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Bedsores
(Decubitus Ulcers)
Treatment & Prevention

Common Bedsore Locations

Bedsores, also called decubitus ulcers, are areas of damaged skin tissue which can cause severe infections, some of which are life-threatening. You are at risk as a result if your skin is exposed to moisture and any combination of prolonged pressure, shear, friction and heat. Your risk increases if you use a wheelchair, are bedridden, or are unable to change your position. Bedsores commonly form on the heels, ankles, buttocks, hips, back and elbows.

Immediately contact your doctor if you show signs of infection, such as increased redness or swelling around a skin ulcer, a fever, drainage from an open sore, or if you detect an odor.

Causes
While pressure on the skin contributes to the formation of bedsores, other common factors that can damage the skin include:

Friction: occurs when the skin rubs against clothing or bedding. It can make fragile skin more vulnerable to injury.
Shear: occurs when two surfaces move in the opposite direction; shearing and friction can occur when a person is slid across bed sheets. When the head of the bed is raised more than 30 degrees, shearing forces are increased over the lower back and tailbone.
Moisture & Heat: wetness from sweat, urine or feces along with a rise in temperature has been clinically demonstrated to contribute to skin damage.

Sheets Protect the Skin
Friction & Shear Reduction: Cotton fabrics are made with millions of short-staple fibers that protrude from the surface of the sheet. These tiny barbs are abrasive and can cause skin irritation. DermaTherapy fabrics are woven from a continuous-filament yarn that creates a consistently smooth, silk-like surface. Shear injuries and skin abrasiveness is virtually eliminated by DermaTherapy.

Cotton Fibers Magnified

DermaTherapy

DermaTherapy® Magnified

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Training Video

 

•••

"Consider using silk-like fabrics rather than cotton or cotton-blend fabrics to reduce shear and friction."
National Pressure Ulcer
Advisory Panel

•••

 

 

Moisture & Heat Control: Traditional cotton linen absorbs and retains moisture, inhibiting evaporation which maintains a damp environment harmful to skin. DermaTherapy fabrics are woven of fibers with unique cross sections that create micro-channels to wick moisture away from skin. Facilitating increased evaporation which lead to a decrease in temperature.

Regulating Moisture and Heat

DermaTherapy®'s uniquely engineered fibers have micro channels that wicks moisture away
40% faster and dries 60% faster than cotton-blend bedding.

Cost: Prevention is always better than a cure. The average cost of treating a pressure ulcer is estimated at ~$10k. DermaTherapy sheets are relatively inexpensive compared to other interventions. In addition DermaTherapy sheets deliver lasting protection for years.

Other Causes
Age: elderly people are more likely to develop skin ulcers because skin usually becomes thinner with age.
Poor Nutritional Status: Anemia and/or malnutrition can result in skin damage.
Decreased Sensation: Certain conditions reduce a person’s ability to feel pain or discomfort. Without these feelings, the person cannot feel bedsores developing.
Circulatory Problems: People with circulatory issues from long-term diabetes or edema may be more likely to develop bedsores.

Prevention
An ounce of prevention... as they say, certainly applies to bedsores. Treating bedsores can be a lengthy, painful and expensive process. Two critical strategies to prevent bedsores are frequently repositioning yourself to minimize stress on the skin and importantly, taking good care of your skin. You can help avoid bedsores by keeping skin clean and dry.

Products
100% Guaranteed

 

Clinically-Proven Technology for Bedsores

DermaTherapy bedding was compared with standard hospital bedding for 307 patients at risk of pressure wound development in an acute-care renal unit, over a six-month period.1

62%

Fewer Sores
Were Developed

90%

More Sores
Were Resolved

40%

Fewer Sores
At Discharge

11%

Fewer Days
In The Hospital

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Tips For Skin Care
Inspect the skin daily and look carefully for warning signs of a bedsore. Keep skin clean and dry. Use a gentle cleanser to wash the skin and pat, not rub, dry. Repeat this cleansing routine regularly to reduce the skin's exposure to moisture, stool and urine. Protect the skin from friction and shear. DermaTherapy includes design elements that protect against the causes of friction and shear.

Symptoms Of Bedsores
According to the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, there are 4 stages of bedsores:
Stage 1: Skin looks red and can feel warm to the touch. You may also experience pain or itch. With darkly pigmented skin, the bedsore may have a blue or purple tint.
Stage 2: Affected skin shows more damaged and is very painful. The wound bed is visible, pink or red, moist and may also present as an intact or ruptured blister.
Stage 3: At this stage, bedsores are deeper and usually have a crater-like appearance.
Stage 4: This is the most severe type of bedsore. Patients will have a significant gaping wound with exposed muscle, tendons and bone which is very susceptible to infection.


Complications
Complications of bedsores, some of which are life-threatening, include:
Cellulitis: Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and adjacent soft tissues. Symptoms can be warmth, redness and swelling of the affected area.
Bone and joint infections: An infection from a bedsore can invade into bones and joints. Joint infections (septic arthritis) can damage cartilage. Bone infections (osteomyelitis) can limit the function of the limbs.
Cancer: Marjolin's ulcers (long-term, non-healing wounds) can develop into a type of squamous cell carcinoma
Sepsis: An untreated pressure injury can often lead to sepsis.

"The fabric is designed to reduce friction, which allows a patient to move easily across the bed, making it less likely that a patient’s weakened or moist skin could develop a pressure ulcer or bedsore."
- Annette Smith, VP of Nursing and Patient Services, Wesley Long Hospital

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Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

DermaTherapy has FDA clearance as a Class I medical device for atopic dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis, and pressure sores. DermaTherapy is the first and only bedding to achieve this distinction. Technical classifications for DermaTherapy include:

Class I medical device for use by patients who are susceptible to pressure ulcers. DermaTherapy Bed Linens help to reduce the likelihood of patients developing pressure ulcers by reducing moisture, friction and shear on the patient’s skin. (Reg. K152884)

Developing pressure ulcers (also known as bedsores) is inevitable when you’re confined to bed for long periods of time. Cotton-blend sheets collect moisture that increases friction and creates an adverse microclimate around the body, leading to painful beds sores. Our anti-microbial sheets wick away the moisture that accumulates between the patient and the mattress, creating a favorable and protective microclimate. Infections never see the light of day, and bedsores can heal in these conditions. In fact, people develop 62% fewer bedsores when using DermaTherapy linens.

Dermatherapy Is Providing Great Relief To Those Living With Disabilities

“I am able to sleep comfortably and stay dry in my bed. I can sleep friction free thanks to DermaTherapy bedding.” ● “The sweating has stopped and I can sleep comfortably!” ● “I am able to transfer and shift in the bed without the shearing damage to my skin and the sheets have a smoothness to them that makes them comfortable and cool.” ● “Very impressed at how kind they are to my skin.” ● “I like the ability to get up and slide and maneuver myself out of bed!” ● “It has helped me with my sleeping and turning over. I would recommend it to people with disability.“ ● “I overall like it, and Yes I would recommend them to anyone. They are great!”

Source: Feedback received from a three-month evaluation of DermaTherapy with the Richmond Paralyzed Veterans of America


Products are 100% Guaranteed
DermaTherapy® Sheet Set
DermaTherapy® Sheet Set

Starting at $162.00


DermaTherapy® Pillowcase
DermaTherapy® Pillowcase

Starting at $24.00


DermaTherapy® Gown
DermaTherapy® Gown

Starting at $49.00


DermaTherapy® Underpad
DermaTherapy® Underpad

Starting at $33.00

DermaTherapy® also provides relief from other conditions:

Night Sweats

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Eczema & Psoriasis

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Acne

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1 Coladonato J, Smith A, Watson N, Brown AT, McNichol LL, Clegg A, McPhail L, Griffin T, Montgomery TG. Prospective, Nonrandomized Controlled Trials to Compare the Effect of a Silk-Like Fabric to Standard Hospital Linens on the Rate of Hospital-acquired Pressure Ulcers. J Ostomy Wound Management 2012; 58(10):14-31.