Skin Ulcers

There are a lot of skin disorders affecting millions of people throughout the world. Among the most common are the open sores caused by such events as blood circulation problems, trauma, irritants from corrosive materials, or exposure to intense cold and heat, and known medically as skin ulcers.

Symptoms of skin ulcers include reddened skin areas, which in severe cases, may break open and leak fluid. Pressure ulcer, is a type of skin ulcer that occurs on areas where there is a reduce supply of blood caused by prolonged pressure. This condition may be experienced by people who are wearing plaster casts or hard braces, or those who are confined for long periods on a chair or bed.

Venous skin ulcer, which is characterized by an open wound, usually occurs on the patient’s lower leg. This type of skin ulcers stay on for months. People who have had this skin disorder or have any of the trigger factors, have an increased risk of getting venous skin ulcer.

Prevention and managing this condition can be done through the use of compression stockings. The use of compression stockings regularly controls the painful accumulation of fluid and blood pooling which brings about the onset of venous skin ulcer. People who use them everyday have greater chances of staying ulcer-free. Those who are already suffering from the condition can hasten the healing process by wearing the stockings during their waking hours, as well as elevating their legs to a level above the heart, as often as possible.

Skin ulcer treatment involves the use of nonprescription topical antibiotics, like bacitracin, neosporin, and the combination of these two, along with polymyxin B. However, some skin ulcers may require the use of a higher strength prescription topical antibiotic, like mupirocin or metronidazole.

Doctors advise people to shift positions frequently to avoid putting unrelenting pressure on a particular area. Some people may find the use of special supports beneficial. Generally, the dressings used on the skin ulcers have to be changed often. However, for severe cases, surgery may be performed to eliminate any diseased tissue, as well as to fix the wound.

Deficiencies in the diet may restrict the body’s natural ability to heal skin ulcers. Studies conducted in nursing homes among malnourished patients suffering from skin ulcers revealed that, healing was drastically improved through a diet containing high protein. Results of the studies done among critically-ill patients showed that the risk of getting skin ulcer was significantly reduced by increasing the patients’ protein and calorie intake through dietary supplements.

The various antioxidants, such as, vitamin E, glutathione, and vitamin C, are exhausted during the process of skin tissue healing. Studies discovered that the application of vitamin E on the skin lessens the time required to heal skin ulcers. Other studies showed that taking vitamin E orally before skin lesions develop on the skin can prevent a number of tissue damages linked with the onset of pressure ulcers.

Research also claims that vitamin C is capable of preventing the development of skin ulcers. In fact, evidence showed that elderly patients suffering from pressure ulcers were found to have lower vitamin C levels in their blood than those who are free from the disease. Vitamin C supplementation has been found out to hasten the healing time of leg ulcers.

Zinc has also been considered to help in the process of tissue growth. This role is beneficial in treating and healing skin ulcers. And although studies and researches have not been extensive enough to bring out hard facts, these are still supported by the fact that most skin ulcers develop in people who are either malnourished, institutionalized, or both.