Skin Tears

Some  20% of adults have suffered skin tears. Most are mild and heal on their own; more severe or infected tears need medical intervention. At VIP Wound, with offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Holly Springs, Mississippi, their wound care specialists treat torn skin to maximize healing with a low risk of scarring and other complications. Schedule an evaluation by calling the nearest office today.

What are skin tears?

Skin tears are wounds that often develop in skin that is thin, stretched, or has rubbed against something sharp. These tears often look like scrapes or large cuts and appear suddenly. While skin tears often heal on their own, some don’t heal properly or become infected. Skin tears are common among the elderly, though anyone can develop them.

What are the symptoms of skin tears?

Symptoms of skin tears include:

• Scrapes
• Cuts
• Open wounds
• Bleeding
• Redness, bruising, or other discoloration
• Visible flaps or tears
• Pain
• Warmth
• Swelling

An infected skin tear can become more painful, drain pus, or emit a foul-smelling odor. You might also experience a fever and chills. See the VIP Wound specialist at the first sign of a severe or nonhealing skin tear.

Which things raise your risk of skin tears?

While anyone can suffer a skin tear, risk factors include:

• Friction
• Skin rubbing
• Blunt force
• Contact with sharp objects
• Getting scraped or cut
• Fragile or thin skin
• Being an older adult, newborn, or female
• Immobility
• Chronic illnesses
• Lung, heart, or blood vessel problems
• Long-term corticosteroid use
• History of skin tears
• Falls
• Dry skin
• Malnutrition

Ways to minimize your risk of skin tears include wearing long sleeves to protect your skin, keeping your skin moist, and eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, protein, and other nutrient-dense foods.

How are skin tears diagnosed?

Diagnosing skin tears at VIP Wound requires discussing your medical history and symptoms, reviewing how the tear occurred, and completing a physical exam of the tear. Your wound care specialist might take a wound biopsy or order blood work and imaging (X-rays, an MRI, a CT scan, or another procedure). 

How are skin tears treated?

Treating a skin tear at VIP Wound depends on the wound’s severity. Your specialist will suggest one or more of the following:

• Wound cleaning
• Debridement (removal of infected and dead tissue)
• Specialized medical bandages or dressings
• Oral, injected, or topical medicines
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
• Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)
• In-office dressing changes
• Wound care education
• Compression therapy
• Specialized footwear
• Off-loading
• Skin grafts
• Surgery
• Combined wound care treatments

Follow up with the VIP Wound experts to ensure effective, safe healing, and contact the office anytime with questions or concerns.

Schedule a skin tear evaluation at VIP Wound by calling the office today.