What Are the Most Common Mistakes in Bedsore Care? A Guide by DRJV Healing

Caring for someone with limited mobility requires patience, consistency, and attention to small changes in the skin. One of the biggest concerns for bedridden patients is the development of bed sores, also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers.

A bedsore may begin as a small area of skin discoloration or tenderness, but continued pressure and inadequate care can allow the injury to progress. For caregivers, knowing what not to do can be just as important as knowing what to do.

Many problems in bedsore care do not happen because caregivers do not care. They often happen because the causes of pressure damage are misunderstood. Applying an ointment while leaving pressure unchanged, overlooking moisture, or waiting for an obvious wound before taking action can all interfere with effective care.

In this guide, DRJV Healing looks at some of the most common bedsore care mistakes and explains what caregivers can do differently.

1. Ignoring Prolonged Pressure

The most fundamental mistake is focusing on the visible wound while ignoring the pressure that caused it.

When a person remains in one position for a long period, continuous pressure can restrict blood flow to tissues. This is particularly concerning around bony areas such as the tailbone, hips, heels, elbows, and ankles.

Simply treating the affected area without reducing pressure does not address the underlying problem.

Caregivers should follow an appropriate repositioning plan and use pressure-relieving support surfaces when recommended. The repositioning schedule should be based on the patient’s individual needs rather than applying the same routine to everyone.

2. Waiting Until the Skin Becomes an Open Wound

Another common mistake is assuming that a bedsore only needs attention once the skin breaks.

Pressure damage can begin before an open wound becomes visible.

Early changes may include:

• Persistent redness or discoloration
• Tenderness
• Unusual warmth or coolness
• Changes in skin texture
• Swelling
• A hard or unusually soft area

Regular skin inspection can help identify these changes earlier.

Early recognition gives caregivers and healthcare professionals an opportunity to address pressure and other risk factors before the injury becomes more serious.

3. Checking Only the Area Where a Bedsore Already Exists

Once a bedsore develops, caregivers may understandably focus most of their attention on that wound.

However, other pressure-prone areas can also be at risk.

A patient who has developed one pressure injury may have several risk factors for developing another. The tailbone, hips, heels, ankles, elbows, shoulders, and back of the head may all need regular attention depending on the patient’s position and mobility.

A broader skin-check routine is therefore more useful than examining only the existing wound.

4. Using an Ointment as the Only Treatment

A bedsore ointment may form part of a wound-care routine, but it should not be considered a complete solution by itself.

One of the most important principles of bedsore management is addressing the conditions that caused the pressure injury.

This may include:

• Reducing pressure
• Repositioning the patient
• Managing moisture
• Maintaining skin hygiene
• Supporting adequate nutrition and hydration
• Using appropriate dressings where necessary
• Monitoring the wound for complications

A topical product can support skin or wound care, but it cannot replace pressure relief or professional assessment when required.

5. Applying Products Without Understanding the Wound

Not every cream, ointment, or wound-care product is appropriate for every type of skin problem.

An intact area of vulnerable skin is different from an open pressure ulcer. A superficial wound is different from a deep pressure injury.

Caregivers should avoid assuming that a product suitable for one situation will automatically be suitable for another.

If the wound is open, deep, deteriorating, or showing signs of infection, professional assessment is important.

6. Overlooking Moisture

Moisture is another factor that can contribute to skin breakdown.

Bedridden patients may experience prolonged exposure to moisture from:

• Urine
• Stool
• Sweat
• Wound drainage
• Absorbent products

Moisture can weaken the skin and make it more vulnerable to friction and irritation.

Caregivers should clean affected areas gently, change wet or soiled materials promptly, and follow an appropriate skin-protection routine.

For patients with frequent incontinence, discussing suitable moisture-management and skin-protection strategies with a healthcare professional can be particularly helpful.

7. Rubbing or Scrubbing Fragile Skin

When cleaning a patient’s skin, more force does not mean better hygiene.

Fragile skin can be damaged by vigorous rubbing, particularly in elderly or already compromised skin.

Instead, caregivers should use gentle cleaning techniques and avoid unnecessary friction.

The same principle applies when changing bedding or moving a patient. Appropriate handling techniques can help reduce friction and shear.

8. Dragging the Patient Across the Bed

Moving a patient by pulling or dragging them across the bedsheet can create friction and shear.

These forces can damage vulnerable skin and potentially worsen an existing pressure injury.

Whenever possible, caregivers should use appropriate patient-handling techniques and equipment recommended by healthcare professionals.

For patients who require frequent repositioning, learning safe movement techniques can protect both the patient and the caregiver.

9. Neglecting Nutrition and Hydration

Wound healing requires adequate nutrition.

A patient who is eating poorly, losing weight, or not drinking enough fluids may have additional challenges during recovery.

Protein and adequate calorie intake are particularly important for tissue repair, while hydration supports normal body functions.

However, nutritional needs vary. Patients with medical conditions, swallowing difficulties, kidney problems, or other dietary considerations should receive individualized advice from a doctor or dietitian.

10. Assuming Pain Is the Only Warning Sign

Not every patient with a pressure injury will experience or report pain in the same way.

Patients with reduced sensation or certain neurological conditions may not feel pressure-related damage normally.

This means caregivers should not rely solely on a patient’s description of pain.

Visual inspection and attention to changes in skin colour, temperature, texture, swelling, and wound appearance are equally important.

11. Failing to Monitor the Wound Over Time

Bedsore care should include regular observation.

Instead of simply asking whether the wound “looks better,” caregivers can monitor changes such as:

• Wound size
• Skin condition around the wound
• Drainage
• Odor
• Swelling
• Redness or discoloration
• Pain or tenderness
• Changes in the wound bed

If the wound is worsening rather than improving, it should be reassessed.

Keeping a simple record can also help caregivers communicate changes to the healthcare team.

12. Ignoring Possible Signs of Infection

An infected pressure ulcer requires appropriate medical attention.

Warning signs can include increasing redness, swelling, pain, pus or unusual discharge, unpleasant odor, or fever.

A worsening wound should not simply be treated by switching between different ointments without professional guidance.

If infection is suspected, a healthcare professional should assess the patient and determine the appropriate treatment.

13. Waiting Too Long to Seek Professional Help

One of the biggest mistakes is delaying medical advice because the wound initially appears small.

Pressure injuries can progress, particularly when the underlying risk factors remain unchanged.

Professional assessment is especially important when:

• The wound is deep
• The wound is becoming larger
• There is significant drainage
• The wound has an unpleasant odor
• The patient develops fever
• Pain is increasing
• The surrounding skin is becoming more inflamed
• The wound does not appear to be improving

Patients with conditions that affect circulation, sensation, immunity, or healing may require particularly careful monitoring.

How DRJV Healing Fits Into Bedsore Care

Effective bedsore care is about more than one product. It requires a consistent approach that addresses pressure, hygiene, moisture, nutrition, skin protection, and wound monitoring.

DRJV Healing offers Cura Decubitus™ Ointment, a topical product intended for bedsore care, slow-healing wounds, and non-healing external ulcers.

For caregivers considering a bedsore ointment, it is important to understand where a topical product fits into the overall routine. It should complement appropriate pressure management and wound-care practices rather than replace medical evaluation when a wound is severe or complicated.

The right approach is therefore not simply to ask, “Which ointment should I use?” It is also to ask, “What is causing the pressure injury, and what can be done to address those factors?”

A Simple Bedsore Care Checklist

For everyday care, caregivers can keep the following checklist in mind:

Check: Inspect pressure-prone areas regularly.

Reposition: Follow the patient’s individualized repositioning plan.

Clean: Keep the skin clean using gentle techniques.

Protect: Manage moisture and protect vulnerable skin.

Support: Use appropriate pressure-relieving surfaces when recommended.

Nourish: Encourage appropriate nutrition and hydration.

Monitor: Observe the wound for changes.

Act: Seek professional advice when the wound worsens or shows concerning signs.

Consistency is often more valuable than complicated routines.

Conclusion

Bedsore care can be challenging, but many common mistakes can be avoided with better awareness.

Ignoring prolonged pressure, overlooking early skin changes, relying solely on ointments, allowing excessive moisture, using excessive friction during cleaning, neglecting nutrition, and delaying professional assessment can all make pressure injuries more difficult to manage.

The most effective approach is comprehensive. Pressure must be addressed, skin should be inspected regularly, moisture and friction should be controlled, nutrition should be supported, and wounds should be monitored carefully.

DRJV Healing’s Cura Decubitus™ Ointment can be considered as part of a broader bedsore and wound-care routine. However, responsible care means understanding that no topical product replaces pressure relief, proper caregiving, or professional medical treatment when it is needed.

For families and caregivers, the most important step is to notice changes early, address the causes, and avoid waiting until a small skin problem becomes a serious wound.