Common Causes of Pressure Ulcers

There are many common causes of pressure ulcers, which are also called bedsores or decubitus ulcers. They occur when a bone in a weight-bearing portion of the body compresses tissue and skin against some type of surface. Although they can occur anywhere on the body, they will typically form in areas such as the elbow, ankle, heel, knee, hip or shoulder blade.

Why Pressure Ulcers Form

One of the most common causes of pressure ulcers is being bedridden. Constant pressure on the skin can cause damage, primarily due to decreased blood circulation. However, they can also occur due to friction created when skin rubs against a surface or two areas of skin slide against each other in opposite directions. This could happen, for example, if someone is moved from a stretcher to a bed or slides in a chair. If the skin has too much moisture, that can also lead to pressure ulcers because of its reduced amount of resistance. This happens when someone sweats excessively or experiences incontinence.

Other causes include improper nutrition, smoking, low body weight and, in some instances, use of steroid medications.

Treatment Options

The type of treatment needed for pressure ulcers will depend on the severity of the problem. There are several different approaches that may be used. These include saline or synthetic dressings, antibiotic dressings to reduce infection risk, compresses and more. In severe instances, surgery may be needed to remove dead skin.

If you would like more information on the common causes of pressure ulcers or you would like to learn more about treatment options, get in touch with the experts at DFW Wound Care Center. Give us a call at 972-665-6292 (Plano), 972-318-2383 (Lewisville) or 972-607-9643 (Irving), or contact us online. When you come in for a visit, we will perform a thorough examination to determine the severity of the issue and then provide you a clear, detailed recommendation of the best course of action.