What are Pressure Injuries?
Pressure injuries are wounds to the skin and underlying tissue as a result of pressure or friction. When pressure is constant over a particular area, blood supply is reduced and causes the skin tissue to breakdown.
Who is at risk?
Pressure injuries are commonly found on the skins of individuals who sit or lie in the same position over a prolonged period of time, including:
- Elderly
- Individuals with impaired mobility
- Individuals with severe acute illness (e.g. in intensive care)
- Individuals with poor mental or physical condition
- Individuals restricted to sitting and/or lying down
- Individuals with incontinence issues
- Individuals with poor nutrition, paralysis or spasticity
Preventive Strategy
Regular repositioning should be done at least once every 2 hours to reduce the time when the skin is under pressure. Pressure injuries can become serious depending on the extent of damage to the skin and tissue. Prevention is better than cure!
Self Care Tips
Skin Care
- Apply moisturizers to dry skin
- Assess the skin daily for signs of red patches on skin that does not fade away, blisters or damage
- Avoid massaging risk areas
- Keep the skin clean and dry
Application / Devices
- Moisturizer
- Barrier cream
- Emollient
- Pressure relieving air mattress
Nutrition
- Maintain a well-balanced diet
- Ensure adequate hydration, if not on fluid restrictions
- Take milk supplements to prevent malnutrition
- Speak to a dietitian for dietary advice
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