Blog > Vascular Diseases > Leg Ulcers – Types of Ulcers, Their Causes, Treatment Options and Means of Prevention
Leg Ulcers – Types of Ulcers, Their Causes, Treatment Options and Means of Prevention
18-October-2025
Category: Vascular Diseases
Ulcers are body sores that are caused due to breaks in the skin or the mucous lining. These take
enormous time to heal and often keep returning back thus leading to chronic ulceration.
Ulcers can occur anywhere on the inside or outside of the body but leg ulcers are the most
common, painful, and unpleasant form of ulcers found on the skin. These affect the lower region
of the legs along with the feet and are caused due to poor blood circulation owing to injuries,
infections, diabetes, certain skin diseases, tumours, or even vascular diseases like stroke,
heart attack, angina, etc.
Types and Causes
Diabetic Ulcers -Also called neuropathic ulcers, these are found on the under
surface of the
foot, under the fingers and under the toes. Patients with years of diabetic history develop poor
blood circulation and loss of sensation due to nerve damage that leads to pressure ulcers.
Ulcers-These occur on the tips of the fingers or the tips of the toes that
become
black, ugly, dry and edged out. Patients who have an arterial disease and get an injury that
does not heal develop arterial ulcers over time.
Venous Ulcers-These ulcers are very painful and occur around the medial or
lateral part of the
ankle. Most commonly found in patients with varicose veins, these are black in colour and are
accompanied by massive fluid discharge.
Prevention
Leg ulcers are mainly caused due to improper blood circulation in the legs and feet. Hence,
eating a balanced diet with low fat intake and regular exercise to enhance movement of the calf
muscles is the best form of prevention.
Also, addressing any health issues like obesity, diabetes or varicose veins that are a leading
cause of leg and foot ulcers can help in early detection of the symptoms and thus prevention of
ulceration. In some patients with varicose veins, doctors may also recommend using the
compression stockings on a daily basis to prevent leg ulcers.
Diagnosis
Patients can self-diagnose the case of leg ulceration if they notice redness or swelling on the
skin around the ulcer, foul smell, ever-growing pain, green unpleasant discharge, and/or high
temperature.
In most cases, doctors are able to rightly determine the type of the leg ulcer by merely
analyzing its location and appearance. To evaluate the severity of restricted blood flow due to
ulceration, doctors may compare blood pressure in legs to that in the patient’s arms.
Furthermore, examinations like the Duplex Ultrasound can help bring to notice any medical issues
of serious concern.
Treatment
The experienced team of doctors led by Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis hospitals has aided a record
number of patients complaining of the most difficult types of leg ulcers. Before any form of
treatment, they understand the cause of leg ulceration and treat not just the ulcers but also
suggest the medical regime to cure the underlying cause.
While wound cleaning and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to almost all patients, some may
need to undergo vascular surgery as well. For irregular blood flow to the vessels in the leg,
the doctors at Avis Hospitals perform angioplasty stent to repair it. There is also a cure for
patients suffering from leg ulcers due to diabetes or varicose veins where blood is restricted
from coming back.
Avis Hospitals cure an average of 75-80 leg ulceration patients every month and have a huge
array of happy patients who are satisfied with the offered treatment. If you have early symptoms
of leg ulcers or are already in pain, book an appointment with Dr. Rajah V Koppala for
world-class treatment.
