Ever heard about leg ulcer? Here’s how it affects you

A leg ulcer is an open sore which develops when the skin is broken and air or bacteria that gets into the underlying tissues. It can be caused by some minor injuries or an underlying disease which affects the veins in your legs. Leg ulcers are most common on the inside of the leg, just above your ankle. In most of the people, damage to the skin heals within days or weeks, but when the skin does not heal, the area affected can get bigger and develop into an ulcer.

A leg ulcer is also defined as a breakdown in your skin which may extend to involve the subcutaneous tissue or even to the next level of muscle or bone. These lesions are more common, particularly on the lower extremities. Leg and also foot ulcers have many causes which may further define their character.

Causes of leg ulcers

Venous disease

About 80% of leg ulcers are caused by venous disease, when the veins are not working properly. This is one of the most commonly trigger, when the valves inside the veins are faulty. Healthy leg valves allow blood to flow up towards your heart as it circulates around your body. If the veins are faulty, veins generally fail to stop blood bleeding and flowing back into the legs. This can cause an increase of pressure in the veins which can eventually cause skin to become thin and inflamed and increase the risk of a venous ulcer developing.

Arterial disease

This condition is one of the most similar to venous disease, but is caused by arterial disease that triggers poor blood circulation. It accounts for about 15% percent of leg ulcers. It is caused by a blockage in at least one of the arteries in the leg. It restricts blood flow to underlying tissue and can result in an arterial leg ulcer.

Underlying conditions

Some of the leg ulcers are mainly caused by underlying few conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or some other rare conditions.

In some cases, more than one condition may contribute to the development of few leg ulcers.

Symptoms of leg ulcers

• Relief when the leg is elevated, exercised or compressed by bandages
• Swollen ankles
• Aching and pain in the legs when standing for a long period
• Swollen or enlarged veins in the leg
• A heavy feeling in the leg
• Brown discoloration or staining on the skin
• Irritated, red, scaly or flaky skin
• Hardened skin or scabbing around the sore area.

Natural remedies for leg ulcers

Chamomile

Chamomile tea is one of the good home remedies for treating leg ulcers. You can also use this chamomile flowers by putting them in hot water to make a paste. Then place the pack to the wound and get it covered till next morning. This works effectively in the injured area and gives quick relief from leg ulcers.

Honey

Honey is one of the essential home remedies to treat leg ulcers, wounds, burns and also skin issues. They have an excellent property to treat the above. They kill bacteria and avert skin chafing around the part. Apply honey to the effected parts of the rapid healing of wounds and avert any viral or bacterial infections.

Hawthorn berries

this is an effective home remedy for the leg ulcers. The berries reduce blood pressure, improves blood circulation, reduce stress. Improved blood circulation leads to quickly repair and healing. These berries are hard to found and cures any type of ulcers.

Tea tree oil

It is an essential remedy to treat leg ulcers. it has some anti fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti bacterial qualities. Take a cotton cloth with water and put a few drops of this tree tea oil in it. Now, pat the affected area with this pack and leave it for two hours.

Cleaning and dressing the ulcer

The first step is to remove all the debris or dead tissue from the ulcer area and apply an appropriate dressing. This provides the best conditions for the ulcer to heal.

A simple, and non-sticky dressing will also be used to dress your leg ulcer. This usually needs to be changed once a week. Many of the people will find that they can manage cleaning and dressing their own ulcer under the supervision of a nurse.

The evaluation and treatment of the most common remedies for leg ulcers have been discussed. The general principles presented may be used to successfully treat most leg ulcers. However, when presented with a wound that is atypical in presentation or fails to respond to conventional therapy, clinicians should have a low threshold for referral to a specialist of ulcers.