Full Answer
How do you heal a skin tear?
Treatments for slow-healing wounds include:
- medications and other therapy to improve blood flow
- therapy to reduce swelling
- wound debridement, or removing dead tissue around the wound to help it heal
- special skin ointments to help wounds heal
- special bandages and other skin coverings to help speed up healing
How do you care for a skin tear?
How can I help prevent a skin tear?
- Clean, moisturize, and protect your skin. Baths, hot showers, and soap can dry your skin and increase your risk for skin tears. ...
- Move carefully. Ask for help if you cannot lift yourself. ...
- Keep your home safe. Cover sharp corners, keep your pathways clear, and turn on lights so you can see clearly. ...
- Drink liquids as directed. ...
How to treat and prevent skin tears?
prevention
- keep skin moist. The best way to prevent skin tearing is to hydrate your skin. ...
- Create a safe environment. Skin tears are most common in older adults. ...
- wear protective clothing. Wear clothing that protects your delicate skin and helps prevent tearing. ...
- Balanced diet. Remember, dry skin has a higher risk of tearing. ...
- Avoid using adhesives. ...
How to heal torn skin?
How to Treat a Skin Tear. If the wound is bleeding, apply pressure and elevate it as much as possible. Rinse the skin tear with tap water or a saline solution. Either let the skin tear air dry or pat it dry very carefully. If there is a flap of skin, gently lay it back in place or as close as possible.
What is a skin tear?
What is a Skin Tear? A skin tear is a wound that happens when the layers of skin separate or peel back. They can happen as a result of bumping something, dressing changes, or washing or drying the skin harshly.
What is a Type 3 skin tear?
Type 3 Skin Tear: Total Flap Loss. Total skin flap loss that exposes the entire wound bed.
What is a Category II skin tear?
Category 1 A skin tear without loss of tissue, either linear or with a flap that closes the tear to within 1mm of the wound edges. Category 2 Partial tissue loss, scant when tissue loss is <25 per cent. Moderate or large when the tissue loss is >25 per cent.
What type of tissue is a skin tear?
Epithelial cells travel from the outward wound edges and crawl across the wound bed to wound closure. Once the epithelium is created, it becomes stronger in time.
Is a skin tear a stage 2?
Stage 1 – non-blanchable erythema. Stage 2 – partial thickness skin loss. Stage 3 – full thickness skin loss. Stage 4 – full thickness tissue loss.
What does a skin tear look like?
Skin tears often look like a big cut or scrape. They might be totally open or have a skin flap that partially covers the wound.
How do you treat a Category 3 skin tear?
Type 3: Total flap loss Entire wound bed is exposed Control bleeding; cover wound with a non-adhering silicone contact layer. Apply appropriate secondary dressing when required, such as a non-adhesive or silicone foam, depending on wound exudate and location.
What is the best treatment for skin tears?
How to Treat a Skin TearIf the wound is bleeding, apply pressure and elevate it as much as possible.Rinse the skin tear with tap water or a saline solution. ... Either let the skin tear air dry or pat it dry very carefully. ... If there is a flap of skin, gently lay it back in place or as close as possible.More items...•
What is the best treatment for skin tears in the elderly?
Best Treatment for Skin Tears in the Elderly Clean the area with water or saline and not hydrogen peroxide. Let the area dry and be sure not to rub it. If the skin flap is still attached, lay it back down in place without stretching it, and then go ahead and use a dressing.
Is skin tear a laceration or abrasion?
A skin tear is a specific type of laceration that most often affects older adults, in which friction alone or friction plus shear separates skin layers.
What are five the risk factors for skin tears?
The most prevalent risk factor for skin tears was old age, followed by impaired mobility, falls and accidental injuries, previous skin tears, cognitive deficit/dementia, dependence in transfers, and upper limbs.
Is a skin tear considered an abrasion?
Learn the difference between the types of open wounds caused by trauma. Open wound types include abrasions, excoriation, skin tears, avulsions, lacerations and punctures, according to our Skin and Wound Management course workbook.
How do you treat a Category 3 skin tear?
Type 3: Total flap loss Entire wound bed is exposed Control bleeding; cover wound with a non-adhering silicone contact layer. Apply appropriate secondary dressing when required, such as a non-adhesive or silicone foam, depending on wound exudate and location.
How long does it take for a skin tear to heal?
In some cases, doctors use pieces of tape called Steri-Strips to pull the skin together and help it heal. Other times, it's best to leave the tear open and cover it with a special wound-care bandage. Skin tears are usually not serious. They usually heal in a few weeks.
Is a skin tear the same as a laceration?
A laceration has jagged, irregular edges and its severity depends on its cause, size, depth, and location. A skin tear is a specific type of laceration that most often affects older adults, in which friction alone or friction plus shear separates skin layers.
How long should you keep a skin tear covered?
The secondary dressing is changed daily until day three or four (when exudate decreases), after which it can remain in place until day six or seven. A protective dressing is then used for four or five days to protect the newly healed wound.
What is skin tear?
A skin tear is a traumatic wound caused by mechanical forces, including removal of adhesives. Severity may vary by depth (not extending through the subcutaneous layer). Skin tears are acute wounds, which have a high probability of becoming complex chronic wounds, if not properly managed. Individuals suffering from skin tears complain ...
Where do skin tears occur?
Skin tears can occur on any part of the body , but are particularly common in populations with fragile skin, such as the elderly, chronic or critically ill, neonates and pediatrics.
What is the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel?
LeBlanc K, Baranoski S. International Skin Tear Advisory Panel: A tool kit to aid in the prevention, assessment and treatment of skin tears using a simplified classification system. Advances in Skin & Wound Care. 2013;26 (10): 459-478.
How to prevent skin tears?
The following precautions can help minimize the risk of developing skin tears in at-risk patients and to minimize complications in patients already exhibiting symptoms: 1 Create a safe environment for the individual that will minimize the potential of bumping or knocking into furniture. 2 When possible, pad and protect the extremities. 3 Maintain skin integrity through a consistent skin care regimen and proper nutritional and fluid intake. 4 Wear protective footwear and clothing to reduce the risk of injury. 5 Ensure safe patient handling techniques are being used to limit risk of injury. 6 Avoid the use of adhesive products on frail skin.
How to minimize the risk of developing skin tears in at-risk patients?
The following precautions can help minimize the risk of developing skin tears in at-risk patients and to minimize complications in patients already exhibiting symptoms: Create a safe environment for the individual that will minimize the potential of bumping or knocking into furniture.
What to look for when dressing a skin tear?
In selecting a dressing to use on a skin tear, look for a dressing and medical adhesives that will allow for atraumatic removal, extended wear time, and moist wound healing. If the dressing is opaque, use an arrow to indicate the direction in which the dressing should be removed so as not to disturb the flap.
What are the risk factors for age-related skin diseases?
Intrinsic age-related risk factors: dermal and subcutaneous tissue loss, thinning of the epidermis, decrease in skin moisture, elasticity, and tensile strength.
Introduction
According to the definition from the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP), “a skin tear is a traumatic wound caused by mechanical forces, including removal of adhesives. Severity may vary by depth (not extending through the subcutaneous layer).” 1
What Causes Skin Tears?
Skin tears are acute, traumatic wounds that result from some mechanical force such as shearing and/or friction or some type of traumatic injury such as from a fall, equipment, or dressings.
Skin Tear Classification
The Payne-Martin classification system was developed in the early 1990s as a way of grading skin tears. 1 As a result of some issues with this classification system, the Skin Tear Audit Research Classification System, or STAR, was developed in 2007.
Treatment
First and foremost, control any active bleeding. Cleanse with normal saline or a gentle wound cleanser according to your facility protocol. If the skin flap is viable, it can sometimes be realigned to cover all or part of the wound bed. The flap and/or wound then can be covered with a nonadherent dressing.
How to treat a skin tear?
Either let the skin tear air dry or pat it dry very carefully. Do not rub it. If there is a flap of skin, gently lay it back in place or as close as possible. Do not stretch it too far or force it in any way. Cover the skin tear with a dressing that is appropriate for skin tears.
What are the risk factors for skin tears?
They include: Elderly people, particularly those who are frail and require assistance moving around. Infants, as they are at a higher risk of falling or bumping into objects.
How long does it take for a skin tear to heal?
The length of time that it takes for a skin tear to heal depends on the type of skin tear and your overall health. Most skin tears can resolve in four weeks, but after four weeks they are considered chronic. 4.
How to heal a tear in the skin?
Before you begin, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and put on gloves if they're available. Steps to take: 1 If the wound is bleeding, apply pressure and elevate it as much as possible. 2 Rinse the skin tear with tap water or a saline solution. Be careful not to tear the skin worse and do not use hydrogen peroxide or other products—water or saline is just fine. 3 Either let the skin tear air dry or pat it dry very carefully. Do not rub it. 4 If there is a flap of skin, gently lay it back in place or as close as possible. Do not stretch it too far or force it in any way. 5 Cover the skin tear with a dressing that is appropriate for skin tears.
How to heal a bleed from a wound?
Steps to take: If the wound is bleeding, apply pressure and elevate it as much as possible. Rinse the skin tear with tap water or a saline solution. Be careful not to tear the skin worse and do not use hydrogen peroxide or other products—water or saline is just fine.
Why do we tear our skin?
It is common as we age because the blood vessels that perfuse skin get more sclerotic and feed less moisture and nutrients to the skin tissue. 1. PIXOLOGICSTUDIO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images.
What is a film dressing?
Film dressings are transparent and allow you to watch for healing and infection without removing it. This is particularly helpful with skin tears. If the dressing becomes soiled, remove it, clean the skin tear, and dress the wound again. If the skin tear develops signs of infection, contact your doctor.
Why is it important to treat and prevent skin tears?
A skin tear occurs when the layers of weakened skin split open from an injury. It is important to treat and prevent skin tears to prevent infection.
How can I help prevent a skin tear?
Clean, moisturize, and protect your skin. Baths, hot showers, and soap can dry your skin and increase your risk for skin tears. Take lukewarm showers, use mild soap as directed, and gently pat your skin dry. Use lotion to keep your skin moist after you shower. Wear long sleeves, pants, and protective footwear.
What to put on a wound to help it heal?
Bandages such as moist gauze pads or wraps may be placed on your wound. Bandages will help protect your wound from more injury, and allow your wound to heal. Do not use adhesive bandages. These could stick to your wound and make your skin tear worse. Stitches or medical glue may be used to close the wound so it can heal.
What to do when you have a tear in your skin?
Liquids will help keep your skin moist and protected from another skin tear. Eat high-protein foods to help with wound healing. Examples are lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy products, and beans.
How to keep your skin moist after showering?
Take lukewarm showers, use mild soap as directed, and gently pat your skin dry. Use lotion to keep your skin moist after you shower. Wear long sleeves, pants, and protective footwear.
Can skin tears be used for commercial purposes?
Skin Tear - What You Need to Know. This material must not be used for commercial purposes, or in any hospital or medical facility. Failure to comply may result in legal action.
What is skin tear?
Skin tears are acute, traumatic injuries caused by shearing, friction or blunt force wherein the layers of skin are separated. This may be a separation of the epidermis from the dermis (known as partial thickness) or a separation of both the epidermis and dermis from underlying structures (full thickness)(RWV 2018).
Can you use film tape on fragile skin?
Films and tapes should not be used on fragile skin.
What is a skin tear?
Category 1a: A skin tear where the edges can be realigned to the normal anatomical position. (without undue stretching) and the skin or flap color is not pale, dusky or darkened. Category 1b: A skin tear where the edges can be realigned to the normal anatomical position.
What is a skin tear without loss of tissue?
CATEGORY 1: Skin tears without loss of tissue are subdivided into: Linear type , in which the epidermis and dermis are pulled in one layer from the supporting structure. Flat type, where the epidermis and dermis are separated, but the epidermis flap covers the dermis to within 1mm of the wound margins. Category 1a: A skin tear where the edges can be ...
What is a Category 2A tear?
Category 2a: A skin tear where the edges cannot be realigned to the normal anatomical position and the skin or flap color is not pale, dusky or darkened. Category 2b: A skin tear where the edges cannot be realigned to the normal anatomical position and the skin or flap color is pale, dusky or darkened. Category 2 may be coded as traumatic open ...
Is skin tear covered by Medicare?
According to OASIS guidelines, the care of skin tears is typically not covered by Medicare because the wound care is simple. There are certain circumstances where the skin tear may be coded as an open wound instead of superficial injury.
Etiology
- The common causes of skin tears are shear, friction, or blunt trauma. Skin tears can occur on any part of the body, but are particularly common in populations with fragile skin, such as the elderly, chronic or critically ill, neonates and pediatrics.
Risk Factors
- Dry, fragile skin
- History of previous skin tears
- Medications that affect the thickness of the skin (e.g. steroids, immune-suppressives, anti-inflammatories, anticoagulants)
- Impaired mobility or vision
Complications
- Left untreated, skin tears can lead to complications such as pain, delayed wound healing, localized infection, cellulitis or generalized sepsis.
Treatments & Interventions For Skin Tears
- The following precautions can help minimize the risk of developing skin tears in at-risk patients and to minimize complications in patients already exhibiting symptoms: 1. Create a safe environment for the individual that will minimize the potential of bumping or knocking into furniture. 2. When possible, pad and protect the extremities. 3. Maintai...
References
- LeBlanc K, Baranoski S. International Skin Tear Advisory Panel: A tool kit to aid in the prevention, assessment and treatment of skin tears using a simplified classification system. Advances in Skin & Wound Care. 2013;26(10): 459-478. LeBlanc K, Baranoski S. Skin Tears: State of the Science: Consensus Statements for the Prevention, Prediction, Assessment, and Treatment of S…
Introduction
What Causes Skin Tears?
- Skin tears are acute, traumatic wounds that result from some mechanical force such as shearing and/or friction or some type of traumatic injury such as from a fall, equipment, or dressings. Those who are at the highest risk for skin tears are geriatric patients, the critically ill, and very young patients because their skin is fragile and more vulnerable to injury.3-4 Although skin tear…
Skin Tear Classification
- The Payne-Martin classification system was developed in the early 1990s as a way of grading skin tears.1 As a result of some issues with this classification system, the Skin Tear Audit Research Classification System, or STAR, was developed in 2007.2Both systems were later replaced by the ISTAP classification system, and this system remains the reco...
Prevention
- ISTAP advises that patients in populations typically at risk for skin tears should receive a comprehensive risk assessment. According to ISTAP, “A comprehensive risk assessment should include assessment of the individual’s general health (chronic/critical disease, polypharmacy, and cognitive, sensory, visual, auditory, and nutritional status), mobility (history of falls, impaired mo…
Treatment
- First and foremost, control any active bleeding. Cleanse with normal saline or a gentle wound cleanser according to your facility protocol. If the skin flapis viable, it can sometimes be realigned to cover all or part of the wound bed. The flap and/or wound then can be covered with a nonadherent dressing. If the flap is not viable, it will need to be carefully removed according to f…
Conclusion
- Skin tears are preventable, acute wounds. Because skin tears often occur in the geriatric population, it is essential to implement a comprehensive assessment and subsequent prevention measures. Those in the geriatric population often struggle with various comorbidities and extrinsic risk factors that can complicate treatment and lead to wound chronicity. Regardless, a …
Skin Tear Categories
Risk Factors
- Skin tears become more common with age. That's because the blood vessels in your skin start to feed less moisture and nutrients to the skin tissue as the years go by.1 Though skin tears can happen to anyone of any age, some people are more at risk than others. They include:2 1. Elderly people, particularly those who are frail and need help moving around 2. Infants, as they are at a h…
How to Treat A Skin Tear
- There are three main goals of treatment: to prevent infection, protect the surrounding skin and tissues, and keep the area moist to support healing. If the skin flap is still attached (categories 1 and 2), you want to try and preserve it. The skin flap should be placed as close to its original position as possible without it stretching too much. Before you begin, wash your hands well wit…
Dressings
- Several types of dressings work well for skin tears. These include film dressings such as Tegadermand petroleum jelly gauze. If you have delicate skin or have had skin tears in the past, it might be a good idea to have one of these available just in case. Film dressings are see-through, which allows you to watch for healing and infection without taking it off. This is very helpful wit…
Prevention
- There are several steps you can take to try and prevent skin tears. Ask your doctor for specific advice. These strategies may help:
Summary
- Skin tears happen when skin fully or partly rips away from the body. They are more likely to happen to people with dry, thin, and weak skin. This includes infants, though skin tears are most common in elderly people, as the skin gets more delicate with age. You can prevent skin tears by wearing long sleeves, staying hydrated, and taking steps to avoid falls. If your skin does tear, yo…
A Word from Verywell
- Skin tears can be very painful and some take more time to heal than others. The best way to protect against skin tears is to prevent them. If you know you are at risk, create a safer environment where you will be less likely to fall or bump into things. Take steps to strengthen and protect your skin as well. If an accident happens, try not to panic. With proper wound care, most …