What causes them?

Leg veins that become weak and incapable of sending the used blood back to the heart are the main cause of venous skin ulcers. Below mentioned are the most common causes of venous leg ulcers:
1.Varicose veins
2.Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clot in the deep veins of the legs)
3.Old age, being tall, being a female
4.Obesity
5.Smoking
6.Pregnancy
7.Lack of exercise
8.Sedentary lifestyle
9.Daily work that requires long hours of standing or sitting
10.Previous leg injuries
11.Family history of blood clots or venous insufficiency

What are the symptoms?

By being aware of the early signs and easy to recognize symptoms of venous leg ulcers, you can self-diagnose them and schedule an appointment with a vascular specialist for treatment and prevention.
Following are some of the early signs of venous leg ulcers:
1.Itching or burning sensation on the skin of the affected area
2.Dry skin accompanied by a rash
3.Skin discoloration where the skin turns brown and looks pale
4.A feeling of heaviness in the lower region of the legs
5.The affected area may even become swollen

Below mentioned are the symptoms of an open sore that is actually a venous leg ulcer:
1.Shallow sore that has a red base, may sometimes be covered by a yellow tissue
2.Unevenly shaped borders of the ulcer
3.The skin turns hard and tight around the ulcer
4.The surrounded skin also turns red in colour
5.The affected area feels warm and looks shiny

Some venous leg ulcers become infected and have the following signs and symptoms in addition to the above ones:
1.Worsening pain
2.Fever
3. Pus drain from the wound
4.A foul-smelling fluid oozing out from the open sore

How are they diagnosed?

If you have a wound on the leg that is not healing or has got infected, you must immediately visit a vascular expert. The specialist will physically examine the open sore and the skin around it, and will also ask some questions to learn about you and your family’s medical history.
The doctor will then conduct a Duplex Doppler Ultrasound Scan to find out the exact reason for the ulcer. This examination clearly shows how the blood is moving in the lower leg region and what is hindering its movement back to the heart.
The vascular expert may recommend a few other tests to check other problems related to varicose veins and to re-examine the ulcer to ensure it is healing properly.

What are the treatment options?

The most basic form of treatment and recovery involves improving the blood flow in the affected region as this will help repair the wound quickly.

There are a few things that you can do to treat the venous skin ulcers. Make a note of them below:
1.Use compression stockings as they help prevent blood pooling and create additional pressure on the legs. This will in-turn improve blood circulation in the lower leg region thus enhancing the body’s ability to heal the ulcer.
2.You must elevate your legs above your heart level as frequently as possible. Lie down on your bed and use a pillow or two to lift your legs up to the level of the heart. Vascular experts usually suggest a minimum of half-an-hour for at least 3 to 4 times a day. 3.Make an everyday walk routine as walking enhances the blood circulation of the body. This clubbed with low impact exercises can also work wonders for the recovery process of your venous leg ulcers.
4. If your ulcer has got infected, the doctor will prescribe some antibiotics to kill the infection. The vascular expert might also suggest a moist dressing on the wound to fasten its healing.
5.In a few critical cases, doctors will immediately recommend surgery or endovenous laser ablation to treat the underlying cause of blood pooling as that may be preventing the wound from healing.

Usually, a venous leg ulcer requires 3-4 months to heal. A few may heal quicker while some maynever clean-up. As soon as you see the first signs of a statis leg ulcer, consult your vascular expert immediately to prevent the ulcer from forming or growing bigger in size, as smaller and new ulcers are easier to heal than the larger ones.

What to do next?

If you or someone you know has one or more of the above symptoms, you must not delay a medical check-up with the vascular experts at Avis Hospitals. All doctors at Avis Hospitals are through professionals, have years of experience, and believe in 100% customer satisfaction.

Avis Hospitals will not only guide you with the most genuine and authentic advise for your health but also take the extra steps to ensure your well-being. Pledge to take care of your vein health and book a timely treatment for your venous leg ulcers to prevent other medical complications. Schedule an appointment with Avis Hospitals today!