Bed sores, also referred to as pressure sores or pressure ulcers, develop as a result of prolonged pressure, such as sitting or lying in one position for an extended period of time. Consult your doctor right away if you or someone you know has bed sores.
Today, we’ll talk about some natural treatments you can use to treat bed sores and lessen infection. Please keep reading.
What Are Bed Sores?
The hips, lower back, buttocks, shoulder blades, elbows, and any pointy parts or places that are flat on the bed all the time are the most frequently affected areas by bed sores.
In addition to being brought on or made worse by pressure and friction against the skin, they can also be brought on or aggravated by diabetes, aging, sensory loss in specific body parts, weight loss following a protracted illness, inadequate nutrition, extremely dry skin with dehydration, and excessive smoking.
Due to her diminished appetite, our mother has lost a significant amount of weight. Additionally, because she sits all day, her back and butt both develop sore skin.
Make sure you pay close attention when your parent with dementia talks because they frequently just say something hurts rather than indicating a sore. You should keep an eye out for bed sores in advance because once they get bad, they are very difficult to treat.
Causes Of Elderly Bed Sores
It’s important to understand the causes before beginning the best bed sore treatment at home. Long-term pressure on the skin that restricts normal blood flow leads to bed sores. The following are typical reasons for bed sores:
- Repositioning the body can cause friction that can damage the skin, which becomes more brittle as we age. When moving loved ones in bed, be careful to avoid rubbing against rough sheets or clothing, which can also be a common cause of bed sores.
- Added stress brought on by a lack of mobility To deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissue and skin, blood flow is necessary. Pressure on a particular body part can prevent blood from flowing normally, which can cause tissue and skin to deteriorate and become damaged. Where there is little muscle or fat is where this pressure frequently occurs.
- Shear: This occurs when the skin moves in one direction while the bone moves in a different direction or remains stationary. The skin may stretch and rip as a result of this.
Symptoms Of Bed Sores In Seniors
Finding a reliable home remedy for bedsore can be made easier by learning more about the symptoms of bedsore. There are four stages of bed sore symptoms. Regular repositioning and pressure relief can effectively treat the first stage, whereas the last stage can be challenging to manage and carry a risk of serious infections. The four phases consist of:
- Stage 1: discolored; warm to the touch; red on seniors with lighter skin and purplish-blue on seniors with darker skin; itching; burning
- Stage 2: more visible skin damage; open blister, sore, or scrape; discoloration; serious pain and/or discomfort
- Stage 3: discoloration and abrasions spread; crater-like appearance from damage beneath skin’s surface
- Stage 4: large wound; visibly deteriorated skin; damage of muscles, bones, and tendons, which may be visible through a hole in the skin
Home Remedies To Treat Bed Sores In Elderly
The majority of cases can be treated with the aid of some straightforward and efficient home remedies, even though you might need to seek medical attention in the most severe cases.
Clean The Wound And Disinfect It Regularly
The best course of action is to thoroughly clean it with a disinfectant to ward off infection. You can wash it with soapy water and water to clean it for this. Following that, you must use a saltwater solution to clean the wound or injury. At first, this might itch, but it might also help to clean the area of the wound.
To remove the dead cells from the wound after applying this mixture, wipe it off with a tissue or cotton ball. Additionally, there should be no liquid or water in the area because this increases the risk of infection. Repeat this frequently until the injury is healed.
Turmeric Paste
In addition to acting as an antibacterial for the wound, turmeric is a natural healer. Regarding the healing process, it is very advantageous. It also effectively treats the issues while accelerating the wound’s healing.
For greater effectiveness, apply a paste to the wound in this case. The primary bioactive component in turmeric, curcumin, aids in wound healing and skin growth. The turmeric must be blended with a little water to create a thick paste. After cleaning the wound, apply it twice daily.
Relieve Pressure
There is a simple, all-natural method for treating bed sores that is also effective: relieving pressure. It is crucial that you assist the person in changing his position because it frequently occurs to bedridden individuals who are unable to move to a different position.
Altering your position can help reduce the wound and the natural healing process in the early stages when the infection or injury is not severe. Take care of your diet and remove any dead tissue from wounds to promote faster healing.
Opt For Mattresses That Have Cushions That Help Relieving Pressure
There are specific cushions that are sold in the market that can aid in reducing a person’s bed sores. Water and air are contained in these mattresses, which are made of special material and ease the patient while also offering support.
If bed sores are not treated in the early stages, they can become extremely painful in some circumstances and cause terrible wounds.
Apply Sugar Salt Solution On The Wound
Few people are aware that sugar works as a paste to bind the skin and the wound together. Insofar as it lessens the severity of the injury, it might be advantageous. In fact, sugar can help the body’s tissues grow. It can help to minimize infection and dehydrate bacteria.
You can use this paste by smearing the solution on the wound and then dressing it in cotton gauze. It might also assist in absorbing wound fluid, which is the main driver of bacterial growth and infection.
Use Raw Papaya Paste
Treating the nearby dead cells is an additional method of treating bed sores. It promotes wound healing and eliminates the main source of infection.
Papaya leaves, which are made from raw papaya, are one way to remove these dead cells since dead tissues are very problematic and widen the wound. It might be very efficient at removing dead tissues and cells from the wound.
