Kelly Burch is a freelance journalist who has covered health topics for more than 10 years. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more.

A wound is any type of injury that punctures the skin. While taking care of a wound is 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. 

Periwound skin is the skin around the wound that has been affected by the wound. There’s no exact definition of the periwound area, but researchers say it extends about 1.5 inches from the wound's edges.

The periwound skin wasn’t torn open by your wound, but it’s still affected. The trauma of the wound and the ongoing work of wound healing make the periwound area especially sensitive. Because of that, it’s prone to skin damage, which can slow your wound healing.  

The periwound area is most often damaged by moisture and injuries from the wound dressing, although it can also be exposed to infection.

As wounds heal, they naturally produce wound exudate , a fluid expelled from the wound to help it stay clean and to heal. However, as the wound exudate seeps out of the wound, it can cause a rash on the periwound skin. This is known as moisture-associated skin damage. It’s characterized by a red area that may become irritated or painful.   

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.

If your wound becomes infected, 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. 

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.

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 any signs of infection quickly. 

Any changes to the periwound area could be signs of periwound injury. The signs and symptoms of these injuries can include:

Proper wound care that includes the periwound area can help you avoid periwound skin damage. Following these steps can also help:

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.  

The periwound area extends about 1.5 inches from the edges of a wound. It includes fragile skin that has been impacted by a wound. Moisture and damage from dressings and medical adhesives can cause the periwound skin to become red, inflamed, or painful. Carefully removing adhesives and using barrier cream can help prevent this. Talk to your healthcare provider not only about caring for your wound, but for the periwound area too. 

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. 

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.

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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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