Bed sores or pressure sores on buttocks are one of the most concerning health issues among individuals who have impaired mobility. These tend to develop from continuous and long-term pressure on a particular part of the body.
The bony parts of your body especially the tailbone area are more susceptible. People who cannot change their lying-down positions are at the most risk.
Whenever a pressure sore in crack of bum develops, it can take many days, weeks, months, or even years for it to heal. In the worst-case scenario, it may become infected and cause chills and fevers. If the infection spreads through the body, then it may lead to mental confusion, general weakness, as well as a fast heartbeat.
Causes of bed sores on the buttocks
Pressure sores on buttocks from sitting can occur if there is too much pressure on your skin. Sitting in the same position for extra long periods of time puts continuous pressure on the tailbone area, which reduces the flow of blood there. When there is not enough blood supply, in particular, it will not nourish the skin; then, that part of your skin may die, and a sore may form.
At first, a bed sore on the bum will be a red painful area, and gradually it will turn purple. If you leave it untreated, the skin may break open, and the area becomes infected. It may become deep and extend to the bone or muscle; once it starts developing, it is often quite slow to heal.
The severity of tailbone bedsores will depend on the physical condition of the affected person, and other underlying diseases such as diabetes; sometimes surgery may help the person with the healing process.
Symptoms of Sores on Buttocks
Here are some symptoms of the pressure sore in crack of bum and that include-
- Change of color of the affected skin – It is possible for the darkened skin around the back region to appear blue, shiny, or purple in color. You may experience redness, pinkness, or even a darkening of your skin if you have light-colored skin. If you notice that even after removing the pressure, the discoloration does not disappear on its own; this is an indication that a sore might possibly develop in your body over the next few days or so.
- Change in skin texture – There may be a sensation of sponginess or hardness or a feeling of warmth on the skin on the buttocks.
- Broken skin – Usually, there will be an open sore that is filled with pus or fluid, but it can also be shallow if it is only a small sore. In some cases, the wound will extend, and a deeper layer of tissue will be present.
- Infection – Signs of bedsores on buttocks will also include the change in color or sensation, which will be around the sore edge, the presence of green or black tissue around the sore, more pus, or even fever.
Stages of bed sores on buttocks
It is possible to categorize pressure ulcers on the back into four stages. This staging is carried out on the basis of the extent of the tissue affected or the depth of the sores. Tissue layers can be classified as –
- The outermost layer, also known as Epidermis
- The second layer, also known as Dermis
- Hypodermis which is the layer of fat and connective tissue just below the epidermis
The fascia is a soft connective tissue that encapsulates the underlying muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and internal organs beneath the surface layer of the skin.
Early Stages
It is possible that if the bedsores on the buttocks are detected early on, they can heal up in just a few days, although you may have to deal with minimal pain and discomfort during the healing process.
At first, the area will look a little bit red, and when you touch it, it will feel warm. If you have dark skin, that area will have a purple or blue tint. You may feel itchy, burn, or pain. That is why you must take care how you sit or lie down.
In later stages, the tailbone skin area may be damaged, and you may develop an open scrape, blister, or sore. At this time, a person may complain about the pain, and the skin which will be around the wound may be discolored.
During the initial stages, there are chances that you can get it treated at home and heal the pressure sores on buttocks by releasing the pressure from that area.
Late Stages: When to see a doctor?
In later stages, the bedsores on buttocks appear like a crater on the skin due to the damage that has taken place below the surface. In more advanced stages, the affected skin on the tailbone region will be seriously damaged, and you can see a large wound. Bones, muscles, tendons, and joints will also be involved by then. The infection will spread, thereby posing significant health risks.
At this stage, it becomes important for you to visit the doctor and seek medical help. Make sure to call your doctor immediately if you discover blisters or open sores developing and you see the signs of infection, such as –
- Pus is oozing out
- Slight fever
- Skin is warm or swollen near the bedsores
- Foul odor from the sores
Treatment for Bed sores on buttocks
If you have a loved one who suffers from bedsores on the buttocks, you should discuss it with your healthcare provider. It is wise to avoid trying to handle it all by yourself, without seeking professional help.
The bed sores on buttocks treatment primarily depends on whether the sores are broken or not. Once the skin tends to break, the condition becomes even more challenging to treat.
However, there are still a few things that you can keep in mind, like:
- It is crucial to remove the pressure from the tailbone area. A person can use special pillows called donut cushions, booties, mattress pads, or foam cushions to reduce the pressure while sitting or lying down. Some patients are also known to use bike tubes which also work well.
- It is also advisable to protect the wound by using medicated gauze, or even dressings made specifically for this purpose.
- It is very critical that you keep the wound clean at all times.
- A person who suffers from pressure ulcers on the buttocks must make sure that they eat proper nutritious food; malnutrition is the leading risk factor for bedsores. The patient must receive enough nutrients, minerals and vitamins in order to help the body recover from this infection.
- Make sure that you are removing all the damaged, dead, and infected tissue from the sores. A bandage is needed to keep the wound dry and minimize the risk of infection spreading to the body.
- A skin graft is a procedure that involves transplanting healthy skin to the area that is infected, in this case, the tailbone region.
- Antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, are necessary to cure bacterial infections.
But it is absolutely imperative for you to take advice from experienced healthcare professionals. Your healthcare providers will keep a close watch on the bedsores, and treat them the right way.
Summary
Buttocks are one of the most common zones where bedsores can easily develop. Pressure sores on butt occur when there is not enough circulation of the blood to the back region because of excessive and prolonged pressure. When the wound extends into the bottom layer of the skin, it generally forms round, liquid-filled blisters. Like bedsores on other areas of the body, these can also be classified into four stages based on the condition and severity of the wounds.
It is crucial to seek timely treatment for bed sores on buttocks, ideally right from the time when they are spotted developing, even though you might think it to be too early. The risk will increase if they are left untreated or unattended.
Bedsores on the buttocks are serious health concerns. So it is very important to seek medical advice from authorized healthcare practitioners only, who can also help in preventing further complications and offer the right course of diagnosis and treatment.