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Pressure sores — also called pressure ulcers or bedsores — are areas of damage to the skin and the tissue underneath, caused when the same part of the body is under pressure for too long. The NHS explains that they develop when prolonged pressure affects the same areas of the body, and that they most often form over bony parts such as the heels, elbows, hips and tailbone. In someone who cannot shift their own weight, the first sign is often a patch of discoloured skin rather than an open wound, which is why the skin is checked every day rather than only when something hurts. Prevention is not complicated, but it is relentless: move the person, look at the skin every day, keep it clean and dry, and feed and hydrate well. This page explains how. A doctor or nurse assesses and treats any sore that has already formed.
How a Pressure Sore Forms
Skin and the tissue beneath it need a blood supply. When body weight presses one area against a mattress or a chair, that blood supply is squeezed. If the pressure is not relieved, the tissue is starved and damaged. The NHS describes pressure ulcers as damage to the skin and the tissue underneath caused by prolonged pressure on the same body areas.
Two other forces make it worse. Sliding down the bed when the head end is raised drags the skin in one direction while deeper tissue stays put. And moisture — from sweat, urine or a wound — softens skin and makes it far easier to injure. That is why repositioning, dryness and skin checks are always taught together.
Where Pressure Sores Usually Appear
The NHS says pressure ulcers usually form over bony parts of the body, such as the heels, elbows, hips and tailbone. MedlinePlus advises checking the whole body from head to toe daily, with special attention to the heels, ankles, knees, hips, spine, tailbone, elbows, shoulders, head and ears.
Where they appear depends on how the person lies or sits. Someone mostly on their back is at risk over the tailbone, heels, shoulder blades and the back of the head. Someone lying on one side is at risk over the hip, the outer knee, the ankle and the ear. Someone sitting for long periods is at risk over the tailbone and buttocks. Tubes, catheters, oxygen tubing behind the ears, and tight bedding can also press on skin.
Who Is Most at Risk
The NHS lists higher risk for people who have problems moving, who have had a pressure ulcer before, who have been seriously ill in intensive care or have recently had surgery, who are underweight, who have swollen, sweaty or broken skin, who have poor circulation or fragile skin, or who have problems feeling sensation or pain and so cannot feel the discomfort that would normally make a person shift position.
Someone who has recently had a fall and is now spending most of the day in bed or a chair joins this group quickly. If that describes your situation, our guide to fall prevention covers the other half of the problem.
Daily Skin Checks: What to Look For
MedlinePlus advises examining the body from head to toe every day. The NHS lists these early signs:
- a patch of discoloured skin — red on lighter skin, and purple or blue on brown or black skin — that does not turn white when pressed
- skin that feels warm, spongy or hard to the touch
- pain or itchiness in the affected area
On darker skin, redness may not be visible at all. Feel the area as well as look at it, compare it with the skin on the other side of the body, and take the person’s report of pain seriously even when nothing shows.
Do the check at a fixed time, such as during the evening wash, so it never gets skipped. Report anything new to a doctor or nurse rather than deciding at home what it is.
Repositioning: The Habit That Matters Most
MedlinePlus advises changing position every 1 to 2 hours in bed, to keep pressure off any one spot. For someone in a wheelchair, it advises shifting weight — leaning forward, then left and right — every 15 to 20 minutes. The NHS advice is to change position regularly.
Some practical points that make this work:
- Keep a written turning chart by the bed with the time and the position used. Memory fails on a long night shift; a chart does not.
- Use pillows to hold a position — between the knees when side-lying, and under the calves so the heels lift clear of the mattress altogether.
- Lift or roll rather than dragging the person up the bed, so the skin is not sheared. Use a draw sheet and two people where possible.
- Keep the head of the bed as low as the doctor allows, because a raised head encourages sliding.
- Keep the sheet smooth. Creases, crumbs and hard objects create pressure points.
The NHS also advises staying as active as the person is able to be, and MedlinePlus notes the same. Even small self-initiated movements help.
Keeping Skin Clean and Dry
MedlinePlus advises washing gently with a soft cloth or sponge without scrubbing, using moisturising cream as directed, and cleaning and drying areas that stay damp, such as under the breasts and in the groin. After urination or a bowel movement, it advises cleaning the area right away and drying it well. It also notes that bathing every single day can dry the skin.
Practical follow-through: change wet or soiled bedding immediately rather than at the next scheduled turn, pat skin dry instead of rubbing, avoid talcum powder building up in skin folds, and let air reach the skin during position changes. If incontinence is part of the picture, ask the treating doctor or nurse what barrier product is suitable, rather than choosing one at random.
Food and Fluids
MedlinePlus advises eating enough calories and protein to stay healthy, and drinking plenty of water every day. The NHS advises eating a balanced diet. Skin that is being repaired needs building material, and a person who is underweight is already on the NHS list of those at higher risk.
This is one area where general advice has limits. If the person has difficulty swallowing, kidney or heart disease, diabetes, or has been told to restrict fluids, the amount and type of food and drink must be set by the treating doctor or a dietitian. Do not increase protein or fluids on your own in those situations.
Mattresses and Cushions — Helpful, Not a Substitute
The NHS advises using specially designed mattresses and cushions to relieve pressure. MedlinePlus advises a foam mattress, or one filled with gel or air, and a foam or gel seat cushion for a wheelchair, and says not to use doughnut-shaped or ring cushions.
A pressure-relieving mattress does not replace repositioning. It reduces and redistributes pressure; it does not move the person, keep the skin dry, or show you a discoloured patch. Turning schedules and daily skin checks continue exactly as before, whatever surface the person is lying on.
If a specialised surface has been advised for home use, check that it is set up and inflated as instructed and that it is working every day. Families in Bangalore sometimes arrange an air mattress for patients at home alongside regular care, but the equipment is an addition to the routine, never a replacement for it.
When to Get Medical Help
The NHS advises contacting a GP if you think you have a pressure ulcer, and getting urgent advice if there is swelling, pus coming from the area, fever, or pain that is getting worse. In India, see a doctor the same day for any of those, and call 108 or go to the nearest hospital if the person is very unwell, has a high fever, or becomes confused or drowsy.
Sudden confusion in an older person is an emergency in its own right, and infection is one possible cause. Do not wait at home to see whether it clears.
An open pressure sore needs assessment and a dressing plan from a doctor or a qualified nurse, not a home remedy. Families often arrange wound dressing at home to carry out that plan, alongside bedridden patient care for turning, hygiene and feeding.
If blood tests are arranged to look into nutrition, anaemia or infection, remember that reference ranges vary by laboratory, method, age, sex, pregnancy and clinical context. Read the range printed on your own report beside your own result, and let the treating doctor interpret it. This page cannot tell you what any result or any skin change means.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pressure sore?
A pressure sore, also called a pressure ulcer or bedsore, is an area of damage to the skin and the tissue underneath, caused by prolonged pressure on the same part of the body. The NHS notes that they usually form over bony areas such as the heels, elbows, hips and tailbone, and that an ulcer left untreated can reach deeper layers of skin, muscle and bone.
How often should a bedridden person be turned?
MedlinePlus advises changing position every 1 to 2 hours in bed to keep pressure off any one spot. For someone in a wheelchair, it advises shifting weight by leaning forward and to each side every 15 to 20 minutes. Keep a written turning chart beside the bed so no turn is missed overnight, and follow any schedule the treating team sets.
Does an air mattress or special mattress prevent bedsores on its own?
No. A pressure-relieving mattress reduces and redistributes pressure, but it does not turn the person, keep the skin dry, or reveal an early discoloured patch. The NHS and MedlinePlus recommend such surfaces alongside, not instead of, regular repositioning and daily skin checks. Continue the turning schedule exactly as before whatever surface is being used.
What are the earliest signs of a pressure sore?
The NHS lists a patch of discoloured skin that does not turn white when pressed, described as red on lighter skin and purple or blue on brown or black skin; skin that feels warm, spongy or hard; and pain or itchiness in the area. On darker skin, redness may not show, so feel the area as well as looking.
Where on the body do pressure sores usually form?
Over bony areas. The NHS names the heels, elbows, hips and tailbone. MedlinePlus advises daily checks of the heels, ankles, knees, hips, spine, tailbone, elbows, shoulders, head and ears. The exact spots depend on position: the tailbone and heels when lying on the back, the hip and ankle when on one side, the buttocks when sitting.
Do food and fluids affect pressure sores?
They matter. MedlinePlus advises eating enough calories and protein and drinking plenty of water every day, and the NHS advises a balanced diet. But if the person has swallowing difficulty, kidney or heart disease, diabetes, or a fluid restriction, the amounts must be set by the treating doctor or a dietitian, not increased at home.
When should a pressure sore be seen by a doctor?
The NHS advises contacting a doctor if you think a pressure ulcer has formed, and getting urgent advice if there is swelling, pus, fever, or worsening pain. In India, seek same-day medical review for those signs, and call 108 or go to the nearest hospital if the person is very unwell or becomes confused or drowsy.
Sources
NHS - Pressure ulcers (pressure sores) · MedlinePlus (NIH) - Preventing pressure ulcers
Last checked 2 September 2026. How we write and check these pages: editorial policy.
Trained help for bedridden care at home
Varolyn arranges trained attendants and nurses in Bangalore for turning schedules, hygiene, feeding support and dressings carried out to the treating doctor’s plan. Assessment and treatment of any wound stays with the doctor or qualified nurse.