Examining the surrounding skin and tissue

Examine the skin and tissue surrounding the wound, looking for:

• dry or macerated skin
• inflammation (heat, redness, swelling)
• excoriation
• oedema
• collections or sinus tracts
• hyperkeratosis (scaly skin).

Check whether sensation is normal, reduced, absent or altered (eg allodynia [pain on light touch]). Also look for abnormal tissue (eg lipodermatosclerosis, scarring, radiotherapy damage).