Preventing Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries can develop quickly, even in healthy skin. That’s why taking steps to prevent them is so important. Taking pressure off your skin is the first step. That means changing positions often, supporting your body, and not rubbing and sliding. Keeping your skin clean and dry, eating well, and stretching your joints and muscles can also help prevent pressure injuries. Be sure to check your skin daily, too.
Pressure injuries may also be called pressure sores, pressure ulcers, or bedsores.
The information below describes several ways to prevent pressure sores. For many of these, you will need help. If you have problems getting around and don't have a caregiver at home, ask your healthcare team for home care information and resources.
Change positions often
Changing positions allows blood to get to your skin and keep the tissue healthy.
In a chair:
In bed:
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Change positions from side to side at least every 2 hours, more often if possible.
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Use lightweight sheets and blankets to reduce pressure and rubbing (friction) from above.
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Ask about special pads and mattresses that spread pressure over a larger area of your body.
Support your body
Supporting your body spreads pressure over a larger area.
In a chair:
In bed:
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When lying on your back, put pillows between your ankles and knees to lessen the pressure in that area. Keep your elbows slightly bent.
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When lying on your side, put pillows behind your back so that you are lying at about a 30-degree angle. Also put pillows between your legs, and between your ankles. Keep elbows and knees slightly bent.
Don't rub or slide
Rubbing (friction) and sliding (shear) cause the skin to break down more easily.
In a chair:
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Keep your feet on a footrest, so your thighs are horizontal. This keeps your buttocks from sliding forward.
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Push up from the arms of the chair to shift your weight or change positions.
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Support your shoulder blades and back with a pillow.
In bed:
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Keep your sheets smooth, dry, and free of small items that could irritate the skin, such as crumbs. Using a sheepskin pad can help prevent rubbing.
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Keep your feet and head slightly raised to avoid sliding. When on bed rest, don’t raise your head more than 30 degrees, except when needed for some medical conditions or for eating.
Keep your skin clean
Keeping your skin clean and dry also helps prevent pressure injuries.
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Keep your skin free of sweat, urine, stool, or wound drainage. Change bed linens if they become damp, wet, or soiled.
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Use a mild, non-irritating soap when cleaning the skin. Pat the skin dry. Don't rub it.
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Apply protective creams and use absorbent pads if you don't have bladder or bowel control. Gently clean and dry the soiled skin right after each occurrence.
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Check your skin twice a day for signs of breakdown. You may need a caregiver to look at some common areas of pressure injury, such as the lower backside.
Eat healthy and move around
If you are in a bed or a wheelchair most or all of the time, you need to:
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Eat enough calories to stay at a stable weight.
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Get plenty of protein, vitamins, and iron, and drink lots of fluids each day.
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Get help getting out of your bed or chair so you can change positions as much as possible.
Check your skin twice a day
Do skin checks each day as part of your daily routine. Skin breakdown starts with slight changes but can progress very quickly. Have a caregiver help with looking at the areas you can't see, including the lower back area. This is one of the most common areas for breakdown because it's a pressure point.
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Look for redness, bruises, cuts, and other irritations, especially over bony areas.
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Look for scabbing, blistering, or open areas on the surface of your skin. These are more serious and must be treated right away.