What it means
A kind of dead tissue seen in wounds. It is different from eschar, which is dry, hard and black or brown. Slough slows healing and gives germs a place to grow, so it is usually removed (debridement). As a verb, "to slough" means to shed or come away, as dead skin does.
For the nurse
Describe the wound bed in percentages of each tissue type, for example "60% red granulation, 40% yellow slough". Slough in a pressure injury means it cannot be staged until the base can be seen, unless the depth is clear.
In a chart
"Wound bed 70% granulation, 30% yellow slough; no odor."
Related terms
ulcer
An open sore where the skin or the lining of an organ has broken down.
necrosis
The death of cells or tissue in a part of the body.
skin breakdown
Damage that opens or wears away the skin, such as a pressure injury, skin tear or damage from moisture.