Pressure Injuries

Condition Basics

What are pressure injuries?

A pressure injury on the skin is caused by constant pressure to that area. The pressure damages the skin and underlying tissues, creating an injury. This can happen when you lie in bed or sit in a wheelchair for a long time.

Pressure injuries usually occur over bony areas, such as your sit bones, hips, lower back, elbows, heels, and shoulders. Pressure injuries can also occur in places where the skin folds over on itself, or where medical equipment presses on the skin, such as when oxygen tubes press on the ears or cheeks.

Pressure injuries can range from red areas on the surface of the skin to severe tissue damage that goes deep into muscle and bone. Severe injuries are hard to treat and slow to heal. When pressure injuries do not heal properly, problems such as bone, blood, and skin infections can develop.

What causes them?

Pressure injuries are caused by constant pressure on the skin and tissues.

Other things that can make pressure injuries more likely include:

  • Sliding down in a bed or chair (shear force).
  • Being pulled across bed sheets or other surfaces (friction).
  • Not getting enough nutrition to keep your body working well (malnutrition).
  • Not being able to get out of bed or walk around (immobility).
  • Having a disease that affects how well blood circulates in your body, such as diabetes or peripheral arterial disease.
  • Excess moisture, such as from sweat, urine, or feces. Skin that is often wet is more likely to break down and form pressure injuries.

What are the symptoms?

At first, the skin may appear reddened. Or the skin may look purple or dark red. In darker skin, the color may differ from that of nearby skin. The injury may be tender and warm to the touch. It may break open or form an ulcer where fat, bone, or muscle may be visible.

How are they diagnosed?

A doctor can diagnose a pressure injury by examining it. In some cases, the doctor may want to do blood tests to check for infection or to see if you're getting enough protein in your diet. The doctor may also want to do a skin and wound culture or a skin biopsy.

How are pressure injuries treated?

Treatment focuses on helping the pressure injury heal. This involves keeping pressure off the area. Injuries with unbroken skin may need to be kept clean and bandaged. For open injuries, your doctor may remove dead tissue from the wound to prevent an infection. You may need special dressings. Some people may need surgery.

Related Videos

Information about Pressure Injuries

Current as of: November 16, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.