Skin Integrity and Wound Care
Monday, 20 June 2022 6:13 pm
Cuevas, Cris Maraefiel D.
Promoting Skin Integrity and Preventing Pressure
Sores
Healthy skin is very important
- Skin is the largest organ of the body
- Skin prevents infection from outside sources entering in to the body
- It protects from heat, cold, and other elements
- It helps regulate body temperature
- It permits the sense of touch, heat, and cold
- It stores fat and water to help with shock absorption and prevent
dehydration
- It is important to have clean, well-lubricated skin to prevent breaking
down and becoming torn/infected
- Bathing often and cleaning all parts of the skin with mild soap and
water is essential
- Applying lubricant, cream, or lotion is important
- Inspecting the skin and seeking treatment from a med professional
for changes in the skin can reduce long term complications including
decubitus ulcers
Why do skin infections happen
- Poor skin hygiene
- Poor housekeeping practices
- Long term use of antibiotics
- Germs transmitted from person to person by direct or indirect
contact
- Buildup of bacteria and other germs on or within the skin
- Germs get in the cracks or breaks in the skin causing infection that
can affect the whole body
Wound - is a disruption of normal anatomical structure and function of the
skin
Wound healing - is referred to as regeneration (renewal) of tissues
FNP - LEC Page 1
,Factors affecting skin integrity
1. Genetics
2. Age
3. Underlying health condition
4. Diet and activity
5. Medications
Types of Wounds
Intentional and Accidental
1. Incision
- Cause: sharp instrument
- Open wound, deep or shallow; once the edges have been sealed
together as a part of treatment or healing
- The incision becomes a closed wound
2. Contusion
- Cause: blow from a blunt instrument
- Closed wound, skin appears ecchymotic (bruised) because of
damaged blood vessels
3. Abrasion
- Cause: surface scrape (intentional/unintentional)
- Open wound involving the skin
4. Puncture
- Cause: penetration of the skin and often underlying tissues by a
sharp instrument, either intentional or unintentional
- Open wound
5. Laceration
- Cause: tissues torn apart, often from accidents
- Open wound, edges are often jagged
6. Penetrating wound
- Cause: penetration of the skin and the underlying tissues, usually
unintentional
FNP - LEC Page 2
, unintentional
- Open wound
Degree of wound contamination
1. Clean wounds
2. Clean-contaminated wounds
3. Contaminated wounds
4. Dirty or infected wounds
Types of wound healing
1. Primary intention
- Tissue surfaces have been approximated (closed)
- Minimal or no tissue loss
- Formation of minimal granulation tissue and scarring
2. Secondary intention
- Wounds involving loss of tissue
- Wound edges are widely separated
- Healing occurs by granulation
- The repair is longer
- Scarring is greater
- Susceptibility of infection is greater
FNP - LEC Page 3
Monday, 20 June 2022 6:13 pm
Cuevas, Cris Maraefiel D.
Promoting Skin Integrity and Preventing Pressure
Sores
Healthy skin is very important
- Skin is the largest organ of the body
- Skin prevents infection from outside sources entering in to the body
- It protects from heat, cold, and other elements
- It helps regulate body temperature
- It permits the sense of touch, heat, and cold
- It stores fat and water to help with shock absorption and prevent
dehydration
- It is important to have clean, well-lubricated skin to prevent breaking
down and becoming torn/infected
- Bathing often and cleaning all parts of the skin with mild soap and
water is essential
- Applying lubricant, cream, or lotion is important
- Inspecting the skin and seeking treatment from a med professional
for changes in the skin can reduce long term complications including
decubitus ulcers
Why do skin infections happen
- Poor skin hygiene
- Poor housekeeping practices
- Long term use of antibiotics
- Germs transmitted from person to person by direct or indirect
contact
- Buildup of bacteria and other germs on or within the skin
- Germs get in the cracks or breaks in the skin causing infection that
can affect the whole body
Wound - is a disruption of normal anatomical structure and function of the
skin
Wound healing - is referred to as regeneration (renewal) of tissues
FNP - LEC Page 1
,Factors affecting skin integrity
1. Genetics
2. Age
3. Underlying health condition
4. Diet and activity
5. Medications
Types of Wounds
Intentional and Accidental
1. Incision
- Cause: sharp instrument
- Open wound, deep or shallow; once the edges have been sealed
together as a part of treatment or healing
- The incision becomes a closed wound
2. Contusion
- Cause: blow from a blunt instrument
- Closed wound, skin appears ecchymotic (bruised) because of
damaged blood vessels
3. Abrasion
- Cause: surface scrape (intentional/unintentional)
- Open wound involving the skin
4. Puncture
- Cause: penetration of the skin and often underlying tissues by a
sharp instrument, either intentional or unintentional
- Open wound
5. Laceration
- Cause: tissues torn apart, often from accidents
- Open wound, edges are often jagged
6. Penetrating wound
- Cause: penetration of the skin and the underlying tissues, usually
unintentional
FNP - LEC Page 2
, unintentional
- Open wound
Degree of wound contamination
1. Clean wounds
2. Clean-contaminated wounds
3. Contaminated wounds
4. Dirty or infected wounds
Types of wound healing
1. Primary intention
- Tissue surfaces have been approximated (closed)
- Minimal or no tissue loss
- Formation of minimal granulation tissue and scarring
2. Secondary intention
- Wounds involving loss of tissue
- Wound edges are widely separated
- Healing occurs by granulation
- The repair is longer
- Scarring is greater
- Susceptibility of infection is greater
FNP - LEC Page 3
