Venous Leg Ulcer - Medtick
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Venous Leg Ulcer

What is it?

A leg ulcer is simply a break in the skin of the leg in this case the veins, which allows air and bacteria to get into the underlying tissue.

This condition mostly occurs with persons who have the following i.e.

Cause

  • Varicose veins
  • Lipodermatosclerosis
  • Standing up or sitting down for long periods
  • Not moving around when standing up or sitting down for long periods
  • Wearing high heels
  • Family history
  • Age (the older one gets the more likely the condition due to the vein walls become thinner and lose their elasticity with age)
  • Overweight
  • Occupation (where one has to stand up or sit down for long periods and is not moving around much)
  • Hormones (Women’s hormones tend to make the veins relax more)
  • Pregnancy (More weight on legs and pelvic region causing varicose veins in these regions and increased hormones in the body)
  • Weak blood vessel valves  (Valves in veins become weak and lose their ability to pump blood effectively causing blood leak and flow backwards instead of towards the heart)
  • Veins lose their ability to pump blood effectively due to vein wall become thin and lose their elasticity.
  • Thrombophlebitis (Veins are hot, red and swollen which may cause blood clots in legs)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Blood vessel disorders i.e.
  • Hip or knee replacement

Symptoms

  • Hard tight, tender to touch, painful and/or red or brown in colour skin near your ankles, foot and mid-calf?
  • Resembles the shape of an upside – down champagne bottle?
  • Skin is hot, red and swollen or rash is breaking down (open wound) and being exposed and/or ulcer usually located just above the ankle, typically on the inside of the leg?
  • Surrounding skin is dry and itchy?
  • Skin can be stretched, smooth, spotty and shiny in appearance (atrophie blanche)?
  • Dry and scaly skin around vein (varicose eczema)?
  • Leg pain and/or aching which comes and go’s?
  • Pain is reduced when legs are raised or elevated?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Venous Leg Ulcer in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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