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Skin Ulcer Definition

Stage I
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Stage II
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Stage III
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Stage IV
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Skin Ulcers

A pressure ulcer is an injury usually caused by unrelieved pressure that damages the skin and underlying tissue. Pressure ulcers are also called bedsores and range in severity from mild (minor skin reddening) to severe (deep craters down to muscle and bone). Unrelieved pressure on the skin squeezes tiny blood vessels, which supply the skin with nutrients and oxygen. When skin is starved of nutrients and oxygen for too long, the tissue dies and a pressure ulcer forms. Skin reddening that disappears after pressure is removed is normal and not a pressure ulcer. Other factors cause pressure ulcers, even slight rubbing or friction on the skin may cause minor pressure ulcers.

There are four different stages of pressure ulcers, and the treatment for them various according to severity. Most of today's treatments cause extreme pain to the patient, because the affected area cannot have a local atheistic applied due to infection.

Nonblanchable erythema of intact skin. The heralding lesion of skin ulceration. In individuals with darker skin, discoloration of the skin, warmth, edema, induration, or hardness may also be indicators. Normal treatment: These ulcers typically do not require hospital stays, or doctor's offices. A normal patient can handle the treatments of these in the home. The patient or the doctor will lance the ulcer, which in most cases causes extreme pain. Then the ulcer has to be cleaned with another antiseptic wipe. Again, causing pain to the patient. The ulcer is then covered with a sterile cotton wrap. This entire process is usually repeated once after the initial cleaning.

This treatment requires no doctor or hospital visit. It is easily done in the home environment. Fully saturate a swath of absorbent cotton in the medication. Apply the medication soaked document to the affected area. Cover the soaked cotton with a clean, dry, cotton bandage. Make sure that the dry dressing completely covers the wet bandage. Leave this in place for 48 hours. Remove the dressing and the bandage. Dab the skin with a cotton ball if the area is watery, but do not clean with a disinfectant. Repeat the steps until lesion is healed. Process will generally take 2 weeks on Stage I ulcers.

Partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis, dermis, or both. Usual treatment: These ulcers often have to be treated by a physician. Requiring a visit to a doctor's office our outpatient emergency in a hospital. A doctor will lance the ulcer and removing the dead skin. Sometimes a suture is required depending on the location of the ulcer, and the amount of skin removed. A painful process to say the least. Then the area is scrubbed with a disinfectant. It is then covered with a dressing and kept dry. This process is typically repeated three to four times, depending on the depth and amount of skin loss. Whether changed and reapplied by a doctor is the patients' choice. Also, another visit may be required if sutures were called for. And depending on the size of cut and suture, a scar may be left.

Again, this treatment can be easily applied at home. It requires no special medical knowledge. No cuts or sutures are required with this medication. Fully saturate a swath of absorbent cotton in the medication. Applying the medication soaked cotton to the affected area. This often takes pushing some of the cotton into the ulcer, whatever amount is necessary for the depth of the wound. Cover the soaked cotton with a clean, dry, cotton bandage. Make sure that the dry dressing completely covers the wet bandage. Leave this in place for 48 hours. Remove the dressing and the bandage. Dab the skin with a cotton ball if the area is watery, but do not clean with a disinfectant. Repeat the steps until lesion is healed. Process will generally take 3-4 weeks on Stage II ulcers. There is typically no scarring left with this stage ulcer.

Full thickness skin loss involving damage to necrosis of subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to, but not through, underlying fascia. The ulcer presents clinically as a deep crater with or without undermining of adjacent tissue. Usual treatment: These types of ulcers often require short hospital stays, creating large bills. Most of the time a physician will operate on the ulcer. Making deep cuts and sutures, often times leaving a scar on the skin. First they must clean the surrounding area of the ulcer, requiring shaving if needed. Then the physician will cut out the affected area, more often than not, closing the cut with stitches. The ulcer then must be thoroughly cleaned, and the crater must be scrubbed. Then it is washed with a disinfectant. Then typically it is scrubbed again to insure that there is no dead skin within the crater itself. Then a bandage is applied, and necessary for up to three weeks. The cleaning process for such a deep crater is normally only repeated once. Most of the time this entire process will take about a month. Usually it leaves a scar, and requires three to four trips to a physician's office.

As before, this treatment requires no hospital stay. It requires no special medical knowledge. No cuts or sutures are required with this medication. Fully saturate a swath of absorbent cotton in the medication. Applying the medication soaked cotton to the affected area. This often takes pushing some of the cotton into the ulcer, whatever amount is necessary for the depth of the wound. Most of the Stage III ulcers are large, often requiring a larger amount of bandage to be applied. Often the medicine will have to be applied to the bandage lengthwise to permit covering more area. Make sure that the entire ulcer is covered before applying dressing. Cover the soaked cotton with a clean, dry, cotton bandage. Leave this in place for 48 hours. Remove the dressing and the bandage. Dab the skin with a cotton ball if the area is watery, but do not clean with a disinfectant. It should be noted that there might be some yellow pus with an unpleasant odor on or around the affected area. Also, the affected area may appear larger than the original one. This is normal with this stage of advanced ulcer. Repeat the steps until lesion is healed. Process will generally take four weeks or longer on Stage III ulcers. Commonly, there is no visible scarring.

Full thickness skin loss with extensive destruction, tissue necrosis, or damage to muscle, bone, or supporting structures. Undermining sinus tracts also may be associated with stage IV ulcer, depending on location. Usual treatment: Lengthy in patient hospital stays. These do require surgery to remove dead skin as well as muscle tissue. There are no attempts made to heal the wound. Only stop it from spreading. The doctor will cut out the affected area, including but not limited to: muscle, bone, tendons, nerves, etc. Then it will be thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed everyday. To insure that it stays clean, and the physician removed all affected tissue. This process -because it is inpatient - usually takes about one and half weeks. Then it requires multiple visits for wound rechecks and dressing changes. These types of ulcers always leave scars.

Although this treatment requires no hospital stay. It requires extra attention. The patient needs to be sure that they have completely soaked and covered the affected area. Pay special attention to the crater or hole. Do not be afraid to use a lot of medication. More is better than little in this case. The severity of the wound requires a larger amount of medication than before. Again, no cuts or sutures are required. Fully saturate a swath of absorbent cotton in the medication. Apply the medication soaked cotton to the affected area. This often takes pushing some of the cotton into the ulcer, whatever amount is necessary for the depth of the wound. Most of the Stage IV ulcers are large, often requiring a larger amount of bandage to be applied. Often the medicine will have to be applied to the bandage lengthwise to permit covering more area. Make sure that the entire ulcer is covered before applying dressing. Also make sure that some of the medication is covering the exterior of the wound as well. Cover the soaked cotton with a clean, dry, cotton bandage. Leave this in place for 48 hours. Remove the dressing and the bandage. Dab the skin with a cotton ball if the area is watery, but do not clean with a disinfectant. It should be noted that there might be some yellow pus with an unpleasant odor on or around the affected area. Also, the affected area may appear larger than the original one. This is normal with this stage of advanced ulcer. Repeat the steps until the lesion is completely healed. There are varying lengths of treatment for this stage of ulcer. They vary according to size and depth. On a typical Stage IV ulcer, it can take a couple of months or longer to heal completely.