What is a characteristic of a Stage 1 pressure ulcer?

A characteristic of a Stage 1 pressure ulcer is non-blanching redness. In this stage, the skin appears red and does not turn white when pressure is applied, indicating that the underlying tissue may be experiencing damage due to unrelieved pressure. This redness is a key indicator that the skin is compromised, but there is no open wound or break in the skin yet.

Recognizing non-blanching redness is critical, as it represents the initial stage of pressure ulcer development where intervention can prevent further progression to more severe stages involving skin breakdown and deeper tissue damage. In the context of the other characteristics, blisters and breaks in skin integrity represent more advanced stages of pressure ulcers, while yellow fatty tissue indicates necrosis, which is not seen until further advanced pressure ulcer stages have developed.