Skin Tears and Trauma symptoms and causes

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The symptoms

Pain or discomfort where the injury occurs

Bleeding from the injury

Redness or swelling of the injured area

The skin looks thin, brittle, or ripped

Blisters (due to fraction or burns)

When to see a doctor?

Consultation Is The Key

What are the best things to do if I have skin tears?

You may need to consult your doctor or go to the nearest clinic or hospital if you experience traumatic wounds and skin tears. If the wound shows an indication of infection through increased inflammation, warmth production, or discharge of pus. If the affected area recedes to heal improperly while bleeding persists. If the pain doesn’t go away and becomes unbearable and persistent.

If you are experiencing any of those situations mentioned above, you need quality medical attention with suitable treatments to prevent medical complications from happening.

Harley Street Skin Clinic can provide proper wound healing to treat skin tears while managing pain and stopping potential infections. They can also conduct risk factors assessment to identify and evaluate your conditions.

Book an appointment here.

Advised treatments

Skin Treatment

Skin Treatment

Skin Treatment

Skin Treatment

Skin Treatment

The causes

What causes skin tears and trauma?

Skin tears and trauma can be caused by several factors such as:

Physical Stress: It is likely to create damage to the skin if the individuals suffer from accidents or falls or if there is pressure or friction happening to the skin.
Skin Fragility: This is common to older people. Due to thin and decreased skin elasticity, older people face higher risks of skin tears.
Environmental Factors: Our skin becomes weaker when exposed to intense heat, cold temperatures, or prolonged sun exposure.
Health Conditions: The tissue becomes vulnerable to tears along with other types of traumas. If a patient has comorbidities such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, lymphedema, and peripheral vascular disease, this can create even more risk.

The risk factors

Why people can be prone to skin damage?

There are certain factors that can make the skin fragile such as:

Age: Elderly adults older than 65 years face a higher chance of skin tears because of the progressive thinning of both the epidermis and dermis and healing becomes impaired as well.
Dehydration: When individuals experience dehydration, their skin becomes drier, which makes it more inclined toward tears.
Medications: Skin-related medications that use steroids along with particular blood thinners increase patients’ vulnerability to skin damage.

The complications

Overall Impact

Physical and emotional effects

Physical Effects
Those individuals who suffer from skin tears and trauma might be at risk of infection if the wounds are not cured properly, which might as well lead to scarring permanently. They can also experience pain, which may cause them to move hard.
Emotional Impact
Visible skin injuries lead people to experience emotional consequences which result in self-consciousness or low self-esteem, thus causing them anxiety and social withdrawal.

Medical Risks
If the skin tears and trauma are not given proper medical attention and are not healed properly, it may become infected, which could advance to sepsis or gangrene.

The prevention

Skin Protection

How do you protect the skin from injuries?

If you have thin or fragile skin, it is better that you wear protective garments that include long sleeves, gloves, or soft padding materials to help prevent any damage to your skin.

Remove hazards from home

Home safety requires both the removal of hazards and the reduction of home clutter to prevent skin tears or any accidents that may lead to injuries to fragile skin.

Skin Hydration And Care

How do you maintain skin elasticity?

The dryness of your skin will increase its tendency to tear. The regular use of moisturiser will keep skin hydrated. Select a fragrance-free moisturiser that contains glycerin or hyaluronic components because these ingredients will improve skin elasticity.

Avoid harsh soaps

The use of gentle cleansers instead of harsh soaps should be the choice to sustain the skin barrier function. Also, you should apply gentle pressure when cleaning your skin tears to avoid irritation.

Mobility Support

How can lifting or walking aids can help?

Lifting or walking aid equipment should always be used for the care of elderly and needy patients to help them stay safe against falls which often lead to skin injuries or chronic wounds.

Install grab bars and handrails

You must install grab bars and handrails particularly inside bathrooms and alongside stairways to balance support to avoid accidental falls or slips.

Lifestyle Habits

Does water prevent the skin from becoming fragile?

Water has a big role in our lives, most especially in our overall health. The skin remains flexible and elastic when you consume enough water regularly.

Eat Skin Friendly Foods

Malnutrition can have a negative impact on a patient’s overall health and skin integrity. A diet consisting of foods that benefit skin health and resilience should include antioxidants together with vitamins C and E along with omega-3 nutrients.

Regular Skin Checks

Why is a skin check important?

It is advisable to regularly check the condition of your skin, especially if you have thin or fragile skin. This will help detect early signs of redness and dryness as well as bruising. Risk assessment and early prevention is important.

Address minor issues as early as possible

Skin tear management is important. If you notice that there is a small wound or irritation on your skin, treat it right away before the problem worsens. Early treatment of skin tears improves patient outcomes and can prevent unnecessary tissue loss.