Sores on the legs: causes, symptoms, treatment

Sores on the legs may be the result of a congenital or acquired disease. This is a very unpleasant phenomenon, which is difficult to cope with. For example, according to official statistics, at least 2 million people suffer from trophic ulcers. The cause can be both weakened immunity, and the complication caused by diabetes.

About the common symptoms of trophic ulcers

Sores on the legs, which are a trophic ulcer, are difficult to recognize at an early stage. For example, if a person spends all day on his feet, the fatigue of the lower extremities and the pulling pain he takes as the norm. A marked redness, a small patch of white skin or swelling - for an insect bite or allergy. At the same time, the bulk of the population begins to think: how to smear sores on your feet, in order to eliminate the aesthetic defect? In the course are green, alcohol, ointment and much more, which only leads to aggravation of the disease.

As soon as the process of trophic ulcer development began, it is urgent to go to the phlebologist's office. These are the following symptoms:

• Heaviness and buzzing in the legs;
• Weakness, accruing towards evening;
• Unpleasant itching, causing a slightly noticeable inflammation of the skin;
• Edema, appearing after prolonged sitting, the use of copious amounts of fluid or long walks;
• Gastrocnemius muscle cramps that occur at a time when complete relaxation (deep night or morning) occurs.

Sore on feet with diabetes mellitus

Patients with diabetes mellitus begin to notice the sores on their feet - the skin is rough and noticeably flaky. Hair becomes dull, palms and soles are covered with cracks and calluses, and the skin becomes yellowish. Nails can also be deformed and thickened.

Many types of sores on the legs, as well as dermatological disorders, indicate the presence of diabetes before the doctor makes a diagnosis.

Avoid skin lesions can be through strict adherence to the rules of hygienic care. The use of conventional cosmetics should be minimized, as, for example, the effect of toilet soap can lead to a decrease in the acidity of the skin and its ability to resist microbes. For washing hands and feet, as well as for washing, pH neutral soap should be used. To cleanse the face, you can apply cosmetic milk or water lotion.

Types of ulcers

Many people suffer from ulcers on their feet. This disease looks like a deep defect of the skin or basal membrane and inevitably causes inflammation. The cause of ulcers is the disruption of cell nutrition, which, in turn, worsens the ability to recover.

Ulcers are:

• Arterial;
• Venous;
• Pyogenic;
• Diabetic;
• Neurotrophic.

The resulting open sore on the leg does not heal for a long period of time (2 months or more).

The main causes of ulcers on the legs

The causes of ulcers can be arterial insufficiency, diabetes and other factors.

As for diseases of venous insufficiency, the appearance of ulcers can be caused by varicose veins, thrombosis, failure of perforating veins. These diseases lead to stagnation of blood in the veins, disruption of nutrition of tissues and their destruction.

Arterial insufficiency can lead to the appearance of ulcers due to obliterating thromboangiitis and arteriosclerosis of Menkeberg. In addition, the cause of trophic ulcers may lie:

1. In various infections:

• Fungal (coccidioidosis, sporotrichosis, etc.);
• Bacterial (ektyma, boils, etc.);
• Protozoal (leishmaniasis).

2. In metabolic disorders:

• Gaucher disease;
• Calcification of the skin;
• Gout;
• Diabetes mellitus;
• Bullous pemphigoid, and so on.

Leukemia, sarcoma, melanoma, metastases and any other malignant neoplasm can provoke the appearance of ulcers.

Sores on the legs may also result from common calluses, burns, insect bites, frostbite, radiation dermatitis and other factors.

How to recognize an ulcer on the leg?

The process of ulceration is difficult not to notice, since the symptoms are quite obvious. It starts with the appearance of burning, itching and redness, as well as a slight coarsening to the touch.

Have spots appeared on your legs? Do not wait for skin peeling and the appearance of long-healing wounds, it is better to immediately turn to the doctor, because if you leave the ailment without attention and start, it can "hook" the muscles and even the periosteum.

Prevention of trophic ulceration

A person suffering from varicose veins or another disease that increases the likelihood of ulcers on the legs should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Wearing compression knitwear and elastic bandage;
• Minimizing long-term loads and hypodynamia;
• Avoid overheating and overcooling.

Venous ulcers on the legs

The fact that the leg was struck by a venous ulcer is indicated by the following symptoms:

• Swelling;
• Dryness, itching, thickening, and sometimes brownish color (if there is severe swelling, the skin looks stretched and shines);
• When developing varicose eczema, scaly and small cracks are observed;
• Inflammatory process of the ulcer can be accompanied by an unpleasant odor and secretion of a pale yellowish-greenish liquid.

The location of the venous ulcer is usually the inner side of the leg just above the ankle.

Factors provoking a venous ulcer

Venous ulcer can aggravate or provoke the following:

• Healed ulcers, damaged the venous system;
• Fracture or any other trauma;
• A blood clot in the deep vein;
• surgical intervention;
• Conditions of work in which a person sits or stands for a long period of time;
• Deep vein inflammation;
• pregnancy;
• overweight.

How to cure ulcers on legs?

Than to treat sores on legs or foots? It all depends on the factors that caused the ulcer or prevent its healing. Once each of them is taken under control, for example, blood sugar level, skin damage will go away by itself.

Treatment usually involves cleaning the wound, applying anti-inflammatory drugs and using dressings. In the presence of healthy arteries, you can also use pressure bandages.

A positive effect can be achieved through vascular surgery. The implantation of a new leg artery, or balloon angioplasty, is a procedure that widens the narrowed artery and eliminates its obstruction.

Sometimes, in order to hide the ulcer, resort to plastic surgery - transplant the skin from any inconspicuous area to the surface of the wound.

Home Treatment

The basic rules for the treatment of trophic ulcers include:

• Special diet: carbohydrates should be cut, vegetables and fruits significantly increased, and spices and spicy dishes completely eliminated.
• Bed rest. All the time lying in bed, of course, is not worth it, but rest should be daily.
• Special regular exercises aimed at eliminating blood stagnation and improving metabolism: flexing and extension of the legs in the prone position, rotation of the feet, crossing the legs extended upwards, etc.
• Wearing special orthopedic shoes that reduces the risk of injury.

Important! If the home treatment method recommended by a doctor does not lead to the desired result for a long time, then it is unlikely that you will manage without surgical intervention.

Several recipes for the treatment of trophic ulcers:

• Quite a good idea proved to be a Tartar. Dry leaves of camel thorns must be ground to a state of trituration, and then sifted, folded into a jar and placed in a dark place. After treating the wound with some kind of drugstore (for example, "Rivanol"), you must blow a powder on it and fix it with a bandage. The result - the ulcer dries up, and the formed crust disappears with time.
• A remedy based on curd whey. From home-made milk, you must first make yogurt, then pour the resulting product into gauze and hang. Serum is recommended for lubricating the sores, and cottage cheese - for applying to the affected area.
• Streptomycin. Several crushed tablets can not only relieve the pain, but also quickly heal the wound.

What is the swelling of the lower extremities?

Edema on the legs is a pathological process that causes accumulation in the intercellular space of a different volume of fluid. Outwardly this phenomenon looks like a swelling.

A person at the same time begins to feel heaviness in the legs or even pain. As a result of pressure, a fossa is usually observed. The appearance of swelling is usually accompanied by the following:

• Increased permeability of vessel walls;
• Violation of lymphatic and venous outflow of fluid, which leads to increased pressure in these vessels;
• The chemical composition of plasma of blood and tissue fluid does not correspond to the norm.

Causes of edema

Edema on the legs may appear due to hemodynamic disorders in the zone of osmotic regulation. The location of these zones is the atrium, hence the result of their reaction to a similar failure - a significant decrease in blood flow in the limbs. Then there is a reaction of the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to an increase in the blood level of catecholamines, which reduce the excretion of fluid from the body and lead to a narrowing of the peripheral vessels.

You can not ignore the role of the endocrine system in the process of regulating the amount of fluid in the body. If the hypothalamus begins to produce an antidiuretic hormone, then it inevitably leads to an increase in the total volume of blood circulating through the vessels. Such a change can lead to an increase in pressure, including hydrostatic pressure, which greatly complicates the evacuation of excess fluid from the tissues. In addition, the presence of a large volume of blood stretches the vascular walls, which leads to increased permeability and the entry of protein molecules from the bloody wort into the tissue. The result is venous congestion, which causes a spasm of the vessels of the lymphatic system, which further complicates the outflow of fluid from the tissues.

Causes of skin rashes

The spot on his leg itches - what can I do? First you need to find out the reason for his appearance: to determine what kind of disease caused it. The paramount action is an appeal to a qualified specialist who will accurately find out why the skin has changed color and will select the necessary treatment.

Hormonal failure, a disease of any internal organ or manifestation of allergies - these are the main causes of skin rash. With the appearance of red spots, every person occasionally encounters, but if they are present on the body from birth, then it is necessary to immediately seek help from a vascular surgeon and phlebologist.

You can get rid of stains on the body by reviewing your own diet. The exclusion of sharp, smoked and fried foods can significantly refresh the skin color and improve its condition. A dry sore on the leg will pass much faster, if not comb it.

A bright pink rash can be triggered by a lack of vitamins. In this situation, it is recommended: abundant drink, proper nutrition (plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables) and bed rest.

The cause of the ailment can be anything you like, ranging from an allergic reaction to the use of depilatory cream or cosmetic and ending with uncomfortable shoes.

Some useful tips

Sores on the legs do not pass? The damaged area of the body will heal much faster if immediately after the injury was received, carefully treat it. Especially severe cases require qualified assistance from medical professionals who will stitch the seams if necessary and will help the affected valuable advice and useful recommendations.

If there is no qualified specialist nearby, it is recommended to use any antiseptic that is at hand for treating the damaged body area: green, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, etc. After treatment, the wound should be covered with a temporary sterile bandage. Tie up damaged areas at least 2 times a day and remember that for the treatment of wet and dry wounds you need to use different means.