Bedsores or pressure sores are an incredibly uncomfortable condition often caused in those who are bed-bound. These often begin with unusual changes in skin color or texture. This change in your skin is often followed by swelling, and the condition worsens.
However, bedsores are treatable, and with the right care and creams, you can ease the pain and discomfort caused by them. This article will not only talk about the best creams you can get over the counter to treat bedsores, but it will also list the many ways you can prevent these sores from appearing in the first place.
If you do get bedsores, using high-quality creams paired with other preventative techniques can help relieve the pain and allow you to have relief almost instantly. Let us take a deeper dive into these creams and other preventative measures.
Buying guide
What are bedsores?
Bedsores are a condition that usually plagues those who are bed-ridden and cannot move all that much. These sores are essentially ulcers that appear on the areas of the skin that is under the most pressure when you are lying in bed. Therefore, bedsores can occur when you are lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, or wearing a cast for a prolonged period of time.
Bedsores are also termed pressure injuries as they are caused when the skin of a certain area cannot bear the pressure of the body for much longer. They are especially a problem among the elderly, who are bedridden and have sensitive skin. Additionally, it is also an indicator of the quality of care they are receiving. Bedsores are prevalent in people who have underlying health issues such as diabetes, poor nutrition, and circulatory problems. Therefore, if you face any of these issues, you are at a higher risk of developing pressure ulcers.
What causes bedsores?
Bedsores appear when a certain area of the skin does not receive an adequate amount of blood supply for more than 2 to 3 hours. The lack of blood supply causes the skin to die, and that becomes visible as the skin starts to change color and look unnatural.
At first, the skin becomes red, and the area becomes painful. Then, it turns purple, and the pain intensifies. Many dangers accompany leaving such sores untreated. There is a chase that the skin can break open, and the area can become infected.
When left untreated, bedsores can become deep as well. It can extend all the way into the muscle and the bone. Usually, bedsores are slow to heal, and it takes a lot of patience and cares to treat them. Furthermore, the time it takes bedsores to heal also depends on their severity. The deeper bedsores are, the longer it takes to heal. Underlying medical conditions also lengthen the healing process. If you suffer from diseases such as diabetes, bedsores can take anywhere from days to years to heal.
Sometimes, surgery is needed to heal bedsores as well.
The most common areas where bedsores develop are
The buttock area, which includes the tailbone and the hips
Heels of the feet
Back of the head
Shoulder blades
At the back or side of the knees.
How to prevent bedsores
There are many ways that you can treat bedsores, but they take a long time to heal, which is why it is better that you prevent them from occurring in the first place. There are many preventative measures you can take to prevent bedsores. Here are some of them.
Changing Positions
Bedsores are caused when there is so much pressure on a patch of your skin that blood supply to that area is cut off for 3 hours or more. Therefore, if you move and change your position regularly, you can relieve the pressure off of an area, that has an ulcer or that may develop one.
Usually, care teams devise a plan to help avoid ulcers from forming, which includes how much you should be moved. For some people, this can be every two to three hours. For some, it can be 15 minutes.
Furthermore, you may also be advised on how to sit correctly and the different lying positions you can adopt and the exercises you can do, etc.
Mattresses and Cushions
There are special kinds of foams and mattresses as well, which can help relieve the pressure on a certain part of your body and distribute it evenly. This greatly helps prevent bedsores. Static foam and dynamic mattresses are great for that.
In the case of more serious bedsores, you may need a mattress that is more sophisticated and tailored to your needs. There are many mattresses available on the market that deliver a flow of air constantly into it. These may help prevent bedsores.
Dressings
There also exist certain kinds of dressings that are specially designed to protect the bedsores from further pressure. Therefore, they speed up the healing process. These dressings include alginate dressings that can help speed up the healing process as they include sodium and calcium.
Hydrocolloid dressing contains a gel that helps the skin grow new cells in the ulcer, which helps it heal faster. It also helps keep the skin surrounding the ulcer dry.
There exist other dressings as well such as foams, films, gels, and more that can help manage and prevent an ulcer.
Creams and ointments
There are many over-the-counter creams and ointments that allow you to treat pressure ulcers. There also exists barrier creams that help protect the skin that can be damaged and irritated, which can help prevent an ulcer from spreading.
Stage
Symptom
Treatment
I
Redness in an area that is painful. It does not turn white when pressed. The skin is warm or cool to the touch. It may also be firm or soft
These sores can be washed gently using water and mild soap. A moisturizer can also help protect that area from bodily fluids.
II
The skin that was red may blister or form an open sore. Usually, the area around the sore is red and irritated.
These sores should be cleaned with saline water. Saline water helps remove loose and dead tissue.
III
The area where the ulcer had formed now develops into an open and sunken hole called the crater. The tissue below the skin is visibly damaged. In certain cases, body fat is visible in the crater.
These kinds of sores need special medical attention and cannot be healed on their own.
IV
Bedsore has become very deep and has caused damage to the muscle and bone. There is a chance that tendons and joints may also be affected.
These kinds of sores need special medical attention and cannot be healed on their own.
Top 10 bedsore creams available over the counter
At a glance
Conclusion
Bedsores are incredibly uncomfortable and can be extremely hard to heal if you have underlying medical conditions. However, that does not mean that you cannot take care of these wounds yourself. In the article above, there are ten of the best bedsore creams on the market that can help alleviate your pain and treat your chronic wound. Furthermore, there are many preventative measures listed as well.
