07/03/2026
New Post: How Does Sheepskin Prevent Pressure Ulcers? The Science, Simply Explained https://ozwool.com.au/how-sheepskin-prevents-pressure-ulcers
Peter, a retired farmer from the Ballarat region of rural Victoria, noticed (well, his carer did) a pressure sore developing on his right heel. He ordered a certified AS4480.1 Australian medical sheepskin from us and booked an appointment with a specialist at the same time. By the time the appointment came around, the sore had gone.
His specialist was surprised. Peter wasn't; he'd done his research before he bought, and he understood what the sheepskin was actually doing for his skin.
Pressure ulcers, also called pressure sores, bedsores, or decubitus ulcers, are one of the most painful and preventable complications affecting people who spend extended time in a bed or chair. They form quickly, heal slowly, and cause real suffering. What many people don't realise is that a well-designed, clinically certified sheepskin works against the exact mechanisms that cause them.
This post explains the science behind it — clearly, without the jargon — and tells you what to look for if you're considering one for yourself, a family member, or a patient in your care.
50%+ Reduction in new pressure ulcers in clinical trials1,281 Patients across 3 RCTs in the evidence base25 yrs OzWool supplying hospitals & families in Australia
First: Why Pressure Ulcers Form
Pressure ulcers develop when sustained pressure cuts off blood flow to the skin and the tissue beneath it. Without blood flow, cells begin to break down. The process can begin in as little as 20 minutes in someone who is immobile, which is why they're such a common and serious concern for people who are confined to a bed or wheelchair for extended periods.
Four factors drive the process:
- Direct pressure - the weight of the body compressing skin against a hard surface, particularly over bony areas like heels, hips, the sacrum, and elbows.
- Shear forces - when the body slides or shifts, but the skin stays in place, stretching and tearing the tissue underneath.
- Friction - repeated rubbing of skin against bedding or chair surfaces, damaging the outer skin layer over time.
- Moisture - perspiration and incontinence soften the skin, making it far more vulnerable to all of the above.
An effective pressure care surface needs to address all four. This is where a certified medical sheepskin earns its place.
How Medical Sheepskin Works Against All Four
1. Pressure redistribution, spreading the load
A certified Australian medical sheepskin has a wool pile density of 4,000 to 6,000 individual fibres per square centimetre. Each fibre acts independently, conforming to the exact contours of the body and distributing weight across a much larger surface area. Instead of the full weight of your body pressing against a small patch of skin over your heel or hip, that pressure is spread and absorbed.
This isn't soft, comfort padding like a foam mattress topper. The fibres are resilient — they compress under load and spring back, maintaining that redistribution even after hours of use.
2. Shear and friction reduction, letting the skin stay still
The natural crimp and texture of Merino wool fibres create a surface that allows small movements without dragging on the skin. When a patient shifts in bed, even slightly, the wool accommodates that movement rather than resisting it. This dramatically reduces the shearing and friction forces that tear at the tissue layers beneath the skin.
In the orthopaedic trial by McGowan and colleagues, where sheepskin was used with elderly patients recovering from joint surgery, the sheepskin group developed significantly fewer heel ulcers, precisely the area most affected by friction and shear.
3. Moisture wicking keeping skin dry
Wool is one of nature's most effective moisture managers. A certified medical sheepskin can absorb up to 36% of its own dry weight in moisture without feeling damp to the touch. That means perspiration and incontinence are drawn away from the skin surface and held within the fibre structure, where they evaporate rather than sitting against vulnerable skin.
This is the mechanism that made Peter's situation so responsive to sheepskin. Heel ulcers in particular are heavily influenced by moisture, and removing that moisture from the equation changes the environment the skin is trying to heal in.
4. Temperature regulation: the body's natural thermostat
Wool fibres are hollow, which makes them breathable in a way that synthetic materials cannot match. A sheepskin surface stays cooler in warm conditions and warmer when needed, reducing the skin temperature fluctuations that accelerate tissue breakdown. For people sleeping through the night or sitting in a chair for hours, this consistent microclimate matters more than most people realise.
“By the time the specialist appointment came around, the pressure sore had gon…
Medical sheepskin is sheepskin that is medically treated, and washable for your convenience
