How to Treat Bedsores at Home: Physician-Approved Tips

You notice a red spot on your loved one’s skin that won’t fade when you press it. Maybe it’s already turned into a blister or small open wound. Pressure sores develop quickly when someone spends long hours in bed or a wheelchair, and catching them early makes all the difference. The good news is that learning how to treat bedsores at home gives you practical tools to help your family member heal without repeated trips to the hospital.

Early stage pressure injuries respond well to home treatment when you follow the right steps. You don’t need specialized medical training to provide effective care. Simple changes in repositioning schedules, proper wound cleaning techniques, and attention to nutrition can promote healing and prevent the wound from getting worse.

This guide walks you through physician approved methods for managing Stage 1 and Stage 2 bedsores at home. You’ll learn how to assess the severity of the wound, relieve pressure on vulnerable areas, clean and dress the injury properly, support healing through diet, and recognize warning signs that require professional medical help. Each step includes clear instructions you can start using today.

Check the severity of the wound

You need to assess the pressure injury stage before starting any home treatment. Not all bedsores can be safely managed outside a clinical setting. Stage 1 and Stage 2 wounds respond well to the home care methods outlined in this guide, but deeper injuries require immediate medical intervention. Spend a few minutes examining the affected area in good lighting to determine whether you can proceed with home treatment or need to call a physician.

Stage 1: Non-blanching redness

Stage 1 pressure injuries appear as persistent red spots on the skin that don’t turn white when you press them with your finger. The skin remains intact without any breaks, blisters, or open areas. You might notice the area feels warmer or cooler than surrounding skin, and the person may report tenderness or itching at the site. These early-stage sores heal relatively quickly when you relieve pressure and follow proper care protocols.

The blanch test helps you confirm a Stage 1 injury. Press your finger firmly against the reddened area for a few seconds, then release. If the spot stays red instead of briefly turning white, you’re looking at a Stage 1 bedsore that needs attention.

Stage 2: Blisters and shallow wounds

Stage 2 pressure injuries break through the top layer of skin and create visible damage. You’ll see either fluid-filled blisters or shallow open sores that look like scrapes or crater-like wounds. The surrounding skin often appears red or discolored, and the wound bed may look pink or red. These injuries penetrate deeper than Stage 1 but haven’t yet reached muscle or bone tissue.

Proper wound care at this stage prevents progression to more severe injuries. The techniques for how to treat bedsores at home work effectively on Stage 2 wounds when you maintain consistent pressure relief and keep the area clean.

When home care isn’t enough

Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure injuries expose deeper tissue layers and require professional medical treatment. Stage 3 sores extend through the full thickness of skin into the fat layer below, while Stage 4 wounds reach muscle, tendon, or bone. You’ll see what looks like a deep crater, possibly with visible yellow or dark tissue at the base.

Unstageable wounds covered by dead tissue, slough, or scabs also need immediate physician evaluation because you can’t determine the true depth of injury.

Call your doctor right away if you notice a foul odor, pus, fever, or spreading redness around any pressure injury. These signs indicate infection that won’t resolve with home treatment alone.

Step 1. Relieve pressure and reposition

The single most important step in how to treat bedsores at home is eliminating constant pressure on the affected area. Blood flow can’t reach compressed tissue, which means the wound won’t heal no matter how well you clean or dress it. Your primary goal is to restore circulation by changing positions frequently and redistributing body weight across different contact points. This simple mechanical change allows oxygen and nutrients to reach damaged skin cells and start the repair process.

Follow a repositioning schedule

You need to reposition your loved one every 2 hours when they’re lying in bed and every 15 minutes when sitting in a wheelchair or chair. Set reminders on your phone to maintain this schedule consistently, even during nighttime hours. Each position change should shift weight away from vulnerable areas like the tailbone, hips, heels, and shoulder blades.

Regular repositioning prevents new sores from forming while existing wounds heal.

When moving someone in bed, turn them from back to left side, then to right side, rotating through these positions throughout the day. Prop them at a 30-degree angle using pillows rather than laying them completely flat on their side, which concentrates pressure on hip bones.

Use appropriate support surfaces

Foam cushions and specialized mattress overlays help distribute pressure more evenly across the body. Place a 2 to 4-inch foam pad on the mattress or use cushions designed specifically for pressure relief in wheelchairs. These surfaces reduce the intensity of pressure at any single point.

Avoid using donut-shaped cushions despite their popularity. These circular pillows actually concentrate pressure around the edges of the opening and restrict blood flow to surrounding tissue, making bedsores worse instead of better.

Step 2. Clean and dress the wound

Proper wound hygiene prevents infection and creates the right environment for healing when you’re figuring out how to treat bedsores at home. Gentle cleaning removes bacteria and dead tissue without damaging fragile new skin cells trying to form. The products you choose and your technique both matter. Harsh chemicals can actually slow healing by destroying healthy tissue, so you want to use solutions that clean effectively while protecting the wound bed.

Clean the affected area

You need to wash the pressure sore with saline solution or lukewarm water mixed with mild soap. Pour the cleaning solution directly over the wound or use a clean washcloth dampened with the solution. Avoid scrubbing or applying pressure. Instead, let the liquid flow over the surface to carry away debris and bacteria.

Never use hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or alcohol-based products on open wounds because these substances damage healthy tissue and delay healing.

After cleaning, pat the skin dry with a clean towel using gentle dabbing motions. Don’t rub the area or use rough materials that could tear fragile skin around the wound edges.

Apply the right dressing

Foam dressings work best for wounds producing moderate drainage because they absorb moisture while maintaining a healing environment. Hydrocolloid dressings suit drier wounds and form a protective seal over the injury. You can find both types at any pharmacy.

Apply a thin layer of moisture-barrier cream around the wound edges (not inside the wound itself) to protect surrounding skin from drainage. Place the dressing over the entire wound and secure it gently. Change dressings whenever they become wet, soiled, or loose, typically every 1 to 3 days depending on drainage levels.

Step 3. Adjust diet to support healing

Your loved one’s body needs specific nutrients to rebuild damaged skin tissue when you’re learning how to treat bedsores at home. Protein acts as the building block for new cells, while adequate hydration keeps tissue supple and supports circulation to the wound site. You can accelerate healing by making simple adjustments to daily meals without requiring complicated meal planning or expensive supplements. Most seniors struggle with appetite, so focus on nutrient-dense foods that pack maximum benefit into smaller portions.

Increase protein intake

You should aim for your loved one to consume 25 to 30 grams of protein at each meal to support wound repair. Eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken breast, and canned fish like tuna or salmon provide concentrated protein in easy-to-eat forms. Add a protein shake between meals if appetite remains poor.

Protein deficiency slows healing dramatically because the body can’t manufacture new skin cells without adequate amino acids.

Consider these simple additions: stir a scoop of unflavored protein powder into oatmeal, spread peanut butter on whole grain toast, or serve cheese with crackers as a snack. Ground meat works better than tough cuts for seniors with chewing difficulties.

Stay properly hydrated

You need to ensure your loved one drinks 8 to 10 cups of fluid daily to maintain blood volume and deliver nutrients to the wound. Water remains the best choice, but herbal tea, diluted fruit juice, and broth-based soups all count toward daily fluid intake. Keep a water bottle within easy reach throughout the day.

Watch for signs of dehydration like dark yellow urine, dry mouth, or decreased skin elasticity, which all interfere with healing processes.

Step 4. Watch for signs of infection

You need to inspect the wound every day to catch early warning signs that home treatment isn’t working. Infection develops when bacteria multiply faster than the body can fight them off, and this requires immediate medical attention. Even with perfect technique when you’re learning how to treat bedsores at home, some wounds become infected or fail to improve. Daily monitoring helps you identify problems before they become medical emergencies.

Recognize infection symptoms

You should call your doctor immediately if you notice any of these warning signs around the bedsore:

• Foul odor coming from the wound that wasn’t present before
• Increased redness spreading beyond the original wound borders
• Warmth or heat radiating from the affected area when you touch surrounding skin
• Pus or thick drainage that appears yellow, green, or cloudy white
• Fever above 100.4°F or sudden chills without another explanation
• Swelling that makes the area puffy or tense to touch

An infected pressure injury can spread bacteria into the bloodstream within hours, creating a life-threatening condition called sepsis.

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you see any combination of these symptoms. Professional medical treatment with antibiotics or surgical cleaning may be necessary to save tissue and prevent serious complications.

Check healing progress

You should photograph the wound every 2 to 3 days using the same lighting and angle to track changes over time. Healing wounds gradually become smaller, develop pink tissue at the base, and produce less drainage. The surrounding skin should look less red and feel less warm to touch as days pass. Non-healing wounds that look the same or worse after one week of home care need physician evaluation regardless of infection signs.

Final thoughts on home care

You now have the essential steps for how to treat bedsores at home safely and effectively. Consistent pressure relief matters more than any cream or dressing you apply. Early intervention gives you the best chance of healing Stage 1 and Stage 2 wounds without complications. Set your repositioning schedule, maintain proper wound hygiene, support healing through nutrition, and monitor progress daily.

Home treatment works well for early-stage pressure injuries when you follow these physician-approved methods. However, deeper wounds and infected sores require professional medical expertise to heal properly. You shouldn’t hesitate to seek help when home care isn’t producing visible improvement within one week.

If your loved one needs specialized wound management beyond what you can provide at home, Philadelphia Wound Care brings physician-led treatment directly to your location. Our mobile practice handles complex pressure injuries that resist home treatment, providing advanced therapies covered by Medicare at your bedside. You get expert care without the stress of transporting a mobility-impaired patient to appointments.