What is a Bed Sore?
Pressure Ulcers are commonly known as bed sores. They are very serious and should not be ignored. When a person stays in one position for too long without moving, the skin can break down and become a wound called a bed sore. Too much moisture on the skin can also contribute. • Preventing bed sores Back to top Preventing Bed Sores A pressure ulcer (bed sore) happens when areas of the skin or the tissue underneath are injured from unrelieved pressure. This pressure squeezes tiny blood vessels which supply the skin with nutrients and oxygen. When the skin is starved for too long, the tissue dies and a pressure ulcer forms. Skin reddening that disappears after pressure is removed is normal and not a pressure ulcer. Other things can cause pressure ulcers such as sliding down in a bed or chair. This causes the blood vessels to stretch or bend. Damage can range from a change in the color of unbroken skin to severe, deep wounds, which can go to the muscle or bone. Pressure ulcers form where bo
