Creams to Heal Bed Sores

[seasong]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if you have ever used barrier creams (and if so which ones) to treat and/or prevent bed sores. Any help with types/names of creams that worked best for you would be highly appreciated. My mum spends a lot of time in bed, and she has started developing bed sores on her heels.

Thank you so much as always for any help.

Wishing you all strength and peace of mind in the difficult journey we are all facing.

Seasong

 

[nitram]

If you haven't already done so ask for a referral to the TV (Tissue Viability) nurse.

Also ask the district nurse or GP about the availability of a pressure mattress.

Pressure sores can get out of hand very easily.

 

[Jess1982]

Hi

My dad has one prescribed called Cavillon cream.

It is the one the district nurses like to use.

I think he has also had Cavillon spray.

 

[nellbelles]

Seasong

I doubt that anything that could be bought over the counter would be helpful.

Have you contacted her GP or district nurse? She may be eligible for a pressure mattress which could help. Pressure sores need specialist treatment and can take a long while to heal, I'm very glad you are keeping on top of this before it becomes a big issue.

 

[sistermillicent]

You need specialist advice, contact district nurses. No cream can stop pressure sores, only having the pressure relieved can do that.

 

[Nebiroth]

You should refer this to her GP, who will in turn most likely refer it to a nurse and probably an occupational therapist.

Bedsores, and preventing them, needs specialised advice and treatment plans.

There are no creams that will prevent them, only help prevent them. Unfortunately you cannot just get an over the counter solution to this problem.

If you get a referal you should get access to things like special mattresses and cushions.

It is much better to prevent pressure sores than to try and treat them. They can be very difficult to eliminate once they develop, moreover, it is possible for them to progress from a painful inconvenience to more serious complications if infections set in and then spread via the blood.

 

[DIANE69]

I have found District nurses very helpful.We were given a pressure mattress but that as now been exchanged to a air mattress.We used to get Cavlon cream on prescription which i applied twice a day but have now started using Cavlon spray which I am told lasts for 2 days.The nurses also come and put dressings on as a preventative measure if my husband is getting to the glowing red stage.The Cavlon also comes on lolly sticks which some of the nurses use.We have also been given some silicon gel heal protectors that can be worn under socks.You put them on one way if someone is in bed and another way if they are sat in a chair.I find them a bit fiddly to hold in place and get the sock over but they do seem to help.I be leave they can also be used for elbows.The heel gels need washing every day in soapy water and be careful if visitors come.I am rather well endowed in the bust dept.I had washed the heel gels and put them on a towel to dry in the kitchen when visitors arrived.Without thinking I walked back into the kitchen with visitors following.I heard gasps and giggles and when I turned around they were all starring at what they thought were my artificial boobs.I explained that they were definitely not what they looked like.

 

[Onlyme]

Mum has these and I find the ones on the left the best. Mum has baggy tube by grip type things to keep them in place.

http://www.aderma.info

 

[seasong]

Thank you all for your advice & suggestions

Thank you all very much for your very quick and useful advice/suggestions. I am now much clearer on how to go about this new challenge. I never imagined (as all of you I believe) I would have to learn about pressure sores, etc...as if the AD learning curve is not enough!..

But, "it is what it is"...and not "what it should be", or "what it could be" or "what we would like it to be".

PS. DIANE69, you put a smile on my face with your description of the gels! I needed it - thanks!

 

[Kathphlox]

Creams and potions may be all well and good in their place, I tried a few of them with Dad. None of them worked on their own.

The only thing that really worked with him were padded dressings.. and you should try to catch the pressure sores before they break... the tiniest pinprick of red is the signal. The dressings can be cut into any size you like to suit the area.

The DN should be able to prescribe them for you, but if not.. http://www.molnlycke.com/patient/en/Products/Wound/Mepilex/

Also, if the patient has diabetes, get in touch with the diabetic podiatrist, they will come and keep an eye on those heel wounds in a concentrated way.. diabetes is an evil thing with foot wounds

Check out the Aderma one's too that Onlyme linked to...they may be cheaper.

BTW, Dad still got pressure sores after he got an air bed and a special chair, so don't depend on that. The only thing that actually stopped them was for him to be hoisted to and from his bed and chair 4 times a day.. then the air could circulate and so could his blood supply to those areas... no more sores.. honestly

Hope this helps.

 

[seasong]

Creams and potions may be all well and good in their place, I tried a few of them with Dad. None of them worked on their own.

The only thing that really worked with him were padded dressings.. and you should try to catch the pressure sores before they break... the tiniest pinprick of red is the signal. The dressings can be cut into any size you like to suit the area.

The DN should be able to prescribe them for you, but if not.. http://www.molnlycke.com/patient/en/Products/Wound/Mepilex/

Also, if the patient has diabetes, get in touch with the diabetic podiatrist, they will come and keep an eye on those heel wounds in a concentrated way.. diabetes is an evil thing with foot wounds

Check out the Aderma one's too that Onlyme linked to...they may be cheaper.

BTW, Dad still got pressure sores after he got an air bed and a special chair, so don't depend on that. The only thing that actually stopped them was for him to be hoisted to and from his bed and chair 4 times a day.. then the air could circulate and so could his blood supply to those areas... no more sores.. honestly

Hope this helps.

Many thanks Kathphlox. I found the dressings online and ordered some until I get the chance to see if I can get them on prescription.

 

[lenhoppy]

bed sores

Hi
My wife had this problem ,not severe, the doctor gave her sudacrem but also I was using water proof pull up pants, when I changed to only using them at night and just normal during the day things improved I insist that her carer's take her to the toilet when they call every four hours a day they try to dodge it which cause me a problem as my wife has lost the use of her legs
len

 

[barny]

It is likely that most of those we care for are elderly and underweight due to the nature of the AD and I think that creams can help in preventing skin breakdown. With age skin becomes drier and therefore more likely to crack and breakdown. By applying creams regularly this keeps the skin hydrated and supple and less likely to break. Some creams are in fact quite drying and can make the problem worse so the cream needs to be chosen carefully. Cavillon is a barrier cream so not nessesarily hydrating, sudocrem is quite drying but is soothing and antiseptic. Conatrane cream is a good everyday cream which keeps skin hydrated but there are many others on the market. Of course there are other factors involved pressure, sheering forces, incontinence and poor nutrition. Redness of the skin is the first sign of skin damage occurring and action needs to be taken promptly at the first sign.

 

[Kathphlox]

Many thanks Kathphlox. I found the dressings online and ordered some until I get the chance to see if I can get them on prescription.

If you want to get them from the District Nurse, make sure the pressure sore is visible at the time they visit. I had great trouble getting them from DN when I wanted top ups of them on hand before Dad developed another pressure sore.. their story was, if they couldn't see it right then, then no go, they didn't want to help me prevent the next one developing... It takes days to get resupplied with dressings from them and only one day for the pressure sore to turn nasty. Keep a stash and hide it if you must, I did that with everything.. only minimal stuff was in Dad's box of tricks which they rummaged through every time and left me with nothing if I wasn't crafty.

Tricks of the trade we learn along the way

 

[Jennywren57]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if you have ever used barrier creams (and if so which ones) to treat and/or prevent bed sores. Any help with types/names of creams that worked best for you would be highly appreciated. My mum spends a lot of time in bed, and she has started developing bed sores on her heels.

Thank you so much as always for any help.

Wishing you all strength and peace of mind in the difficult journey we are all facing.

Seasong

Contrane cream, swear by it

 

[seasong]

Contrane cream, swear by it

Thank you Jennywren57 - great suggestion.

Also, many thanks Kathphlox for your latest advice.

So nice to read everyone's responses and heartfelt advice.

THANK YOU ALL, THANK YOU TP!

 

[Max123]

Salveation was a salvation for us

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if you have ever used barrier creams (and if so which ones) to treat and/or prevent bed sores. Any help with types/names of creams that worked best for you would be highly appreciated. My mum spends a lot of time in bed, and she has started developing bed sores on her heels.

Thank you so much as always for any help.

Wishing you all strength and peace of mind in the difficult journey we are all facing.

Seasong

Hi,

I understand your issue with this. My grandad who is 95 was getting terrible trouble with these all over. His skin is very delicate. We use a cream by mama nature. This salveation is more like a salve/balm and is greasy but my lord does it ever work. Heals, moisturises and forms a barrier. He is also prone to wetting himself so we use this like a nappy cream and it is great.