Ulceration

Also referred to as skin ulcer, ulceration is an open sore on the skin of the leg. This circular wound usually occurs due to a tissue disintegration. It is caused by several factors such as inadequate circulation, trauma, excess pressure on the skin, and so forth. If not treated on time, the skin ulcer can lead to more serious problems.

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Types and Cause of Ulceration

Ulceration occurs due to a break in the leg skin, particularly around the ankle. Some types of skin ulcer and their causes include:

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Venous Skin Ulcer: This is the most common type of ulceration. It is caused by inadequate blood circulation in the leg. Here, the blood will pool in the vein instead of flowing back to the heart.

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Decubitus (Pressure) Ulcer: This is also referred to as pressure or bed sores. It occurs due to long-term pressure on a particular area of the skin. This will cause the blood vessels to compress, thus, affecting normal circulation and causing the skin to breakdown.

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Arterial Skin Ulcer: This occurs when the arteries are not supplying enough blood to the skin. Arterial skin ulcers are common in the lower leg.

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Neuropathic Skin Ulcers: Diabetic patients usually suffer from this kind of ulceration. They occur when nerve damage brings about a loss of sensation in parts of the feet.

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Other causes of skin ulcer include:

• Skin cancer

• Reaction to certain medication

• Radiation burns

• Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections

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Symptoms of Skin Ulcer

Some of the symptoms of skin ulcer include:

• Wounds that take long to heal

• Rash or dry skin

• Fluid oozing from sore

• Brownish discoloration

• Swelling of the surrounding skin

• Worsening pain

• Fever

• Pus

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Diagnoses

In case you have a wound that is taking extended time to heal, consider seeing your physician. The doctor will examine the sore and the skin around the affected area. This will help determine the kind of skin ulcer you are suffering from. Hence, adequate treatment procedure can be recommended.