Clean the pressure sore by irrigating the wound with a saline solution (available from drug stores) or other

cleaning solution recommended by a health care professional. Remove all dead tissue and scabs. A health professional can recommend the best approach, depending on the severity of the pressure sore. Pat the wound dry. Bandage the wound with a dressing that eeps the pressure sore moist while eeping surrounding tissues dry. Clean s in with warm water and minimal friction. Apply lotion often. Avoid direct pressure to bony areas such as an les and hips. !se pillows and padded protectors to support arms, legs and vulnerable areas. Change the position of a bed"bound person every two hours. #andle and move carefully to avoid s in tears and scrapes. Change the position of a chair"bound person hourly. $iscourage the bed"bound or chair"bound person from sitting with the head elevated more than %& degrees, e'cept for short periods of time. Chec and change bed linens as often as necessary !se continence management products if necessary to reduce e'posure to moisture. Padded supports, such as doughnut cushions may, themselves, become a source of pressure. $o not massage bony areas of the body. $o not massage pressure sores. $o not use remedies such as iodine, pero'ide and cornstarch that may further irritate the s in.

Helpful Products

)op

#elpful products for pressure sores can be purchased from hospitals, pharmacies, medical e(uipment and supply stores and catalogues. Lotions, moisturizers

special lotions for pressure sores

Supportive devices

pillows air cushions/pillows foam wedges and pads padded protectors special beds and mattresses

Wound care products

saline solutions irrigation equipment, such as, syringes dressings bandages, tape

* +n more aggressive treatment modes, absorbent foam"li e bandages are applied and changed fre(uently. ,pecial dressings with a water"based suspension help to cover and protect the site. )o prevent infection, topical antibiotic ointment can be used. #erbal )reatment for Bed ,ores #erbal treatment should be used only on closed wounds. -pen wounds should be attended by a health"care practitioner. * Aloe vera is very effective against sores. +t is applied topically in ointment, gel or cream form. * )opical calendula cream soothes and heals wounds wonderfully. $ietary .uidelines +n addition to conventional and herbal treatment for bed sores, diet is also an important factor to help improve the condition. * ,tic to a simple diet. Consume lots of fresh fruits, and green and yellow vegetables to obtain ample supplies of vitamin C, vitamin A, minerals and phytonutrients.

* $rin plenty of pure water to ensure that you stay well hydrated. /utritional ,upport 0ou must consult a healthcare practitioner before ta ing any of the following nutritional support, particularly if you have diabetes or another condition that would ma e bed sores worsen (uic ly. * People with bed sores are often deficient in certain basic nutrients. )a e a good multivitamin and mineral supplement daily. * 1itamin C has anti"inflammatory properties and promotes the health of the s in and blood vessels. A study published in the British 2edical 3ournal found that bedridden patients with bed sores had significantly lower levels of vitamin C in their blood than e(ually bedridden patients without bed sores. * 4inc supports the immune system and promotes wound healing. )a e 5inc with food to prevent stomach upset. ,ome 6ords of Caution Before you start treatment for bed sores, it is very important that other possibilities have been ruled out. Another disorder might be mimic ing a bed sore, especially if the sore seems to intensify at an unusually rapid rate. #erpes lesions, bacterially induced s in ulcers, and even s in cancer can resemble bed sores, but these re(uire radically different treatments.