Resources Archive

debra of America, an organization committed to funding research toward a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), stresses the importance of clothing worn by those with EB.

When areas of the skin do not get the blood and oxygen they need due to prolonged pressure, pressure injuries (sores) form. This lack of oxygen causes cells to die. Being unable to move freely can increase your chances of getting pressure sores. To prevent them, you must take proper care of your skin and regularly shift your body weight to relieve pressure.

For today’s Conversations with Clinicians, Cheryl Hutton, a wound, ostomy and continence nurse (WOCN) with CHC Solutions, Inc., answers common questions and dives into what you need to know about wound care at home.

Keeping a clean dressing on a wound should help it heal faster. It is not difficult for an individual to change their dressing, once they know how long to wear each dressing, according to Cheryl Hutton, a wound, ostomy and continence nurse (WOC nurse) at CHC Solutions, Inc. 

Sometimes bacteria and germs are the reason a wound is slow to heal or seems like it will not heal, according to Cheryl Hutton, a wound, ostomy and continence nurse (WOC nurse) with CHC Solutions, Inc. When a person has an open wound, it’s easy for common bacteria from the skin to get inside. Bacteria getting inside a wound is called contamination. 

People of many ages can develop pressure injuries. Those with special and/or complex healthcare needs, such as individuals with Cerebral Palsy or Multiple Sclerosis, are particularly susceptible to them.  

Having a wound puts extra demands on your body. To heal a person needs more calories and more nutrients, according to Gina Salvatori, a registered dietitian with CHC Solutions, Inc., and Cheryl Hutton, a wound, ostomy and continence nurse with CHC Solutions, Inc. Wounds heal faster if you get enough of the right foods – and if you don’t, they heal more slowly.  

Fireworks often go hand-in-hand with celebrating Independence Day but the Consumer Product Safety Commission and clinicians from CHC Solutions, Inc. encourage everyone to play it safe when near fireworks this summer.

Healthful food choices might be able to help with recovery from various wounds by providing the energy, vitamin, mineral and protein requirements necessary to promote healing, according to the U.S. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

People with lower limb paralysis or who spend long periods of time in wheelchairs are at high risk of developing pressure sores or ulcers. What causes pressure ulcers? According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, sliding around in a bed or chair can cause blood vessels to stretch or bend, leading to pressure ulcers. An abrasion can occur when a person’s skin is pulled across a surface instead of lifted. Other causes of pressure sores are braces or hard objects that put pressure on your skin.

Developing social skills and fostering independence are two good reasons to send a child to camp. For kids with Epidermolysis Bullosa, it’s a chance to meet and make friends with others who have EB, all while having a good time. debra of America’s resource page — http://www.debra.org/EBcamps — provides parents and caregivers with information about places where children and teens with EB are given the opportunity to experience camp safely.

Most adults who use wheelchairs or the caregivers of child wheelchair users are familiar with pressure sores. These wounds are created when blood supply is cut to part of the skin and, if that skin is under pressure, irritation and sores follow.