What is the main feature of a stage 1 pressure ulcer?

The main feature of a stage 1 pressure ulcer is nonblanchable erythema of intact skin. This means that the skin appears red, but when pressure is applied, the redness does not fade. In this stage, there is no loss of skin integrity; the skin remains intact but shows signs of localized inflammation or increased blood flow in response to pressure. The nonblanchable redness indicates that there is potential damage to the underlying tissues, even if the skin itself looks normal at first glance. Recognizing this early sign is crucial for prevention and timely intervention to avoid progression to more severe stages.