Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
To have a regular schedule of daily skin inspection. In the morning, prior to getting dressed,
is a good time; in the evening when you’re getting undressed is also a good time. In
between times, such as when you’re getting repositioned, if it’s convenient, you can
do assessments at that point. The visual inspection is essential. Either the patient does it with
a long-handled mirror, if they can functionally do that, or a designated person such as family
or caregiver. What you’re looking for, initially, is a color change in the skin-pigmentation.
With a pale-complexioned individual, it’s going to look reddish or pinkish. With a darker-skinned
individual, the area of injury will be a darker tone than their normal tone, which is very
important to recognize. In addition, other signs and symptoms can be again, pain, there
may be some blistering, there may be a bruise appearance—bluish, purplish, blackish, brownish—there
may be a texture consistency difference. For example, the heel should feel as firm as the
palm of your hand. In the case of a suspected pressure injury, or a beginning pressure sore,
it can become soft or even mushy; you can depress it with your finger tips. So these
are the initially, beginning signs.