A pressure ulcer (pressure sores, bed sores) is a break in the skin caused by sitting or lying in one position for too long. This often happens if you use a wheelchair or are confined to bed, even for a short period of time (for example, after surgery or an injury). The constant pressure against the skin reduces the blood supply to that area and the affected tissue dies.
Friction (rubbing) of your skin can contribute to a pressure ulcer. The skin is dragged over a surface, for example, across a bed. In addition, if you slide down in your bed or chair and are pulled back up, the sliding and pulling movements cause the layers of your skin to slide over each other and the underlying tissues. This is called 'shearing' and also contributes to pressure ulcer formation.
The effect of these pressure, friction and shearing forces are increased if you have damp skin, or are elderly as your skin is more fragile.
Pressure ulcer categories
Pressure ulcers are divided into categories (sometimes known as ‘stages’) depending on how deep they are. The dressing you use depends upon the category.
Category 1: The skin is red but not broken. The area does not whiten if pressed with your finger. This is an early warning for you!
Category 2: Shallow, open wound or intact or broken blister
Category 3: Slightly deeper wound. May have yellowish tissue in it
Category 4: A deep wound, sometimes down to bone
