How to Treat Your Leg Ulcer as it Heals
When you think about venous leg ulcers, you might classify them as strictly a vascular issue. However, leg ulcers can become a more serious health concern than just the result of venous insufficiency. Venous leg ulcers result from two main causes; venous flow insufficiency and previous wounds. For vein flow insufficiency, ulcers will form on your legs from the lack of proper blood flow throughout your body. When this happens, nutrients, oxygen, and blood cells are blocked from flowing consistently and will begin to pool and collect. Over time, collected blood will damage the surrounding tissue, causing it to deteriorate from the inside out. As the tissue breaks down, an internal wound will work its way to the surface of the skin, forming a chronic wound, commonly referred to as a venous leg ulcer. Leg ulcers also form from previous wounds that do not heal properly due to the lack of blood flow. When you have a wound, and suffer from venous flow insufficiency, it is impossible for your wound to receive the nutrients it needs to heal normally. At the USA Vein Clinics, we offer our patients treatment for venous insufficiency, which is the leading cause of chronic wounds. Patients who suffer from chronic wounds as well as poor vein flow also receive venous leg ulcer treatment. However, treating venous leg ulcers can be more difficult than treating the root cause; vein flow insufficiency. Typically, our venous leg ulcer treatment options are limited by the size and severity of the chronic wound. Additionally, it may be pertinent to treat your vein illness or disease before drawing attention to the wound. If you do suffer from a chronic wound, here are a few tips to help it heal properly and effectively. First, the most important part of treating your leg ulcer is to keep it clean. Chronic wounds are a vulnerable opening into your body where bacteria can enter. If not properly cleaned and covered, you are more at risk for developing a bacterial infection, which can both harm your immune system and prolong the time needed to heal your ulcer. To keep it clean, make sure to cover your wound, especially when outside. Renew your bandages daily and if necessary, apply new bandages throughout the day. Next, the next stage in venous leg ulcer treatment is to wear compression socks. Wearing these will help improve the blood flow through your legs, which in return aids in healing your ulcer. Compression socks will also help protect your leg ulcer from outside harms, such as germs and bacteria. If treating vein flow insufficiency or a vein illness at the same time, compression socks can also improve the quality of your treatment as well. If you suffer from chronic wounds and venous leg ulcers, contact one of our vein specialists today and begin your treatment now. As the leader in vein treatment, our experienced team at the USA Vein Clinics are committed to serving you!