text: what cause bedsores and are they still a common occurence? i know the general syptoms and what they look like, but are they still relavent today with modern medicine? bedsores are still very much a common occurance.  also called pressure ulcers. they are caused by lack of blood supply to a particular area.  so if some lies on their side for days and days or even weeks their skin in that particular area will not get the blood flow that it needs (nutrition)  and it will start to break down. they can be horrible extremely big and very hard to heal.  another common area for bedsores is the heel of the foot and the lower back.  these areas get alot of pressure/lack of nutrition.  hope this helps