A guide on foot ulcers

We often hear people talking about having ulcers on their bodies. An ulcer is a very common condition or disease which looks like an open sore. This mostly occurs on the foot area where the skin becomes shallow with a red crater on the surface skin. The foot ulcer can be very deep, affecting the whole thickness of the skin. People with diabetes and with poor blood circulation face foot ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcer care should be done right on time, as even a small foot ulcer will infect the whole foot.

The affected area, if not treated immediately, can turn into an abscess, cellulite, bone infection, or gangrene. Most people with diabetes face this condition, so immediate action should be taken right time. Know that people with diabetes should pay extra attention to foot care.

Depending upon the causes, the right remedies will be taken accordingly. This usually happens under the big toes and balls of the feet.

To know more about this condition, go through the following steps:

Symptoms

Some of the common symptoms of foot ulcers are sudden swelling, irritation, redness, odor, or drainage from the foot, causing stains on your socks or footwear. The affected area will have some black tissue area of the ulcer. This happens because of the absence of blood flow around the area. It will only be visible when the ulcer becomes infected. In case of any skin discoloration, seek help for diabetic ulcer treatment from your doctor.

Causes

Ulcer usually happens because of poor circulation of blood, high blood sugar, nerve damage, and wounded feet. Peripheral neuropathy, which is a nerve damage condition, is one of the major causes of foot ulcers. Tight-fitting shoes can trigger a foot ulcer, so make sure to wear comfortable footwear. Some circulatory problems will also cause foot ulcers. Less blood reaching the affected area will lead to peripheral artery disease. Any abnormality in the foot can also lead to a foot ulcer.

Risk factors

Some of the risk factors of foot ulcers are poorly fitted shoes, poor hygiene, improper maintenance of foot nails, drinking alcohol, smoking, heart disease, obesity, kidney disease, etc. Any untreated injury can also lead to a foot ulcer. So make sure to consult the doctor for diabetic wound treatment.

Prevention

To stay away from foot ulcers, you should protect your feet. Take care of your feet, especially when you have diabetes. Take care of your feet by wearing specially designed for people, and use foot braces, casts, compression wraps, and shoe inserts to prevent corns and calluses. Also, maintain hygiene around the affected area.

Treatment

There are surgical and non-surgical procedures for foot ulcers depending upon the seriousness of the ulcer. Your doctor might prescribe some medications like antibiotics, anti-platelets, or anti-clotting medications.

So above are some of the points helping to know about foot ulcers. If you are looking for a diabetic foot diagnosis, you can contact Dr. Gaurav Gangwani. They have specialization in non-surgical treatment services with minimal invasion. You can click here to know more about diabetes and other problems that it’s giving rise to.