When a person is confined to a bed or a wheelchair for long periods of time due to illness, skin ulcers that are commonly known as bed sores begin to develop. This condition is quite common among the elderly, but they can develop in people in a coma or those rendered immobile due to various health issues. Being immobile and staying in one position for a long period reduces the blood flow to various parts of the skin, thereby causing severe sores or blisters.
Bed sores are red in color at the initial stage and as time passes, they start to turn purple. It is important to treat these sores at the earliest as they can break open if left neglected. Once they open up, infection can be caused and this infection can spread to different muscle areas in the body. The areas that are most affected by bed sores are lower back, buttocks, shoulder blades, hips, heels, joints, legs, etc (1).
Bed sores are not difficult to detect, and this means you can treat them quickly before they get worse. Here are some of the symptoms that you should look out for:
These symptoms, once detected, can be easily treated to provide relief from pain. Inflammation and infection should be prevented as once they occur, patients can go through a lot of pain. It is important to make sure that the sores do not get scratched when they itch, as it can worsen them and spread the infection.
As mentioned earlier, it is best to treat bed sores as early as possible. You can also prevent them by taking care of them while they are still at the initial stage. You can prevent their progression by repositioning or turning the patient as often as possible, so that blood circulates evenly to all parts of the body (4). It is also extremely important to make sure that the skin is kept clean and dry at all times. A soft padding on the patient’s bed or wheelchair can provide pressure relief and prevent bed sores as well.
Worried how to treat bed sores? The good news for everyone is that bed sores can be treated naturally with a wide variety of home remedies. You do not need medications or expensive treatments. Home remedies are preferred by a large percentage of people across the world as they are safe and do not come with side-effects.
Here are 20 of the best home remedies for bed sores:
The gel of the famous aloe vera plant is a wonderful remedy for bed sores. Apply the gel of this miraculous plant on the affected area every day to cure the sores and keep the skin soft and smooth. It also cools the affected areas, providing relief from pain as well as itchiness that is caused by the bed sores.
Another very effective home remedy for bed sores is a mixture of sugar and honey. Applying the mixture on the affected area two times everyday can cure sores quickly. The mixture is also helpful in removing any poison from the sores and preventing any infection from developing.
Bed sores can be treated with this mixture by washing the affected area two to four times a day. It provides great relief from itchiness and pain caused by the bed sores. This is a simple home remedy that many people use to naturally treat the skin ulcers.
This is a very effective remedy for bed sores. Experts recommend applying Vitamin E oil to the areas affected by the sores as well as the entire body to gain relief. Apart from relieving pain and itchiness, it makes the skin smooth and supple.
A healthy and well-balanced diet is important to treat bed sores. A patient should have a daily diet that is rich in Vitamins A, B, C, D and E. Zinc and iron are important nutrients for the treatment of bed sores as well. Experts also advise patients with bed sores to eat foods that are rich in fiber.
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