Why You Should Never Ignore a Leg Ulcer

Leg ulcers can certainly be unsightly. But these deep sores pose far more than a cosmetic concern. Without proper care, ulcers increase your risk of serious infections, permanent disability, and even lower-limb amputation.

At Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center in Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York, Inam Haq, MD, FACS, and Sushilkumar Samant, MD, FACS, use patient-centered therapies to treat ulcers, promoting natural healing while reducing the risk of complications. Here’s why prompt medical attention is so important for your health and your quality of life when it comes to leg ulcers.

Understanding leg ulcers

Your body is meant to heal sores and injuries in your skin, preventing infections and other problems. But sometimes, that healing process breaks down, leading to sores that don’t heal properly. Changes in the natural healing process can happen for different reasons, but in many cases, they’re related to problems with your circulation or your nerves. 

For example, leg ulcers are common with diabetes because the condition affects your circulation and your nervous system, too. Poor circulation makes it harder for sores to heal, while nerve damage makes it more difficult to feel injuries or to appreciate their severity, resulting in delays in treatment. Other issues behind ulcers include:

• Kidney disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking habit
• Certain medications

Chronic venous insufficiency and other circulation problems can also lead to increased pressure inside your blood vessels, causing fluid leakage that, in turn, can lead to ulcers. Traumatic injury can also lead to ulcers, particularly with people who have circulation problems or other problems that impair healing.

Why prompt treatment is critical

Leg sores might not seem like a big deal initially. Most people expect a sore to heal on its own within a week or two. In the meantime, your immune system kicks in, fighting off germs and reducing the risk of infection.

But when healing is impaired, dangerous germs can multiply rapidly, causing infection that can quickly spread to other areas. Left untreated, leg ulcers can cause a serious skin infection called cellulitis. Or, germs may enter your bloodstream, spreading to other parts of your body and leading to sepsis, a life-threatening infection that can affect multiple organs at once.

Severe leg ulcers can cause considerable tissue damage, and once an infection is set in motion, it may be difficult to stop. In these instances, amputation may be the best way to prevent further tissue damage and complications like sepsis. In fact, untreated or poorly managed ulcers are the most common cause of amputations among people with diabetes.

You should never ignore leg ulcers. Having them evaluated promptly ensures your doctor can address any underlying condition as well. Your care team can identify steps you should take to manage an underlying problem more effectively so you can reduce your risk of ulcers in the future.

Care for your leg ulcers

Leg ulcers often require special techniques to help them heal, and in severe cases, they may require vein surgery, skin grafts, or other surgery.

To have your leg ulcer evaluated by the experienced team at Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center and to learn how we can help you avoid ulcers in the future, request an appointment online or over the phone at the location most convenient to you.