Skin ulcers are crater-like, open wounds on the skin.
Ulcers are roughly circular with a raw center.
They often have thick and raised outer borders and may leak clear fluid, blood, or pus.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Skin ulcers can result from many different causes like poor circulation or long-term pressure.
Several treatment options can help to heal skin ulcers and prevent complications.
Anyone at any age can develop skin ulcers, but they are more common in certain people.
Hemjaa / Getty Images
This condition is known asvenous insufficiency.
Venous ulcers are usually shallow wounds.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
This compresses the blood vessels, disrupting normal circulation in the area and causing the skin to break down.
Atherosclerosisis the most common cause of arterial ulcers.
One of the main causes of atherosclerosis is an unhealthy cholesterol level.
Cholesterol createsplaquesthat build up in the arteries, narrowing them.
Like venous ulcers, arterial skin ulcers are more common on the extremities, especially the lower legs.
Any condition that compromises your circulation makes you more likely to develop arterial skin ulcers.
These skin ulcers typically form on the bottoms of the feet.
As a result, small injuries may not be noticed.
Otherwise, they can quickly progress to something more serious.
The outer border of a skin ulcer is often raised and inflamed.
The skin around the ulcer can be discolored, raised, or thickened.
Areas of the ulcer may turn black as the tissue dies.
Skin ulcers generally start slowly and gradually worsen as the skin breaks down.
The area may burn or itch.
Minor skin ulcers are shallow, affecting just the top layers of the skin (theepidermis).
More serious skin ulcers can affect the lower layers of the skin (thedermis) andsubcutaneous tissue.
In extremely severe cases, the ulcer extends to the muscle and bone.
Even minor skin ulcers can progress to something quite serious in a short span of time.
A healthcare provider can generally diagnose a skin ulcer by simply looking at it.
An X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan may be ordered to check the ulcer and veins.
Skin ulcers are classified as either:
Of the two, chronic skin ulcers are more serious.
Chronic ulcers, even small ones, are prone to infection and can cause a lot of pain.
Wounds That Can Resemble Skin Ulcers
There are other types of skin wounds that can resemble ulcers.
Your healthcare provider may want to rule these out before making a diagnosis.
However, if your ulcer is draining considerably, your healthcare provider may recommend leaving the wound uncovered.
In this case, dressing the ulcer can slow down healing.
If your ulcer is painful, you may be prescribed pain medicine.
Antibiotics may also be prescribed eitherprophylactically(to prevent infection) or to treat an already infected wound.
Restoring good circulation is key intreating and preventing ulcers.
This includes elevating the legs, wearing compression stockings, and reducing pressure on ulcer-prone areas.
If your ulcers are worsening, especially if you are treating them yourself, seek medical treatment right away.
These include:
Skin ulcers are very slow-healing wounds.
Skin ulcers can result from many causes like poor circulation or long-term pressure.
Several treatment options can help to heal skin ulcers and prevent complications.
2017;6(1):9-17.
Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay.Skin Ulcers Risk Factors, Blood Circulation, and Types.
Galimberti F, Mesinkovska NA.Skin findings associated with nutritional deficiencies.Cleve Clin J Med.
2016;83(10):731-739. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a.15061
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Venous ulcers.
Bhattacharya S, Mishra RK.Pressure ulcers: Current understanding and newer modalities of treatment.Indian J Plast Surg.
2015;48(1):4-16. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.155260
National Library of Medicine.
MedlinePlus.Ischemic ulcers - self-care.
Forster R, Pagnamenta F.Dressings and topical agents for arterial leg ulcers.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2015;(6):CD001836.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001836.pub3
Volmer-thole M, Lobmann R.Neuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome.Int J Mol Sci.
2016;17(6).
doi:10.3390/ijms17060917
University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.Digital ulcers in scleroderma.
Dogra S, Sarangal R.Summary of recommendations for leg ulcers.Indian Dermatol Online J.
An updated NPUAP white paper.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs.
Nelson EA, Adderley U.Venous Leg Ulcers.BMJ Clinical Evidence.2016 Jan 15;2016. pii: 1902.
Panuncialman J, Falanga V.Unusual Causes of Cutaneous Ulceration.Surgical Clinics of North America.
2010;90(6):1161-1180.
Reddy M.Pressure Ulcers: Treatment.BMJ Clinical Evidence.2015 Dec 11;2015. pii: 1901.
