Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of DamageRisk FactorsSigns and SymptomsPreventionTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Damage
Risk Factors
Signs and Symptoms
Prevention
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
A wound is any type of injury that punctures the skin.Whiletaking care of a woundis important, so is caring for the skin around the wound, known as periwound skin. You might notice that this area is sensitive or that it has a red tinge, which is known as periwound erythema.
Continue reading to learn more about periwound skin, including how to care for the periwound area and avoid complications.
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Types of Periwound Skin Damage
Moisture-Associated Skin Damage (MASD)
Wound Dressing-Related Injuries
Some wounds, especially open wounds, need to be dressed to keep them clean. Dressings often involve gauze or medical tape, which can irritate the periwound skin. They can strip away protective layers of the skin and cause repeat physical trauma if they are removed abruptly.
This is also known as medical adhesive-related skin Injury (MARSI). More than 25% of people recovering from surgery experience MARSI in their periwound area.
Wound Site Infection
If your wound becomesinfected, inflammation, pain, and redness can spread into the periwound area. You may notice other changes in the periwound area, like numbness or red lines streaking away from the wound.If you suspect an infection, you should see your healthcare provider.
Risk Factors for Periwound Injury
Anyone who has had a wound is vulnerable to a periwound skin injury. However, some people are at higher risk for it to occur, including older people and those who have:
Certain locations—like having a wound in a skin fold or a moist area of the body—can also increase the risk for periwound skin injury.
Signs and Symptoms of Periwound Injury
After you’re injured you should evaluate not only your wound, but the area surrounding it. Take note of the appearance of the area, seeing if it is swollen, red, shiny, hard or otherwise has an irregular appearance. This will help you keep track of healing and notice anysigns of infectionquickly.
Any changes to the periwound area could be signs of periwound injury. The signs and symptoms of these injuries can include:
Treatment for periwound skin damage involves preventing further damage while also taking care of the wound. Talk to your healthcare provider about placing your bandages in different spots, or using a barrier cream that can give your periwound skin a chance to heal. Healthy periwound skin can speed up wound healing, while damaged periwound skin can slow it down.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Researchers and healthcare providers are learning more about the importance of caring for periwound skin. It’s becoming clear that caring for the periwound area is an important part of wound care. If you notice any changes to the periwound area, don’t hesitate to talk with your healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPeriwound skin damage is irritation to the skin around a wound. This can happen from moisture that seeps from the wound, the removal of wound dressings, or from infection that spreads from the wound.Treat periwound skin gently. Use barrier creams like petroleum jelly to protect the area from moisture, and remove adhesives carefully, pressing down on the skin as you go.Induration is hard patches of skin that appear slick or shiny.It can be a sign of infection. So, if you notice it, speak with your healthcare provider.
Periwound skin damage is irritation to the skin around a wound. This can happen from moisture that seeps from the wound, the removal of wound dressings, or from infection that spreads from the wound.
Treat periwound skin gently. Use barrier creams like petroleum jelly to protect the area from moisture, and remove adhesives carefully, pressing down on the skin as you go.
Induration is hard patches of skin that appear slick or shiny.It can be a sign of infection. So, if you notice it, speak with your healthcare provider.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Wounds and injuries. July 23, 2014.LeBlanc K, Beeckman D, Campbell K et a.Best practice recommendations for prevention and management of periwound skin complications.Wounds International. 2021.Spear M.Wound exudate—the good, the bad, and the ugly.Plast Surg Nurs. 2012. Doi: 10.1097/PSN.0b013e318256d638Gray, Mikel; Black, Joyce M. Et al.Moisture-associated skin damage.Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. 2011. doi: 10.1097/WON.0b013e318215f798Upton, Penny.Complications associated with postoperative dressings: a clinician’s perspective.Cambridge Media Journals. Doi: 10.33235/wpr.27.4.158-163Wound Source.Periwound skin management. Feb. 28, 2019.Race E, Berthelot C, Cather JC.Painful nodule with induration and spreading erythema.Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.2005;18(4):401-404. doi:10.1080/08998280.2005.11928101
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Wounds and injuries. July 23, 2014.LeBlanc K, Beeckman D, Campbell K et a.Best practice recommendations for prevention and management of periwound skin complications.Wounds International. 2021.Spear M.Wound exudate—the good, the bad, and the ugly.Plast Surg Nurs. 2012. Doi: 10.1097/PSN.0b013e318256d638Gray, Mikel; Black, Joyce M. Et al.Moisture-associated skin damage.Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. 2011. doi: 10.1097/WON.0b013e318215f798Upton, Penny.Complications associated with postoperative dressings: a clinician’s perspective.Cambridge Media Journals. Doi: 10.33235/wpr.27.4.158-163Wound Source.Periwound skin management. Feb. 28, 2019.Race E, Berthelot C, Cather JC.Painful nodule with induration and spreading erythema.Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.2005;18(4):401-404. doi:10.1080/08998280.2005.11928101
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Wounds and injuries. July 23, 2014.LeBlanc K, Beeckman D, Campbell K et a.Best practice recommendations for prevention and management of periwound skin complications.Wounds International. 2021.Spear M.Wound exudate—the good, the bad, and the ugly.Plast Surg Nurs. 2012. Doi: 10.1097/PSN.0b013e318256d638Gray, Mikel; Black, Joyce M. Et al.Moisture-associated skin damage.Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. 2011. doi: 10.1097/WON.0b013e318215f798Upton, Penny.Complications associated with postoperative dressings: a clinician’s perspective.Cambridge Media Journals. Doi: 10.33235/wpr.27.4.158-163Wound Source.Periwound skin management. Feb. 28, 2019.Race E, Berthelot C, Cather JC.Painful nodule with induration and spreading erythema.Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.2005;18(4):401-404. doi:10.1080/08998280.2005.11928101
MedlinePlus.Wounds and injuries. July 23, 2014.
LeBlanc K, Beeckman D, Campbell K et a.Best practice recommendations for prevention and management of periwound skin complications.Wounds International. 2021.
Spear M.Wound exudate—the good, the bad, and the ugly.Plast Surg Nurs. 2012. Doi: 10.1097/PSN.0b013e318256d638
Gray, Mikel; Black, Joyce M. Et al.Moisture-associated skin damage.Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. 2011. doi: 10.1097/WON.0b013e318215f798
Upton, Penny.Complications associated with postoperative dressings: a clinician’s perspective.Cambridge Media Journals. Doi: 10.33235/wpr.27.4.158-163
Wound Source.Periwound skin management. Feb. 28, 2019.
Race E, Berthelot C, Cather JC.Painful nodule with induration and spreading erythema.Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.2005;18(4):401-404. doi:10.1080/08998280.2005.11928101
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