- for pressure sores to destroy microbes and promote healing.
Contrasting hot and cold applications to pressure sores is another alternative treatment. Apply a hot compress and leave it in place for three minutes, followed by a cold compress left in place for 30 seconds. Alternate between them three times, ending with cold. This can be done three or four times a day to promote an increase in circulation to the area.
References
- “Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing"; P.A. Balch, C.N.C.; 2002
- VashonOrganics.com: Pressure Sores (Bed Sores)
