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magee125 Asked August 7, 2025

My 94 year old mother is developing an external sore right by her anus. What is the best remedy? I've been using zinc paste.

Sunnygirl1 Nov 12, 2025
I was wondering how your mom is doing since this post. My mom has a sacral pressure sore. She was in the hospital and now nursing home for rehab after breaking her arm in fall.

Grandma1954 Aug 9, 2025
If you use a zinc product it can be very difficult to remove. I always mixed it with an A&D type product and I would pat it on rather than rub or wipe it on. A little goes a LONG way.
I also am wondering if this might be a hemorrhoid. You can ask the doctors office if they will accept a photo that you can text to them. (some will not if it is not secure)
Is she scratching the area? If so make sure that she can not reach the area to scratch so you might have to look for "onesie" type underwear to place over the briefs or underwear she is wearing.

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brandee Aug 8, 2025
Do a remote appmt with PCP. Request home RN due to the open wound.

AlvaDeer Aug 8, 2025
Hm, you are using the single ointment that this old RN loathes. Zinc is impossible to wash off without hurting someone.

First of all, a sore by the anus needs to be explored. Is this from an inflammed vessel, ie a hemorrhoidal problem? Is this from a herpetic lesion? Is this a bedsore? Is this bacterial? Usually sores that are benign heal very quickly on our genitalia, even though this is an area of high bacterial count.

Because of location I am recommending a trip to the doc.
magee125 Aug 8, 2025
Thank you for your reply. The zinc was one of her orders after leaving the PT facility awhile back, as she is incontinent. I agree, she needs to see a doctor. I'm working on convincing her.
Daughterof1930 Aug 8, 2025
Please have her seen by the doctor
magee125 Aug 8, 2025
Oh, I've been trying. She is stubborn, and she has legit reasons for not wanting to go to the doctors around here but I'm still trying. I can be stubborn too.
funkygrandma59 Aug 8, 2025
You should be having a wound care nurse looking after this sore as it could very well be a Kennedy ulcer which in most cases is deadly. And they often appear right above the butt crack near the tailbone.
This is nothing that you should be dealing with on your own, so call your mothers doctor today.
magee125 Aug 8, 2025
Thank you for your reply. She had been in a rebab facility for PT and had home care nursing for awhile when she was released. They had to stop coming because they couldn't show her insurance there was still a need anymore, and there really wasn't then. I'll look into seeing if we can get it restarted.

I have never heard of a Kennedy ulcer before. Other than not being able to walk very well, my mom is in good health otherwise so I hope that's not it.

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