A decubitus ulcer, also called a pressure sore or bed sore, is anopen woundon your skin. Pressure sores often occur on the skin covering bony areas. The most common places for a pressure sore to appear includes your hips, back,ankles, and buttocks.

It is common among the elderly, disabled, and other people who spend long periods in bed or a wheelchair, or cannot move certain body parts without help. Decubitus ulcers are also prone to those with fragile skin. The condition is highly treatable and recovery is good with proper diagnosis.Stage 1The skin is unbroken, but shows discoloration. If you have a light complexion, the area may appear red. If you have a dark complexion, the discoloration may vary from bluish to purple, or it may appear whitish.Stage 2The skin is open and shows signs of sometissuedeath around the wound. The ulcer is shallow or not too deep.Stage 3The ulcer is much deeper within theskinstissue (affecting the fat layers) and has the appearance of a crater. A pus-like substance may be present in the sore as well.Stage 4This stage affects multiples layers of tissue, including muscle and bone. A dark substance called eschar may be present inside the sore.UnstageableThe ulcer may have a yellow, brown, or green scab covering it. The damage to the tissue layers is extensive and requires removal.What Causes a Decubitus Ulcer?

One of the main reasons for a decubitus ulcer to appear on your skin is undue pressure. Lying on a certain area for long periods may cause the skin to break down. Your skin is thinner in places next to bone or cartilage, and your hips, heels, and tailbone are especially vulnerable to pressure sores.Other causes include the following:FrictionYou create friction when you scrape or rub your skin against a hard or rough surface. Friction burns on the skin may damage the epidermis (the outermost layer of cells in your skin).Urine and FecesWearing soiled clothing or undergarments for long periods may create open sores on the skin. This may irritate the delicate outer skin layer.

Diagnosing a Decubitus Ulcer

Your regular doctor may refer you to a wound care team of doctors, specialists and nurses experienced in treating pressure sores. The team may evaluate your ulcer based on several important aspects. These include:

The size and depth of the ulcer.

The type of tissue (skin, muscle, and/or bone) directly affected by the ulcer.

The color of the skin affected by the ulcer.

The amount of tissue death that occurs from the ulcer.

The condition of the ulcer (such as infection, foul odor, andbleeding).