A bed sore, which is known as pressure sore or ulcer, is an exposed damage on the skin. It is a common problem observed in many people especially those who are imprisoned in their bed or wheelchair for some reasons for a long period of time.
After being constrained in one position in a very long time, the bedsore can be caused by the pressure and friction on the skin or due to wearing smeared clothing or undergarments for a long time. Also, people who encounter difficulty moving because of weakness, sedation, poor health or paralysis and coma will obtain a higher risk of suffering bedsores. Moreover, bedsores can be caused by fragile skin which results from diabetes, age, loss of sensation in several parts of the body, massive weight loss for a long period or prolonged weakness, poor immune system, dehydration as well as excessive smoking.
The common symptoms of bed sores that can be considered are pain, tearing, itching, lesions and discoloration of your skin as well. If it is left untreated, it can result in ulceration with severe damage and develop into serious infection.
Those body parts like buttocks, spine skin, arms, legs and shoulder blades are the most popular parts being affected by bedsores. Also, other parts such as lower back, heels, skin behind knees can be deeply influenced as well.
If you want to heal the wound quicker, you should follow a very strict hygiene measurement so that the risk of getting infection can be reduced drastically as well. Moreover, you should consider some below home remedies to minimize the consequences as well as speed up the healing process. Significantly, a proper and appropriate medication should be follow too.
- Change Positions
Firstly, due to the typical reason of bedsores which is being confined in a persistent position for a long periods, changing the position is necessary to reduce the pressure and the stress on the skin. Thereby, your body parts can be eased and new sores can be prevented from developing further.
You can reposition yourself every half an hour relying on helping device like trapeze bar or if you using a wheelchair, you can try to alter your weight as well.
Otherwise, a caretaker should utilize bed linens to help you reduce the risk of getting friction or any further sores. This method should be adopted every 2 – 3 hours.
- Saline Water
Saline water can be used to clean the sores, so that they can heal faster. Since poor hygiene can lead to further infection or inflammation, you are highly recommended to use saline water to cleanse those body parts that affected by bedsores. Plus, saline water can cut down the amount of fluid and remove dead skin.
- Simply add 2 teaspoons of salt in a glass of water.
- Boil the water and leave it till it cools down.
- Gently cleanse the body parts with this water.
- Leave it until it is dry and use a bandage to cover up.
- Repeat the process for several times a day.
- Honey
As we all know, honey is extremely helpful in soothing the skin where bedsores develop due to its incredible antiseptic properties, it can be used to relieve the pain, reduce itching sensation as well as speed up the healing process. Moreover, its anti – inflammatory properties can reduce the risk of getting any further damage deeply.
Prepare some honey that has been mixed with sugar to make a thick mixture. Apply this to the wound and use a bandage to cover the wound. Do this method on a daily basis to sooth the pain caused by bedsores.
- Coconut Oil
One of the most common essential oil to be used as well as one of the most helpful essential oil, coconut oil can be used to keep your skin in a healthy condition and prevent it from further damage resulted from persistent stress and pressure. Due to the wealth of medium – chain fatty acids, it can be used in massage to improve your body condition after being confined for a long period. Also, it can be used to regulate your blood circulation as well, thereby, soothe the pain caused by bedsores.
- Turmeric
Not only being a wonderful spice in the culinary aspect, but turmeric also plays an important role in preventing bedsores. Turmeric possesses an incredible ability of speeding the healing process. And due to the possession of anti – inflammatory, antioxidant and antiseptic properties turmeric is able to fight back the infection and inflammation at the same time.
- First step is that you need to cleanse your wound with saline water.
- After that you sprinkle some turmeric powder on the wound.
- Use a bandage to cover the wound
- Repeat the process for several times a day.
- Alternatively, drinking turmeric powder mixed with milk is another good solution.
- Aloe Vera
Do you know that infection which is the result of bedsores can be significantly prevented by those relief and soothing properties presented in aloe vera? By its healing compounds, aloe vera can be used to speed up the recovery stage as well as moisturize the affected parts on the body.
- Extract the gel from a fresh aloe vera leaf.
- Apply this fresh gel on the affected area.
- Do this for 3 times a day.
- Put some coconut oil on the affected area and gently massage the part until the oil penetrates deep into your body. Do this for several times a day to promote the healing and prevent any new sores.
Bio: Jelly Jeff is a senior editor of AuthorityRemedies; that a website which is specialized in providing natural home remedies, tips and also nutrition facts to improve the well-beings. She is a nurse but she keens to explore nutrition and fitness. In addition, she loves writing and doing research. She appreciates to be a good writer in nutrition.
