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The Fabulous Fleece Company Blog

Everything you need to know about medical sheepskin

The famously golden medical sheepskin has been used historically to support the elderly, the infirm and even the infant. A product that transcends centuries, the many benefits of medical sheepskin are just as relevant now as they were years ago - but what exactly are they? In this article we will take an introductory look at what medical sheepskins are, what they are used for, how they are made and what makes them stand apart from your regular sheepskin.

What is a medical sheepskin?

A Medical sheepskin is a type of sheepskin that provides superior pressure care support and has been used for centuries to guard against and aid the heeling of pressure sores, aid comfort of those with disability, mobility issues and the bed ridden.

Medical grade sheepskin is typically made from a particularly large skin that has a high wool fibre count and density, and has been clipped to the same length to ensure that it is supportive and comfortable.

Unlike your standard sheepskin, these skins undergo a special longer tanning process which enables them to be machine washed frequently.

What is medical sheepskin used for?

Medical sheepskins are often used for the elderly, infirm and those suffering injury (although they can also be used purely for comfort by anyone too!). They are placed directly onto the top of the mattress, chair or wheelchair, as their dense pelt helps support the body whilst also letting the air circulate and wicking away moisture at the same time. These three actions help guard against pressure sores for those with limited mobility.

They also help to sooth sore skin as the airflow and insulating properties assist the user with body temperature regulation and sweating, wicking moister away from the skin and helping to guard against the skin's surface breaking down and ulcerating. Lanolin in the fleece can also be soothing for irritated skin.

Medical sheepskins have also been historically used for babies and are once again proving very popular. A woolly fleece is very tactile and flexible, being so soft to touch and is also very supportive and cushioning. It can create a snug and soothing cocoon-like environment to help your little one feel more safe, secure and relaxed.

How do you use medical sheepskin?

For those with mobility issues and/or bedsores, the skin is simply used by placing it underneath them on the chair or bed to offer pressure reduction, temperature regulation and moisture absorption.

How is medical sheepskin made?

Medical sheepskins go through several stages before making their way to you. First of all, the raw pelt is washed, and then goes through a process called fleshing to remove any fat and tissue.

The pelt then goes on to be tanned with natural alum mineral salts. Once the pelt has gone through the alum tanning process, excess water is removed and the skin is stretched out over a wire frame and hot air dried.

After the air dry, the skins are then tumbled to soften them before they are dry cleaned to remove any excess lanolin. The fleece is then cut to the approximate 1” length to give a dense and even support, before being drawn through the iron to flatten and polish the fleece, Finally, it is finished and trimmed to give it its smooth edge and shape.

The end result is the authentic golden coloured medical sheepskin that can then be used as a whole skin for chairs, wheelchairs and beds or, made into products such as wheelchair cushions and seat pads.

Where does medical sheepskin get its colour?

Medical sheepskins have a very distinctive golden colour which arrives from the method of tanning with natural alum salts. Alum is a naturally occurring mineral salt that in the tanning process stops the hide from spoiling over time, and helps preserve the softness durability and strength of the pelt by fixing tannins in the hide's protein structure. As well as being an antibacterial agent, it also protects the hide from damaging UV light.

What is the difference between a medical sheepskin and a regular sheepskin?

Medical sheepskins and regular sheepskins differ in three main ways. The medical sheepskin is made from a pelt that is chosen for its density of fleece, the sheepskin is made from a particularly large pelt with a high wool fibre count. The wool pile is clipped to approximate 1” (26mm) with a high density of wool pile per square cm and higher fibre diameter (higher micron rating). A higher pile density means better pressure support. Higher wool pile diameter means the pile will not depress as easily enabling airflow and temperature regulation that aids blood circulation.

Last of all, the sheepskin is tanned using the traditional alum mineral salt method - this is naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic also enabling the sheepskin to be frequently washed if needed.

If you would like to know more about medical sheepskins you can browse other posts on our blog, or view our medical sheepskins here.

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