Wellbeing and Your Skin Tear
Why is my wellbeing important in skin tear healing?
The physical and emotional impact of living with a wound can be complex. The concept of wellbeing is unique to each individual and will change over time. Although skin tears are generally acute, or ‘uncomplicated’ wounds, they still cause pain and discomfort that can affect your overall wellbeing.
Your wellbeing can also be affected by the type of skin tear you have, the location of the skin tear, your care plan and healing time.[1]
It is important to look after your wellbeing and your skin tear simultaneously to ensure the best outcomes.
Taking care of your overall wellbeing can improve your skin tear healing process, manage symptoms such as pain and infection, preserve the mobility of the affected region, and prevent further skin tears.
Your overall wellbeing can be separated into several categories:
• Physical wellbeing: the ability to function independently in activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and moving around.[2]
• Mental wellbeing: being free from fear, anxiety, stress, depression, or negative feelings.[3]
• Social wellbeing: the ability to participate in and engage with family, society, friends, and workers.[4]
• Spiritual wellbeing: the ability to experience the meaning and purpose of life through connections with oneself and others.[5]
What is a skin tear?
A skin tear is a wound that occurs when fragile skin experiences trauma. It is defined as the partial or full separation of the skin’s layers.
Skin tears are caused by:
• Friction
• Shear
• Blunt force
Why isn’t my skin tear healing?
Skin tears are generally heal within the normal wound healing timeframe (approx. 4 weeks). However, some factors may prolong your skin tear recovery.
Effective skin tear healing requires:
• Preserve the skin flap (if viable)
• Avoid disturbing the wound bed
• Avoid strong adhesives (e.g. steri-strips)
• Effective fluid management
• Good nutrition
• Good hydration
• Adequate rest
Skin tear recovery and wellbeing self-management
1. Seek medical support for skin tear management. Medical advice can help to ensure that you do not engage in behaviours or treatments that can worsen your wound.
2. Follow advice and instructions. The advice is intended to help you and how closely you follow this advice may affect the success of your skin tear treatment.
3. Keep family and friends in the loop. Having an informed support network means that you can get the type of help you require when you need it.
4. Keep a record. Track your skin tear’s healing progress, how you are feeling, and your general health.
5. Take preventative steps. Follow guidance on how to prevent skin tears in the future. This includes regularly using emollients, padding sharp furniture, avoiding sharp fingernails, and good nutrition.
Good skin tear coping strategies
| Problem-solving | Planning and taking control of your care |
| Information seeking | Reading and asking others for advice |
| Self-comforting | Emotional self-regulation and self-encouragement |
| Support-seeking | Seeking social contact and emotional support |
| Seeking social contact and emotional support | Distraction and acceptance |
| Negotiation | Compromising[6] |
References:
- International consensus. Optimising wellbeing in people living with a wound. An expert working group review. London: Wounds International, 2012. P.1
- Ibid: 2
- Ibid: 2
- Ibid: 2
- Ibid: 2
- Cartwright, Matthew, et al., Living with Chronic Wounds: An Exploration of Adaptive and Maladaptive Coping Strategies and their Association with Wellbeing. Wounds International 2021 (12,1): 13
Useful videos:
How to apply & remove dressings
Prevention strategies
Complications of skin tears
Useful articles:
How to dress a skin tear – Download this article
A breakdown of the key benefits of silicone dressings for skin tears
A guide to skin tear management best practice
Disclaimer:
Please note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the content presented, it is purely for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.