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Skin tears: prevention and treatment
Jeannette Y Wick1, Guido R Zanni
1National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Summary
Skin tears are prevalent in elderly long-term care residents. Prevention strategies, including staff education and protective measures, can significantly reduce skin tear incidence.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Wound Care
- Dermatology
Background:
- Skin tears are a frequent and under-researched issue in the elderly, particularly in long-term care settings.
- Identified risk factors include advanced age, skin dryness (xerosis), dependency in daily activities, senile purpura, vision impairment, and malnutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the incidence, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of skin tears in elderly individuals residing in long-term care facilities.
Main Methods:
- The study synthesizes existing literature on skin tear epidemiology, risk factors, and management strategies.
- It highlights the importance of data collection, with many facilities tracking and some states requiring reporting of skin tears.
Main Results:
- Preventive measures such as skin sleeves, padded side rails, gentle skin care, moisturizers, and staff education can reduce skin tear occurrences by 50% in long-term care facilities.
- Current treatment methods are often time-consuming, painful, and can lead to further injury, especially in patients with dementia or agitation.
Conclusions:
- Effective prevention protocols are crucial for reducing the incidence of skin tears in vulnerable elderly populations.
- Improved, patient-centered treatment strategies are needed to address the challenges associated with managing skin tears in long-term care settings.
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