Leg Ulcers

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What are leg ulcers?

Leg ulcers skin loss on the leg or foot due to any cause. They occur in association with a range of disease processes, most commonly with blood circulation diseases. Leg ulcers may be acute or chronic. Acute ulcers are sometimes defined as those that follow the normal phases of healing; they are expected to show signs of healing in less than 4 weeks and include traumatic and postoperative wounds. Chronic ulcers are those that persist for longer than 4 weeks and are often of complex poorly understood origin.

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Advice for patients with Varicose Ulcers

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• Don’t stand for long periods
• Whenever possible, sit or lie down with your leg elevated
• Take exercise regularly
• If unable to walk, exercise your calf muscles by bending your ankle up and down for five minutes every hour while your leg is elevated
• Don’t wear garters or stockings which have tight elasticised tops
• If overweight, lose some pounds
• Don’t smoke
• When your ulcer is healed, wear medical compression stockings which have been recommended by your doctor
• Put these stockings on before getting out of bed in the morning and only take them off last thing at night when you are getting into bed
• Do no rub anything onto the skin  on your legs or ulcers unless it has been recommended by your doctor
• Emulsifying ointment or Paraffin gel rubbed downwards is a safe moisturiser and can be used as a soap substitute
• Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of lean red meat, oily fish, green leafy vegetables, and fresh fruit.
• Take 1 gram of Vitamin C per day eg: “Rubex Vit. C”
• Take one capsule of “7 Seas extra strength Cod Liver Oil one‐a‐day”.